our chickens

Our Chickens

        At Roundcreek we keep various heritage breeds of bantams and large fowl poultry for eggs,breeding purposes and of course for the love and pure goodness of them! Having chickens started for me when I was a kid, I acquired some ameraucanas from an uncle and it turned into a life long passion! I have had chickens so far for about 30 years and hope to for as long as I am able. Over the years I have seen a major decline in the reconized poultry breeds and a lot have become "rare heritage breeds ". It is really sad for the older generation of "feather fanciers" as they have seen a MAJOR drop in breeders and purebreeds of poultry.   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. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, one hundred ninety livestock breeds have gone extinct between 1985 and 2000, and between 1900 and 2000 1,000 farm animal breeds have gone extinct which is about one out of six of the world’s cattle and poultry varieties (United). The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy lists nineteen chicken breeds, six duck breeds, six goose breeds, and five turkey breeds as critically endangered meaning that fewer than five hundred breeding birds are in the United States, with five or fewer primary breeding flocks of fifty birds or more and are globally endangered (American Livestock). We are about to lose these genetic resources if poultry breeders do not step up to the plate and breed them once again.
      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.   Poultry breeders, producers, and consumers need to work together to get these genetic treasures back in the farmyard and dinner table just like the Pilgrims and our grandparents.   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 originals 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/conservation.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 their 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 the heritage breeds from extinction at the same time. 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. The best way to save these historic breeds is to return them to our dinner tables .   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. We hatch all year some very rare and beautiful varieties in bantam and standard size.    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 we are hatching in 2012
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL DAY-OLD POULTRY IS SOLD AS STRAIGHT RUN ONLY.
   WE HAVE NO WAY TO SEX ANY OF THE DAY-OLDS. :-)

Bantam –Very limited
(book closed means so limited
that I wont take orders for, but
you may luck out and get a couple when
your other order is ready)

Blue Wyandottes-book closed
Partridge Cochins-book closed
Buff Brahmas-book closed
Belgian Antwerp Quails-book closed
Rhode Island Reds

Large Fowl

Barred Plymouth Rocks
Brown Leghorns
Rhode Island Reds
SilverGray Dorkings,
Colored Dorkings
Speckled Sussex
Light Sussex
Blue/Black Ameraucanas
Easter Egger Ameraucanas
Silverlaced Wyandottes-book closed
Silverpencilled Wyandottes-book closed

Turkeys- Bourbon Reds- Book closed

   Please Email rndcreek@yahoo.com   for directions, availability and to reserve your baby chicks

Click here for 'brochure'

     " Please no cheques for chickens. "

We are feather fanciers with the love for farm animals, we are NOT a hatchery.

We are located 30 minutes straight west of Innisfail in Spruce View ( Raven), Alberta.

Please contact Northstar Doves for any chicken products you may need,
I strongly recommend getting the 4 in 1 for baby chicks to prevent mortality.

If you do not use the 4 in 1, please at least add apple cider vinegar to the chicks water @ 2 TBSP per Gallon.You can use it along with the 4 in 1 as well or start the vinegar after using 4 in 1 for 1-2 weeks. Apple cider vinegar can be used for chickens and turkeys of any age! Apple cider vinegar helps reduce coccidiosis and harmful bacteria and algae growth in the water. This can also be mixed with vitamins. You can add a vitamin and electrolyte supplement to their drinking water,@ 1/4 tsp. per liter of water. For shipped chicks I recommend adding a tsp. of brown sugar per liter of water or the electrolytes for a couple days after arrival for a quick energy boost just to help them recover from shipping stress and of course the 4 in 1 to go along with it for 1-2 weeks @ tsp per gallon. You can pick up vitamins for chickens at most Peavy Marts, UFA or Co-Op feed stores. For the 4 in 1, you must contact Northstar doves! Giving baby chicks a boiled egg chopped up is very good for them also. These tips will greatly reduce mortality in chicks that have been stressed due to moving to their new homes. Its very sad when baby chicks die and I want to inform you the best I can to reduce mortality.

http://www.northstardoves.com/Northstar_Doves/Exotic_Bird_Coccidiosis.html

*****News FLASH NOW SHIPPING (minimum of 25 chicks for warmth) WITH ACE TO THESE LOCATIONS-($10 for gas) + Ace charges $18 for shipping its @ $30 to BC.
*** Shipping of chicks is at buyers risk, as I am not a hatchery . Shipping is hard on chicks and I really want them to have extra TLC. I treat people very good, but I cannot quarantee shipped chicks as once they leave my care its out of my hands.

       http://www.acecourier.bc.ca/contact.htm

ACE Locations-Alberta
Brooks
Calgary
Edmonton
Lethbridge
Medicine Hat

ACE Locations- British Columbia
Golden
Kamloops
Kelowna
Oliver/Osoyoos
Penticton
Revelstoke
Salmon Arm
Vernon
Castlegar
Cranbrook
Trail
Grand Forks
Nelson

If you dont hear from me, please try again.