Our  Chickens

             
At Roundcreek we keep various heritage breeds of bantams and standard size birds for eggs and for breeding purposes. I have decided to keep rare heritage breeds for the conservation of them ,and of course the pure love and goodness of them!!  In North America over a third of all breeds of livestock and poultry are concidered rare and are in  fast decline.  More people need to get involved and raise some of these old varities of livestock that our ancestors had before it's too late. In Canada over 60 breeds of poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, horse, ponies and waterfowl are endangered.
   
   
 These animals are our treasures, our history and hold a key to so many genetic possibilities. We need to keep these old breeds pure and save our diversification. See how fun and rewarding it is to have a basket full of different colored eggs or a freezer full of  different flavors of meat or the joy of looking at your beautiful colors of animals.  So many of the breeds that played a huge part of feeding Pilgrims and our grandparents are now in danger of extinction.  We save so many of our other  pieces of history such  as historical landmarks. " Why not our historical livestock"?  I was so surprised to read the lists that were formed here in Canada based on a study of  poultry breeds that have been around for what seemed like  "FOREVER" may not be so.  Some came in from the Mayflower or were creations made from those origionals and now with commercialization are disappearing fast. Please look into it yourselves and see how fast these breeds are being replaced by the faster growing or producing animal.  For example, the beautiful well known Barred Rock on the  RISK list for a mere 1000-3000 birds.  Being replaced by Isa browns or some other commerical hatchery bird.  Other  North American famous birds such as the New Hampshire Reds, The Rhode Island Reds and the Black Jersey Giants are on the Vulnerable lists meaning 500-999 birds. Columbian Rocks, Light Sussex and Canada's OWN creation the Chantecler are on the ENDANGED and CRITICAL  LIST meaning super low numbers of these precious birds.  On the critical list in Canada you will find the beautiful Dorking which are in the blood of many of the poultry breeds and they are sadly on the less than 100s list which are Critical and Rare.  You will also find White Wyandottes, White Jersey Giants, Brown Leghorns and Delawares are also Critical LISTS to  name just a few.

 Please  go to RareBreeds Canada   http://www.rarebreedscanada.ca/priority-poultry.htm

 Please check  out  Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities  http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/SPPA/SPPA.html and read the articles about why the SPPA is needed and please check out there new updated for 2008 Critical list.

      The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has also compiled a list of  livestock breeds that need conservation . The priority Lists and information can be found here on their website   http://www.albc-usa.org/

            If you have the time and the space then try this very rewarding  hobby and way of life and help save them from extinction at the same time. The way to create more of these creatures is to get the demand up by getting a  rare heritage breed and keep them purebred. Try to find animals that are the closest to the "standard of perfection" for that breed  as possible. This is because you will probably want to multiply and reproduce your animals and you dont want to reproduce animals with faulty traits . There is a book for poultry called " Standard of Perfection" and this will be your quideline for seeking out good quality stock and your duty  if you reproduce  to cull for imperfections. .  Find a market for what you would like to produce whether it be to your local farmer's market or your friends & your family.  Look into the different breeds and see why each one was created  and the history behind it, whether it be for their beautiful colored eggs or the way they dress out or exhibition qualities.  Find one that is suited for your needs and demands.   Chickens are  easy and  so fun to watch as they are so productive and are always busy chasing fat bugs, scrounging for food, laying eggs and taking care of their chicken families.  The old breeds still have the instinct left in them where alot of the new commercial breeds dont anymore and don't/can't even naturally mate.  I choose the dual purpose, productive varieties that are very quiet and make great pets as well.  I am going to be hatching eggs this spring of some very rare and beautiful varieties in bantam and standard size.  If all goes well I will have some extra chicks for sale.  Check back often to see whats available and have a look yourself and see how hard it is to find heritage breeds of animals.  Let's try to change these numbers and have fun at the same time.

** NEWS FLASH**
now shipping with ACE courier to their locations in Western Canada

                                                                  http://www.acecourier.bc.ca/       
                                                        
Breeds I am hatching in 2010
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL DAY-OLD POULTRY IS SOLD AS STRAIGHT RUN ONLY. 
WE HAVE NO WAY TO SEX ANY OF THE DAY-OLDS.
 
BANTAM BREEDS-( very limited) - couple months yet
 
Buff Brahma ( book closed)
OEG - Silver duckwing ( book closed)
Rhode Island Reds ( book closed)
Partridge Wyandottes( book closed)
Blue & Partridge Cochins,
Blue Wyandottes
Buff Silkies.
 
STANDARD SIZE BREEDS
Light sussex
Barred Plymouth Rocks,
Silvergray/ Colored Dorkings,
Brown Leghorns,
New Hampshire Reds,
Rhode Island Reds,
Goldlaced  Wyandottes
Easter Egger Ameraucanas.
      
TURKEY BREEDS-  'book closed'
Bourbon red,  Narragansett & Blue Slates
*** Please get your name put on a list if you want something, and I will fill the orders in the
order that I recieve them, as they hatch out. The Poults are already booked up for quite a while.
 The chicks are getting booked up fast!






                                                                                                                                                    Goldlaced wyandotte hen
Bourbon red poult                      Silvergray Dorkings                                                                                       
ameraucana chick                                                   blue cochin                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                brahma chicks in dark and buff
bantam Canadian Chanteclers             Belgian Antwerps                        dorking and speckled sussex chicks
bourbon red poult                                                                                            splash and black wyandottes = blue wyandottes           
   blue cochin hen                                           Peachcat and chicks                                                    
ameraucana chick and eggs                 enjoying pumpkin at Halloween                                  buff brahma bantams       
Canadian Chantecler bantams                         Silvergray dorkings                               Silverlaced Wyandotte bantams  
Silverlaced Wyandotte bantams                                     Rhode Island Red bantams                               Speckled Sussex