We're rounding up our first specialty hatch order for 2010 and just checking in with folks who emailed recently asking about it. We're hoping to get the order in by Feb 16.
Here is a list of heritage breeds available this year so far. Please keep in mind we are not able to sex these breeds so all chicks are sold as a straight-run. The price per chick ranges between $5-$10. Please place your order as soon as possible, we're shooting for February 16th deadline, which would place the hatch just around the 3rd week of March.
-LARGE BREEDS: Rhode Island red, Plymouth Barred Rock, Golden or Black Sexlink, Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, Austra White. Araucana (blue egg layer), Silver or Golden Laced Wyandotte. Light Brahma, Columbia Rock, White Crested Black Polish, Blue Polish.
-BANTAM BREEDS: Barred Cochin, Birchen Cochin, Blue Cochin, Buff Cochin, Golden Laced Cochin, Mottled Cochin, Partridge Cochin, Red Cochin, White Cochin, Black Silkie, White Silkie, Mille Fleur, Buff Brahma, Dark Brahma, Light Brahma, BB Red Old English, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Black Spanish, Golden Seabright, Silver Seabright, Partridge Rock, Silver Penciled Rock, Turken.
Good to do a little research if you are not familiar with some of the breeds. If anything it adds to the fun.
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a great site to visit. ALBC is a non-profit organization working to spread awareness about and to protect over 150 livestock breeds from extinction. It lists and gives great historical and particulars on breeds of poultry that are hovering near the brink of extinction. By choosing to raise endangered breeds, you could help this effort. Why is this important? Over the last 60 years, corporate thinking has influenced diversity out of farming. So much so that nearly all of the chickens being raised in the US are one of 3 breeds - either specifically for egg laying or for food. The multi-purpose farm chickens, as well as the fancy show birds populations have dangerously dwindled. Now with backyard keepers, however, populations are up!
Backyard Chickens also has a pretty good chart with pics.
If you are interested in ordering, please email us or give us a call.
Also, please sign up for our e-newsletter if you'd like to be kept up to speed on:
- next hatches order deadlines
- new chicken and food-growing tips
- new product announcements and specials
Take care and see you later!