#heritagechickens

[lakeandriverstudio]

The chicken folk art patterns are now part of a fabric collection! Cluck cluck!

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#chickenart

#petchickensofinstagram #hensofinstagram #cluck #bawkbawk #chickensofig #ilovechickens #lovemychickens #wyandotte #henstagram #layinghens #newhampshirered #leghorn #bufforpington #chickens #smallscalefarming #homesteadinglife #heritagechickens #crazychickenlady #poultrylife #chickenlife #minnesotachickens #happyhens #ope #minnesotastatefair #minnesotaarts handpainted #madebyhand

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[mustbeekiddinfarm-blog]

Teeny tiny fluffy butt. #fluffybutt #fluffybuttfriday #farm #farmlife #farmpics #heritagechickens #blackcoppermarans #marans

[tossyv-blog]

Pretty wyandotte hen in her new Autumn clothes #wyandotte #hens #chickens #bantams #homegrown #backyardchickens #heritagechickens #purebreed #inmybackyard #mygardentreasures

[gastropost]

From Gastroposter Britton Nicol, via Instagram:

Eggs from the farmers' market. I'll admit it, I paid more for these ones because I wanted the blue egg.

[countrymadefoods]

Pig and Hen Tattoo Ideas

Why is 2019 the Year of the Pig? How the Chinese zodiac’s 12 animals were chosen

“According to legend, the heavenly Jade Emperor wanted to segment time into cycles of 12 years with an earthly animal guarding each cycle. He sent word that the fastest animals to reach the Heavenly Gate would be chosen, ranked accordingly and have a year in the cycle named after them. Sensing an opportunity, the animals raced against each other to win the emperor’s favour.

The goat, monkey and rooster arrived after crossing the river on a raft they had built together, taking eighth, ninth, and 10th places respectively. The dog was a late 11th having stopped to enjoy a bath in the river, and the pig, who had stopped for a nap, sauntered in for the 12th, and final, place. There are many versions of the legend but they all agree the rat made sure the cat did not finish the race by either tricking him into sleeping through the event or by pushing him into the river. Due to the rat’s treachery, the cat failed to finish and was not recognised in the zodiac. Naturally, the cat never forgave the rat and Chinese legend holds this to be why they are natural enemies.”

(via Why is 2019 the Year of the Pig? How the Chinese zodiac’s 12 animals were chosen | South China Morning Post)

Watermelon-fed, $350 chickens in diapers bring the farmyard to the Bay Area

“According to a new report that credited the Mercury News with spotting the emerging Silicon Valley backyard-chicken trend back in 2015 — before it was co-opted by wealthy poultry-poseurs.“In the Bay Area — where the nation’s preeminent local food movement overlaps with the nation’s tech elite — egg-laying chickens are now a trendy, eco-conscious humblebrag on par with driving a Tesla,” the Washington Post reported last week. These days, Bay Area chicken-wrangling hobbyists are spending as much as $350 for a bird, $20,000 for a high-tech coop and $225 an hour for a “chicken whisperer” consultant...“It’s not uncommon here to see chickens roaming in their owners’ homes or even roosting in bedrooms, often with diapers on.”

”As might be expected from chickenists and chickenistas in the tech capital of the universe, housing backyard birds here is often not a matter of hammering together scrap lumber and metal screening. Coops may feature solar panels, automatic doors and “video cameras that allow owners to check on their beloved birds remotely.” A Redwood City chickeneer told the paper he used an app on his smartphone to control his coop’s temperature, ventilation and lighting. The man is fond of sharing videos of his birds, and particularly recommends the bed-time action when they “jostle for position before settling down.”

“Pampering, naturally, is called for...gives him a weekly bath, followed by a blow dry “which he LOVES”...“Despite their relative privilege, even these chickens are circled by predators like hawks, coyotes, raccoons and bobcats”...And there can be hazards specific to chickens living in wealthy enclaves. One “beloved” bird ventured into a Marin County backyard pool, with fatal consequences.”

(via Melon-fed, $350 chickens in diapers roam Bay Area yards | Mercury News)

Silkie Chicken: All You Need To Know

“It is believed by some that the Silkie dates back as far as the Chinese Han Dynasty, in 206BC. The Chinese name for the Silkie is wu-gu-ji – meaning black-boned. An alternative name for this bird is the Chinese Silk Chicken...It was first mentioned by Marco Polo (around 1290-1300) on his remarkable journey across Europe and the Far East. Although he did not see the bird, it was reported to him by a fellow traveler and he reported it in his journal as “a furry chicken”.The Silkie made its way westward either by the Silk Road or by the maritime routes, likely both.” 

The next mention we have is from Italy where Aldrovandi in 1598 speaks of a chicken that has “fur like a black cat”. When the Silkie was first introduced to the European public it was said to be the offspring of a chicken and a rabbit – a not so unbelievable thing back in the 1800s! Many unscrupulous sellers sold Silkies to gullible folks for curiosity and it was used as a ‘freak show’ item in travelling side shows and exhibited as a ‘bird-mammal’.”

”They have oval shaped turquoise blue earlobes and dark colored wattles. Their beak is short, quite broad at the base, it should be grey/blue in color. Eyes are black. As for their body, it should be broad and stout, the back is short and the breast is full. They have five toes instead of the usual four found in chickens. The outer two toes should be feathered. The legs are short and wide set, grey in color.

Their feathers lack barbicels (those are the hooks that hold the feathers together), hence the fluffy appearance. The main feathering looks just like the under-down of regular chickens. The fact that the feathers do not hold together means a Silkie cannot fly. It also means that the feathering is not waterproofed and so a wet Silkie is a pathetic sight to see. If they do get significantly wet, they need to be towel dried or even blow dried – which they enjoy if it is done on a regular basis.”

“As for their temperament, silkies are known to be calm, friendly and docile – even the boys. It has been recorded by several people that the roosters will ‘tid-bit’ for the chicks! This docility can lead to them being picked on by other more ‘pushy’ flock members. 

Despite their fluffy feathering they do tolerate the cold fairly well – wetness is something they cannot tolerate. If your climate is very cold in the winter, they would benefit from a little supplemental heat. They are content to be confined, but if allowed to free range are great little foragers. The area in which they forage should be a ‘safe zone’ since they cannot fly to escape predators. Silkies are more renowned as being pets, brooders and ‘ornamental’ birds...Silkies are quite robust and will usually live for 7-9 years, longer with lots of TLC!”

”A Silkie is the ultimate in kids’ chickens. They are cuddly, fluffy and tolerant, love sitting in your lap and even enjoy cuddles. They are a very friendly, calm and docile bird and interact very well with people – they will follow you around and ‘talk’ to you. This docility can lead to them being picked on by more aggressive flock members, so try to keep an eye open for bullying.

Silkies are notoriously broody – the standing joke is that a Silkie can hatch a rock! They also make great mothers. Many folks keep Silkies in order to hatch out other eggs. A Silkie in ‘broody mode’ will usually accept any and all eggs (including duck) placed under her. If you live in an apartment and want to have chickens as pets, the Silkies are a very good fit since they are pretty quiet too.”

”The Silkie chicken always brings a smile to peoples’ faces. This ‘odd-ball’ and slightly unusual bird is certainly a crowd pleaser! Although they won’t keep you in eggs, they will supply you with lots of love, smiles and cuddles. When they become bonded to their owners they can be described as ‘dog-like’ in their devotion. They will follow you, talk to you, check out what you are doing and ‘help’ too!...All in all, these funny little birds are a joy to have and give much pleasure to their owners.”

(via Silkie Chicken: All You Need To Know | The Happy Chicken Coop blog)

What is "silke"

“n. (obsolete spelling of silk English)”

silk (n.)

“ c. 1300, from Old English seoloc, sioloc "silk, silken cloth," from Latin sericum "silk," plural serica "silken garments, silks," literally "Seric stuff," neuter of Sericus, from Greek Serikos "silken; pertaining to the Seres," an oriental people of Asia from whom the Greeks got silks...Chinese si "silk," Manchurian sirghe, Mongolian sirkek have been compared to this and the people name in Greek might be a rendering via Mongolian of the Chinese word for "silk," but this is uncertain. Also found in Old Norse as silki.”

Lavender Japanese bantams

Japanese Bantams

“Japanese (or Chabo) Bantams are real show birds and go back a long way in history. It is thought that they first arrived in Japan from China in the early 1600’s when they started to appear in Japanese paintings. In Japan, they are called “Chabo” which means “bantam” or “dwarf” in Japanese but is also the old Japaneses name for South East Asia. They are thought to have reached the UK in the 1860’s.”

”They are a true bantam which means they don’t have large fowl counterparts and are very distinctive with very short legs and very long straight vertical tail feathers with a relatively large comb and wings that are held low, touching the ground. Japanese Bantams should be kept inside on clean, dry bedding in all but the best weather to maintain good feather condition. Feathers (especially white) will stain easily on the wing tips that drag on the floor if let out in the wet.”

(via Japanese Bantams | Poultry Keeper)

5 Reasons to Love Sebright Chickens

“Sebright chickens are unique and exotic looking ladies with sweet temperaments and a penchant for curiosity. In the early 1800s Sir John Sebright - a member of the British Parliament and avid animal keeper - set out to create his vision of the perfect chicken. The resulting fantastically feathered fowl was the Sebright bantam and these small but perfectly formed birds became popular with highfalutin poultry fanciers across the British isles and beyond.

Sebright chickens are a sight to behold and a wonder to watch. These pretty birds, with their wonderfully patterned plumage and delicate features, make an exotic and unique addition to any backyard flock. Sebright chickens have small and compact bodies with short backs and prominent breasts, sporting perfectly preened gold or silver almond shaped feathers that are delicately laced with bold iridescent black...If you are looking for a backyard chicken to admire, the Sebright chicken is a mesmerising choice.”

“Not all bantam chickens are created equal. Bantam breeds can be categorized into two types - true and miniature standard. Miniature standard bantams are chickens that have been bred to be smaller versions of their larger chicken breed namesakes but true bantams have been developed as unique breeds that have no standard sized counterparts. Sebright chickens are one of the oldest recorded true bantam chickens and these adorably small birds are often a favourite with exhibitors and hobby keepers due to their unique appearance. The Sebright bantam diminutive size and distinct colouration and patterning make them a delightful and space saving spectacle to have in your flock. If you have a small backyard, Sebright chickens truly are the chicken of choice.

While some poultry enthusiasts keep a backyard flock as a source of fresh eggs, there are those who insist no coop is complete unless it’s full of fancy fowl to admire. If you are looking for a chook that will give your chicken run an exotic feel, the Sebright chicken is just right. These avant garde girls shouldn’t be relied upon to provide a regular bounty of eggs - they are more interested in foraging and curiously eggs-ploring their backyard kingdom than laying... Not only individuals in their looks, Sebrights are keen to stand out in the crowd when it comes to temperament and behaviour too. Given the opportunity, these fiercely independent chickens go off the beaten path, strutting self-importantly through the garden and preferring to roost in trees when the sun sets on their day. To ensure the Sebright chickens’ freewheeling nature is safely contained it is necessary to have a tall fence or secure chicken run, as these hens are quite skilled flyers.”

“If you want to keep a small flock of pretty and playful birds the Sebright is a great choice. These beautiful bantams prefer the company of one or two chicken friends and while independence is important to the Sebright chicken, that doesn’t mean they are cold hearted! Sebrights are well known for being sweet and inquisitive birds. True, they are not as cuddly...but these girls are unassumingly friendly, giving out enough love but never cramping your style. If you’re not one to smother your pets in kisses, but still enjoy delightful interaction on a daily basis, the Sebright is the perfect pet for you. Much like any shy chook, you can establish a firm bond with Sebrights by giving them some delicious mealworms or other tasty treats. They will delight in receiving gifts from their keeper but unlike other breeds, Sebrights won’t overwhelm you every time you walk out your backdoor.

The Sebright is not interested in raising baby chicks or anything associated with motherhood. Why sit on a nest all day when you can be egg-sploring the garden and quietly roosting on out of the way branches? Heaven to a Sebright is a day free of parental responsibilities, an open schedule to fill with whatever takes their fancy...Sebright chickens are perfect poultry pets for a keeper who is as happy to admire their girls in the garden as they are to interact with them. Sebright chickens are a breed with personality and need a coop with character. If you’re thinking of starting your own flock of sweet Sebright bantams be sure that they have a secure and safe space in which to egg-splore.”

(via 5 Reasons to Love Sebright Chickens | Backyard Chicken Coops)

Green Envy: The Fanciest Chicken Coop in the World

“Neiman Marcus has you covered with a veritable Taj Mahal for fowls. The Heritage Hen Mini Farm comes with a $100,000 price tag, and is one of the high-luxe items featured in the retailer’s famously opulent 86th edition of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book.”

“This “Beau Coop” as Neiman Marcus calls it, features a multi-level roost for your uptown chickens and a chandelier to remind them there’s no place like home. There’s also a library stocked with chicken and gardening books for the chickens’ pet humans to enjoy.”

(via Green Envy: The Fanciest Chicken Coop in the World | HGTV)

11 Doggie Mansions That Will Make You Re-Evaluate Your Life Choices

“This Victorian-style doggie mansion cost a cool $20,000 to build. It’s home to three fabulous dogs, Chelsea, Darla, and Coco Puff. The home is a smaller version of the owner’s historic Victorian home. She commissioned the project after an owl almost kidnapped one of her Pomeranians. The structure is large enough that she can enter and visit her canine neighbors.”

(via 11 Doggie Mansions That Will Make You Re-Evaluate Your Life Choices | Bark Post TV)

Housing Your Pigs

“There are many options when it comes to the way that you house your pigs. There is no right way or specific materials that you must use. You can be as creative as you imagine or as simple as you wish. Be sure to incorporate things such as toys or other items for enrichment to ensure happy and active pigs...Shelters should be free from extreme drafts and protect from rain and sun. They should allow enough space for your pig/pigs to turn around and comfortably stretch if necessary. If pigs are housed in multiples, you should have enough shelters for each individual pig or the shelter used should be large enough for multiple pigs needs.”

(via Housing Your Pigs | American Mini Pig Association)

[bricehammack]

#Locast #NewYorkCity #Manhattan #LeCoqRico #HeritageChicken #BriceDailyPhoto https://www.instagram.com/p/BtedFcMnsc2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16va3mlqfgfyk

[happyhensheritagefarm-blog]

The chickens are always happy to greet us in the morning ☀️ Maybe because we come bearing breakfast or maybe, just maybe, it’s because they love us ♥️! 🐔: “It’s the food, human, it’s all for the food.” 🙄👈🐔 (I think the chickens are rolling their eyes at me...🙈)! #happyhensheritagefarm #heritagechickens #bielefelders #malines #blackcoppermarans #farmfresh #happybirds #makingeggs #farmlife #familyfarm #fortheloveoffarming #smallscalefarming https://www.instagram.com/p/BraiQyIFOMs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lgm4461yka1u

[corydunham78]

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Chicken run ..Feeding time ,to say the least they really are funny farm animals.#heritagechickens .#feedingtime #freerunchicken #mothercluckers (at Annapolis, Nova Scotia)

[homesteadasili]

Putting in some hatching eggs. 12 khaki cambles duck eggs a week ago and 102 road island heritage chickens today. Had two extra so we just kinda set them on top... Looking forward to meeting some new day one friends. #homesteading #hatching #heritage #heritagechickens (at Roseboro, North Carolina)

[uofaheritagechicken]

Western Poultry Conference 2017

I got to do a presentation about the Heritage Chicken Program at the Western Poultry Conference in Red Deer, Alberta on February 28th! I’d like to share some of the things I talked about. 

The main audience for the presentation was all four poultry industry producers, table egg (eggs you eat), hatching egg (eggs produced that hatch into meat birds), broiler (meat chickens) and turkeys. There were also many representatives from industry groups, feed companies and processing plants there, in addition to professors and students from the University of Alberta. This is the only scientific/industry conference specific to poultry in Western Canada. There is also the Poultry Service Industry Workshop in October, however that is much more geared towards industry tools and practical techniques.

I was asked to give a presentation that described the heritage program and why it came about, as well as what potential benefits it provides to industry. I’ll summarize below the general presentation and content!

Where the Heritage Chicken Program birds came from: 

The heritage chickens came from multiple sources. Some came from the University of Saskatchewan and Ontario, where a rare poultry conservancy program had been conserving genetics of chickens which were influential in creating the modern laying and meat industries. Other strains which were conserved were broilers (meat chickens) from 1957 and 1978. These birds were what farmers raised as meat birds in 1957 and 1978, respectively. The genetics today are very different, but keeping the original genetic stock allows for a failsafe in case something happened to the industry. Other sources of the birds were from a prominent Canadian poultry breeder named Don Shaver. Keeping the birds here allows us to preserve his work in the field of Canadian heritage breeds.

What the Heritage Chicken Program is and why it started:

The heritage chicken program started as a way to make the flock at the Poultry Research Centre self-sufficient as it costs approximately $65,000/year to keep the 1600 birds at the farm. The program was very successful, and allows people to adopt a chicken and receive their eggs from January through September (one dozen per two weeks). The money received from the adoptions goes back into the flock and has made the flock self-sufficient and allowed the preservation of the genetics.

Why people join the Heritage Chicken Program:

We did a brief survey of the 2017 Heritage Chicken Program participants and asked them: Why did you join the Heritage Chicken Program?

Feedback from participants has shown that they like the connection that they get from the chickens and the program, the information about agriculture they receive, the teaching opportunities it provides their families and learning about poultry in general.

Other initiatives part of the Heritage Chicken Program:

Meat Program: Another way the Heritage Chickens are supported at the Poultry Research Centre is through the sale of stewing hens. Each September, the current Heritage Chicken flock is processed at our facility on South Campus, and the frozen, whole carcasses are sold to participants. It is another means of showing the “farm to fork” idea behind agriculture, of raising and animal, showing it respect, but still using its products.

Chick Program: We hatch chicks each spring and offer them for sale through Peavey Mart. All the money goes back into supporting the flock at the Poultry Research Centre. The chicks are vaccinated for all of the major poultry diseases, Marek’s, Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) and Coccidiosis which helps to prevent any disease outbreaks which could impact other flocks or commercial industry flocks. We also require a premise ID, which helps with traceability of chicken flocks in Alberta.

Small Flock Workshops: Helping to educate small, hobby chicken flock owners about the importance of biosecurity, health, how to look for signs that chickens are sick, what to do and who to contact. Our workshops for this year are taking place on April 12 and 13, and the information can be found on https://www.eventbrite.ca/ .

Benefits to industry from the Heritage Chicken Program:

Increased awareness and education of people about chickens and the poultry industry, as well as education of people getting into raising small flocks. People raising small flocks are more aware of biosecurity, which helps keep everyone (commercial and small flocks) safe and healthy. I currently work at the Alberta Hatching Egg Producers, and have my MSc in Poultry Science and Applied Ethology from the University of Alberta, and am able to answer questions, and redirect to appropriate industry groups which helps to minimize misinformation surrounding the poultry industry too!

Overall, it was well received and a great experience for me. Producers were supportive, and excited about the program.

[schmanguss]

#laurel #sixthcourse #dinner #fooding #eats #brownbutterpoached #heritagechicken #stingingnettles #chestnut #prune #topchef #nickelmi #philly #philadelphia (at Laurel Restaurant)

[lakeandriverstudio]

Getting personal. I'm torn on what exactly to do with this whole instagram account thing. On one hand, I hear lectures from my teen years on the importance of "just be yourself". On the other hand, I keep reading over and over about how we should be 100% about "branding". Your entire feed needs to be consistent with your brand! I feel like there is a sort of fence sitting grey area when "your brand" is really just you and a few things you do. Am I supposed to have a separate account for art, another for the blog, another for hobbies, and another for personal use? Do we really need to differentiate that much? When did we stop being brands instead of people? I don't think I can ever achieve CURATED social media. Instead, my feeds are all over the place like a manifestation of my mind. I'm a mother of 5 kids under eight, on a tree farm, raising animals, painting canvases, cooking meals, renovating my house, and running around like the proverbial chicken without a head. There is nothing curated around here.in fact the harder I try, the more haphazard things appear. So there's that. Anyway, I am already totally over winter. I know this is Minnesota, but winter starts on like Labor Day around here and it's snowy and freezing. So I'm longing for summer again. This pic of my chickens sunning themselves under the willow tree makes me wistful. #notcurated #imperfect #artistlife #chickengirls #artistmom #artandchickens #heritagechickens #backyardchickens #homesteadinglife #minnesotahomestead #minnesotaartist #corkscrewwillow #willowtree #newpraguemn #chickenmom #layinghens #bufforpington #roadislandred #freerangechickens #homesteading #midwestartist #justaddcloth #authenticself #letsgetreal #realinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BqxT6oBD5sd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=g4x59911nkp7

[mustbeekiddinfarm-blog]

Baby fluffy butt. #farm #farmlife #farmpics #heritagechickens #chicken #wheatenameraucana #babychicks #fluffybutt #fluffybuttfriday

[janelawsonfood]

Clever husband #basting and #roasting near perfect looking #sommerlad #heritagechicken #chook from #featherandbone #local #sundaydinner #shootworthy

[bukbot]

themanhimselfgeorgewashington: 👀 a visitor saw and heard, it was promised, I am going to use these 7 h Bedford Styvesant, Brooklyn #chickens #chicks #hennyandroo #eggs #freerange #backyardpoultry #backyardchickens #happychickens #petchickens #petchicken #chickenmomma #chickentreats #treatsforchickens #homesteading #chickensofinstagram #crazychickenlady #rooster #farm #farmlife #heritagechickens #chickens Koralla und schlang ihrem Papa die Arme um den dicken Bauch und hüpfte weiter in Richtung Kombüse.

isaiahanonymous: Bukbot timelyreminder theysayimmo awkwardspondy vaselinecats theenbywitch thebigjawpokemon bionichawk.

[countrymadefoods]

Just like crop biodiversity is seen as crucial to managing the challenges of producing produce and grains in an era of climate change, Walker adds that livestock biodiversity can also be seen as protection against natural disasters and disease outbreaks.“We don’t know what agriculture is going to look like 100 years from now, and we may need the traits these breeds carry in order to meet challenges that arise in the future,”

(via Who Gets to Define Heritage Breed Chickens? | Civil Eats)