Promoting Food Biodiversity
Poultry
When we first moved to Lynden in 2004, one of the first things that
we did was get some chickens and turkey's. I built a make shift
chicken coop our of pallets and we then spent the next couple of
years chasing them around because they kept getting out.
Now, almost 6 years later we are getting back in the poultry business, this time with a different approach so we do not have chickens running around everywhere. We are going to run two experiments this year with Delaware and Buckeye chickens. Both are rare breeds and both are on the Slow Foods Ark of Taste. Both breeds get to be about 8-9 lbs at maturity and are relatively quick growing. The Cornish Cross is the proto-typical commercial chicken and reaches butcher weight in 8 weeks. They also grow faster than their feather leaving bald spots, gain weight faster then the strength of their legs can handle and have no real personality. We would rather spend a couple of additional weeks to get chickens that have some historical significance and personality.
Now, almost 6 years later we are getting back in the poultry business, this time with a different approach so we do not have chickens running around everywhere. We are going to run two experiments this year with Delaware and Buckeye chickens. Both are rare breeds and both are on the Slow Foods Ark of Taste. Both breeds get to be about 8-9 lbs at maturity and are relatively quick growing. The Cornish Cross is the proto-typical commercial chicken and reaches butcher weight in 8 weeks. They also grow faster than their feather leaving bald spots, gain weight faster then the strength of their legs can handle and have no real personality. We would rather spend a couple of additional weeks to get chickens that have some historical significance and personality.
© 2012 Created by Craig.
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