Amid the chaos of moving to a new farm, we managed to squeeze in a trip up to the Great Lakes - to pick up foundation birds (and hatching eggs!) for three new rare breeds to add to our collection.
The first of these breeds is the Shetland Hen. This lovely tuffed breed is the result of a Spanish galleon running aground in the Shetland Isles of Scotland almost 500 years ago. This ship was carrying new, exotic poultry from the New World - birds with the then-unheard-of blue egg gene! Bred together with cold hardy Scottish stock, the Shetland Hen came into being. Now one of the world's rare breeds, it was featured in the Slow Foods Ark of Taste as a breed in critical need of preservation. We were able to acquire this group of pullets and cockerels, as well as hatching eggs, from Feathered Minion Farms in Chardon, OH!
The second breed is the Bruges Fighter. Cousin to the more well-known Liege Fighter, these birds have a slightly lower stance and a much heavier build, with roosters commonly ranging between 10 and 12 pounds. Endangered in their native country of Belgium, a recent census found only 200 birds worldwide. Talk about critical! While they are a traditional fighting breed, they are also wonderfully docile around people and adapt well to being handled. They are active but not flighty, due to their heft. The roosters also make great protectors for their flocks, always alert and willing to scuffle for their hen's safety. This breed was also from Feathered Minion Farms in Chardon, OH! The third breed is the Sultan. A top-tier ornamental breed, these birds have it all - luscious feathering, fluffy crests, and lavishly feathered feet! Originally from the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, then imported to England, the breed almost went extinct in the 1930s and continue to be endangered. Here in the US, only one color has been given show status - the White - but worldwide, they come in many hues! We were fortunate enough to find a breeder with multiple rare colors - black, blue, birchen, ice, and red! We were able to pick up several dozen hatching eggs from Early Bird Acres in Mantua, OH! Our new birds are now in our indoor quarantine area. Over the next few months, we will evaluate them as they grow out and decide who will pair with who. Check back for photos and updates of each breed!
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