Breeds we raise

Heritage Dominique and Buff Orpington chicken

We are currently raising the Dominique and Buff Orpington breeds. After owning and observing many different breeds over a couple of years span we have chose two of our favorite breeds to focus on. Our decision was based on personality, aggressiveness, ease of up-keep and production. 

Dominique rooster and hens

The Dominique chicken is recognized as America’s first chicken breed. The Dominique chicken was a favorite breed on homesteads and farms in America as early as the 1820’s. Known for its dual purpose production of meat and eggs the Dominique chicken remained a homestead favorite through the 1930's due to its hardiness and ease of up keep.  By the mid 1940's  industrial poultry houses began introducing faster growing production breeds and the Dominique popularity began to decline.  By the 1970's  the breed was near extinction with only four known flocks found in the United States, with the help of a few breeders the Dominique chickens began to make a come back. But once again according to the Live Stock Conservancy report of 2006 number of known flocks have shown a steady decline.  

The Dominique is a medium sized bird, the males average 7 to 8 pounds and the females average 5 to 6 pounds. They have a  black and white barred  pattern and sport a rose comb with a short upward spike.  
 Their body is broad and full with long and full tail feathers that are held the highest of the American breeds. Females have back outlines that slope from head to tail. Although categorized as a dual-purpose breed, these birds are first and foremost egg producers with hens historically averaging 230-275 small- to medium-sized brown eggs.

Status:
Watch

Use:
Eggs, Meat

Egg Color:
Brown

Egg Size:
Medium 

Temperament:

Calm and Genial

Characteristics:
Good forager, likes to range

Class: 

American

My personal opinion
I have been raising and breeding the Dominique chicken for three years. I enjoy grabbing a cup of coffee and spending the afternoon watching them forage and play. The Dominique hen has a calm and gentle disposition, if interacted with at a young age she will be eating out of your hand in no time. I have a bench that I sit on and watch them in their yard and they will jump up on the bench and sit with me, but they prefer their independence and seldom want human contact. I have two roosters,  one of my roosters is very calm and gentle he has never shown any sign of aggression toward me or any visitors entering his yard. He will come sit on the back of the bench with me and often bellows out a loud crow as he does, he will eat out of my hand, but he does not like to be picked up, he would rather come to me instead of me going to him.  My other rooster has shown a little aggression toward me, he does not like me to get to close to his hens. He has tried to flog me a few times, but I began carrying  a net with me and he has learned to stay away from the net. I do not turn my back on him nor do I allow visitors in to his yard. It is my opinion that each rooster will have his own personality and all roosters in the Dominique breed will have its on temperament. With that said I am still very fond of each of my roosters and I have learned to respect them, their grace and beauty adds character to my backyard and both are great protectors of their hens.

Rhonda 

Buff Orpington rooster and hens

The Orpington chicken originated from England and reached America in the late 1800's.   Farmers  favored the Buff Orpington chicken for  its unique color – different than most general-purpose breeds at that time.  The Orpington was recognized for  excellent egg production, and excellent table-quality.    The Orpington chicken is a heavy breed with mature males averaging 10 pounds and females averaging 7 to 8 pounds. They have a broad body, small head and medium sized single comb and  fluffy feathering making it appear larger than actual weight.  The hens historically lay an average of 175 to 200 medium to large brown eggs annually.  It was said at one time the hens were capable of laying as many as 340 eggs per year, the decline in egg production was said be due to breeders selecting for looks over utility.  Personally my hens average around 225 a year. They do slow down some in the colder months, but they do not completely stop laying in the winter. 

Status:
Recovering

Use:
Eggs, Meat

Egg Color:
Brown

Egg Size:
Large to Extra Large

Temperament:

Calm, friendly disposition

Characteristics:
Great forager, likes to free range

Class
English

My Personal opinion 

What can I say about the temperament and personality of the Buff Orpington that you have not already heard or read on the internet.  I raised my hens from chicks and by the age of 4 weeks they were crawling in my hand as I reached in the brooder.  They chatter about my feet, follow me every step I take in the yard and often jump in my lap as I sit on the back porch drinking my afternoon cup of coffee.  My Orpingtons do not have a yard of their own they share my backyard with me and my two dogs.  Although I have only one rooster at this time, I have previously owned more and the roosters are calm and friendly and show no sign of aggression.   Jack is my roosters' name and he is the biggest show off of all the roosters.  He steals  the attention of any visitor we have. I acquired Jack when he was about 6 months old, I could tell he had not had much human contact, he was a little shy and stand offish at first.  I would spend a little time each day with him in his coop and every day he would get a little closer, it only took about two weeks and he was eating out of my hand along with the hens. One day out of the blue he just came to me and I gently reached and picked him up, he was so calm as I rubbed his feathers down his back.  Now Jack is 1 1/2 years old. Jack will bring his hens to the back door and look in begging for a treat, he will sit in my lap and get his daily dose of petting and then go on his way.  My five year old grandson plays in the backyard right along with Jack and his hens and has never shown any aggressive behavior.  The Orpington breed is an excellent homestead breed, not only for its egg production and meat quality. They are great free range birds, working all day for their keep. They are one of the first breeds I would recommend for first time chicken keepers, and keepers with children. They are easy to tame when interacted with at a young age, male and female a like. They make great pets for the family. The only draw back is, it is hard to keep them with another breed because of their docile and calm temperament, other breeds even other breeds of hens tend to pick on the Orpington breed. If you do mix your Orpington hens with another breed of hens watch them closely to make sure they are not being kept away from food and water and watch for signs of picking on the comb and wattles.  

Rhonda 

Heritage poultry is breeds that were recognized by the APA prior to the mid-20th century, whose genetics can be traced back for multiple generations. In other words they are the old timey breeds that our great grandparents raised on the homesteads for the dual purpose of providing meat and eggs for the table. You can learn more about the definition of Heritage breeds at The Live Stock Conservancy