The Benefits Of Keeping Heritage Poultry
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.
Keeping chickens isn't too complicated. Outdoor space for a coop is required, as well as permission to keep them. Many suburbs and some urban areas allow people to keep a few hens for their own personal use, although roosters are typically not allowed because of noise issues. Check with animal control for your local ordinances.
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 have become popular in recent years. These are birds that are scaled down to a smaller size, but otherwise chickens in every way. Some are smaller versions of heritage poultry breeds, and others come only in this tinier size. They need less space than traditional 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.
Keeping chickens isn't too complicated. Outdoor space for a coop is required, as well as permission to keep them. Many suburbs and some urban areas allow people to keep a few hens for their own personal use, although roosters are typically not allowed because of noise issues. Check with animal control for your local ordinances.
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 have become popular in recent years. These are birds that are scaled down to a smaller size, but otherwise chickens in every way. Some are smaller versions of heritage poultry breeds, and others come only in this tinier size. They need less space than traditional breeds.
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