Saturday, September 8, 2012

Rare Breed Chickens Are Great Fun To Own

By Kerri Turner


If you would like to raise rare breed chickens there are a number of varieties available. There are many benefits to be gained from keeping rare chickens apart from helping keep the breed alive. There are both bantam and standard size chicken breed which are listed as rare.

An attractive rare breed is the Partridge Chantecler. With their mix of Cochin, Dark Cornish and Leghorn varieties, they have inherited a number of desirable qualities. They lay a good number of eggs and have a heavy carcass of delicious meat.

The Partridge Chantecler is not susceptible to cold weather. It has a small rose comb and tiny wattles, with the result that it is rarely troubled with frostbite. Because they are such great mothers, a continuing supply of chickens is assured. Even through winter, the hens will lay on up to 90% of days. The hens also go broody regularly.

They also have Cochin in their bloodlines which results in thick, soft down. This, together with tight feathering, insulates the birds well, keeping them warm and snug. Therefore food costs are lower. The birds are well camouflaged and very attractive. As they like foraging freely, camouflage is important. Partridge Chanteclers are often the last to roost at night.

They are an excellent choice as a dual purpose chicken. Hardy and economical, they lay plenty of eggs and the meat is delicious. The temperament varies according to the bloodlines of the birds. Some are friendly and become tame easily while others are inclined to be more flighty.

The Belgian D'Uccle is a true bantam. This means it is only available in the one size. Uccle lies just outside Brussels. They have feathered legs and beards under the beak. Most bantams like to hide their eggs and the D'Uccle is no exception. These gentle birds make lovely, friendly pets. However you will need to cover their pens. Being so small and light, flying is quite easy for them.

Another lovely but extremely rare breed is the intelligent Black Sumatra. While some people find them unfriendly, others enjoy their antics. The temperament depends on the individual. Some are talkative and friendly and these may make lovely pets. They sometimes become attached to one person and can be quite demanding of attention.

The Black Sumatra was originally brought over for cock-fighting. They have multiple spurs which are very sharp. For showing purposes, the more spurs the better. They are quite light in weight compared to some breeds and have a slender body. Cocks weigh around 5 pounds and hens about 4 pounds. Cocks will often leap over their opponents when fighting. They can fly quite well and like to roost some distance above the ground. They retain their wild instincts and are always on the alert for predators. They are also excellent foragers.

Birds kept indoors will have pink skin on the face. Others have very dark skin. The black plumage has a beautiful green iridescence. The tail is long and graceful. These are long-living birds and live to 15 years or so. By choosing rare breed chicken for your backyard flock, you will be keeping alive these ancient and colorful breeds.




About the Author:



No comments: