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Phoenix Chickens in the Heritage Breed Spotlight

Golden Duckwing Phoenix

An amazing characteristic of Phoenix chickens is their exceptionally long and multiple tail feathers. Even the hens have more tail feathers than most other chickens. The Phoenix was developed from the Onagadori, a breed from Japan that has a non-molting gene. Despite its exceptionally long tail, the Phoenix lacks the non-molting gene and therefore molts […]

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Chantecler Chickens in the Heritage Breed Spotlight

Chantecler Chickens

Chantecler chickens are a heritage dual-purpose breed suitable for the backyard production of both meat and eggs. They are also popular for exhibition. It is the only chicken breed originating in Canada. The breed is able to withstand bitter cold weather while continuing to lay well. What is a Chantecler chicken? A Chantecler chicken has […]

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Heritage vs. Broad Breasted Turkeys

Bronze Turkey

Choosing between heritage vs. broad breast turkeys can be confusing. Although they both come from the same genetic background, they differ in many ways. The former can mate naturally, is slower growing, and smaller in size. The latter grow more quickly and weigh more, but breeding them requires artificial insemination. Plus, largely because of differences […]

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Lakenvelder Chickens in the Heritage Breed Spotlight

A Lakenvelder Chicken

Lakenvelder chickens are an ancient laying breed from the Utrecht area of southern Holland and the neighboring Nordrhein-Westfalen area of Germany. They take their name from the Dutch village of Lakervelt, in a region that favors the color pattern of a white mid section with black extremities. Besides Lakenvelder chickens, examples include goats, rabbits, pigs, […]

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Sicilian Buttercup Chickens in the Heritage Breed Spotlight

Buttercup chicken in a cage

The Buttercup is an ancient breed from Sicily, an Italian island long noted for its farmyard chickens with a cup-shape comb and greenish legs. Sicilian Buttercup chickens in the United States all trace back to hatching eggs imported in 1892. The breed was admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1918. Physical Attributes The […]

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Black Australorp Chickens in the Heritage Breed Spotlight

Black Australorp Hens pecking about in a yard

Black Australorp chickens were developed in Australia by crossing black Orpingtons from England with other breeds that are good egg layers. The idea was to develop farmstead chickens that excel in egg production. The breed name comes from combining the words Australia and Orpington. Physical Attributes The United States favors Australorps that are black, although […]

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Speckled Sussex Chickens in the Heritage Breed Spotlight

Speckled Sussex

Speckled Sussex chickens are an old breed originating in England’s county of Sussex. They appeared in the world’s first poultry exhibition in 1845, although they date much farther back than that. This large-bodied bird was originally kept primarily for meat. But in the United States Sussex chickens are considered to be a dual-purpose egg-and-meet breed. […]

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What Are Heritage Chickens?

A group of Heritage Chickens hang out together in a field

What exactly are heritage chickens? For that matter, what is a heritage turkey, duck, or goose? By definition, heritage poultry breeds share these important characteristics: They are standard breeds They mate naturally They can live a long time They are slow growing Standard Breeds Heritage breeds must have been accepted into the American Standard of […]

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Orpington Chickens in the Heritage Breed Spotlight

An Orpington chicken with a chick

Orpington chickens get their name from the town of Orpington in Kent, England. They are the creation of Britain’s William Cook, whose goal was developing an outstanding meat and egg breed that tolerates England’s cold winters. Orpingtons first appeared at exhibition in London in 1886 and were first shown in the United States in 1895. […]

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