Monday , May 21 , kick back off International Heritage Breeds Week . With so many amazing poultry breed originating outside of the U.S. , it ’s the perfect time to shine the public eye on several external chickens presently considered endanger .
This quartette of critically imperiled birds was all introduced to the U.S. prior to 1900 and now , according to theLivestock Conservancy , number few than 500 in America and less than 1,000 throughout the reality .
Campine
The Belgian Campinehas a noteworthy claim to fame : Julius Caesar purportedly took several Campine chickens back home to Rome with him after he fire Belgium .
More than 1,000 days after , the 16th - C Italian naturalist Aldrovanus mention the Campine in his writings . In 1893 , the Campine was import to the U.S. by a Maine fowl enthusiast , but this ancient breed failed to gain a beachhead with American fancier and was actually drop from theAmerican Poultry Association’s(APA ) Standards of Perfection . In 1907 , a New Jersey poultry fancier once again spell the Campine into the country , but , again , the breed was fulfill with disdain due to its deficiency of hardiness .
However , the APA last recognized the Campine in 1914
A small razz , the Campine only hand 6 pounds ( male ) and 4 punt ( female ) upon due date . The roosters are hen feathered : Their tail plume are selfsame to those of the females .
Campine hens are non - musing and lie approximately 150 to 200 medium lily-white eggs per year . Campines are rummy , friendly birds , but they do not wish being handle or cuddle . They prefer spare ranging to being confined in a running play and do better in warmer climate . Campines come in two varieties : Silver and Golden . When Silver hens are bred to Golden roosters , the resulting chicks can be gender identified by color at one solar day of eld , with pullets having a reddish color and cockerel being grey .
Houdan
descend from five - toed chickens that existed in Europe in the first hundred advertising , theFrench Houdan(pictured above ) has a striking , graceful show , with a full beard , rounded crest and either ashen or dappled feathering . import to the U.S. in 1865 , the Mottled Houdan was officially recognized by the APA in 1874 , while the White Houdan — developed in America by F.D. Baermen — was take on to the Standards of Perfection in 1914 . Despite the Houdan ’s tender nature and excellent egg output , the breed never pull in popularity and was almost extinct at the start of the 21stcentury .
Thanks to commercial hatchery starting to provide Houdan bird , the breed of chickens has middling recovered but is still regard critically endangered .
Houdans are medium - sized standard domestic fowl , with singular V - shaped comb that resemble flyspeck butterfly wings . Houdan hens lay up to 230 turgid livid eggs per year and lay well into winter . They thrive in warm , dry climate but command shade in extreme heat . They are susceptible to frostbite in colder climates .
Houdans are curious and same to forage , but their crests obscure their sightedness , place them at risk to predation . Houdan chicks are easy to elevate , and Houdans of all years love interact with and being cuddled by their human .
Also Read : Heritage breed volaille bring new living to the Heritage Nest !
La Flèche
First developed in the French Ithiel Town of Le Mans in the 5thcentury , La Flèche chickensare well know by their deeply V’d cockscomb , which supposedly speculate the arrow for which the Ithiel Town of La Flèche is named . import to the U.S. in the 1850s , La Flèche chickens were consider too delicate in the establishment to hold up eastern American wintertime . Despite this lack of popularity , the La Flèche was accepted into the APA ’s Standards of Perfection in 1874 .
The La Flèche is considered the paradigm of table birds in France , where both females and caponized males are designedly fatten out to develop the red-hot form so prized by bon vivant .
La Flèche crybaby are intermediate - sized stock domestic fowl with disastrous feather , big white ear lobe , bright red eyes and expression , and sullen slate shank . They are scatterbrained both in disposition and in ability , requiring a high fence to keep them from perch in trees . They prefer crop to labour , thrive in warmer climates , and incline to debar interaction with man .
Though La Flèche biddy make misfortunate mother , these endangered chickens are first-class layer , producing up to 220 big to superfluous - large white bollock from recent winter to tardy fall .
Malay
TheMalayis rightfully a breed for the selective fowl fancier . One of the world ’s most ancient chicken , the Indian Malay see back more than 3,000 age . Its fierce , thuglike visual aspect — towering height , hooked beak , overhanging brow and broad skull — and its rough nature prevented the Malay from being wide embrace by American domestic fowl partizan when the breed was introduced to the U.S. in 1846 .
Its thin , to a great extent - drum torso further alienated American breeder seek meat - get chickens . The Malay female ’s pitiful egg production — between 20 to 100 intermediate - sized brown eggs — did not help the stock ’s popularity . Nevertheless , the APA discern the breed ’s Black Breasted Red variety in 1883 ( the White , Black , Spangled and Red Pyle varieties were spot in 1981 ) .
Because of its sizing , the Malay is a poor pick for a backyard flock or for any form of travail . The breed vanish well and breeders may be resign to provide their Malay chickens to rest overnight in tree diagram . Due to its thin physical structure and tight feather , the strain does better in warm climates .
As it is an strong-growing hiss that choose to stand its primer and fight , the Malay is a poor choice for families with children , pets and other breed of chickens . However , for fowl fanciers concerned in helping preserve a critically endangered ancient breed of crybaby , nothing beats raising the Malay .
