Heritage poultry is a term that refers to specific breeds that are not mass-produced for meat or eggs. They are often in danger of extinction, due to the low numbers of people keeping them these days. Both laying and meat breeds are available, with a certain number of dual-purpose breeds.
The most common types of poultry for people to keep are chickens, ducks, quails, turkeys, and geese. By far, most people keep chickens. There are many different heritage breeds of chicken, and they range from the rather odd and spectacular to the relatively plain and mundane.
Chickens are easy to keep in comparison to some animals. If you have access to the outdoors and space for a coop, you can probably keep chickens. They are not permitted in all cities, but there are a fair amount of suburban and urban areas that permit a few hens to be present on the property. Roosters are typically not allowed.
Keeping your chickens healthy is aided by their natural resistance to disease. This is one reason that people prefer the older breeds, because their immune systems have not been weakened by breeding to excessive size, eggs, or other qualities. These breeds were created when there were no antibiotics, and survival of the fittest reigned.
Chickens can be shipped across the country when they are newly hatched, because the chicks are nourished by their yolk sacs and don't need food for a couple of days. Many hatcheries sell minimum quantities higher than hobbyists want, but you can sometimes combine shipments with other people. Local farms are great sources of birds, but may only have one or two breeds.
Bantam chickens are another possibility for people who want to embrace the unusual even further, or who lack space. These chickens are tinier versions of their larger cousins, and come in heritage poultry varieties as well as some of their own. They are around half the size of a typical chicken when full grown.
The most common types of poultry for people to keep are chickens, ducks, quails, turkeys, and geese. By far, most people keep chickens. There are many different heritage breeds of chicken, and they range from the rather odd and spectacular to the relatively plain and mundane.
Chickens are easy to keep in comparison to some animals. If you have access to the outdoors and space for a coop, you can probably keep chickens. They are not permitted in all cities, but there are a fair amount of suburban and urban areas that permit a few hens to be present on the property. Roosters are typically not allowed.
Keeping your chickens healthy is aided by their natural resistance to disease. This is one reason that people prefer the older breeds, because their immune systems have not been weakened by breeding to excessive size, eggs, or other qualities. These breeds were created when there were no antibiotics, and survival of the fittest reigned.
Chickens can be shipped across the country when they are newly hatched, because the chicks are nourished by their yolk sacs and don't need food for a couple of days. Many hatcheries sell minimum quantities higher than hobbyists want, but you can sometimes combine shipments with other people. Local farms are great sources of birds, but may only have one or two breeds.
Bantam chickens are another possibility for people who want to embrace the unusual even further, or who lack space. These chickens are tinier versions of their larger cousins, and come in heritage poultry varieties as well as some of their own. They are around half the size of a typical chicken when full grown.
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