Our  Chickens

             

            At Roundcreek we keep various heritage breeds of bantams and  a couple standard size varieties for eggs and for breeding purposes. I have decided to keep rare heritage breeds for the conservation 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
      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 some rare heritage breeds 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.  Find a market for what you would like to produce whether it be to your local farmer's market or your friends and family or yourself and 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.

 

                  Breeds I will be hatching for breeding stock, mostly from Exhibition strains
 

 
Bantam- Buff Brahmas, Cochins, Wyandottes, Plymouth rocks, Leghorns, Cornish, Rhode Island Reds, New Hamphire Reds, Chanteclers, Belgian D'anvers, Silkies and OEG.

 
Standard varities may include-Partridge, Columbian and Barred  Rocks, Dorkings, White Wyandottes, Speckled Sussex, Lightbrown Leghorns, Ameraucanas, Araucanas