Part of our Breed Profiles series, Cayuga ducks are a medium-sized duck with stunning green-black plumage. History The earliest documentation of the distinctive black Cayuga ducks shows them living in the western, central region of New York state where the Cayuga peoples lived. Often found on or near Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, […]

The Ayam Cemani is a striking and unique breed that is becoming increasingly popular among U.S. breeders and backyard poultry owners. Because of their rarity, they are expensive birds and you need to carefully vet sellers to make sure that you are getting what you pay for.  If you want an all black bird, with […]

The Sultan or Serai Taook Part of our Breed Profiles series, the Sultan chicken originated in Turkey as an ornamental bird. History The breed first arrived from Turkey to England in 1854. Known as the Serai Taook in Turkey, this rare breed had been bred as an ornamental meat bird for the royal court in […]

Part of our Breed Profiles series. The Paduan or Padovana chicken is a European crested bird that’s been around since the early Middle Ages. History We know, from archaeological evidence, that crested breeds were wide-spread in Europe and Russia. A chicken skull excavated in Gloucestershire, England dates to the 4th century CE and shows the […]

Part of our Breed Profiles series, Dominiques were one of the earliest known North American developed breeds, and almost became extinct in the twentieth century.  History Dominiques have a long history in North America as one of the earliest developed breeds, though they weren’t recognized as a distinct breed until the early 1800s. Like so many […]

Part of our Breed Profiles series, the Mille Fleur d’Uccle is a feather variation of the Belgian bearded or Barbu d’Uccle bantam chickens. Mille Fleur (Million Flowers) d’Uccle bantams are truly gorgeous, small chickens with speckled, orange plumage. History A variation of the Belgian d’Uccle bantams, they are true bantams without a larger counterpart. These […]

When you think of a chicken, you probably envision a lovely rooster with a large single comb atop his head, and you hear the faint familiar crow that most people believe only happens in the morning—sorry to burst your bubble folks but rooster will crow all day long. With that being said, the image you […]

Marissa Buchanan raises and breeds these rare, solid black chickens. She shares her experiences of owning a flock and the need to conserve this breed. Modern History of the Breed The rare and unique Ayam cemani is revered by poultry enthusiasts. With its black feathers, skin, and flesh, this breed is quite distinctive and certainly […]

Learn more about turkeys and wild turkey breeds in this excerpt from Don Schrider’s “Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys”. WHEN WE SPEAK OF TURKEYS, we will find some surprising diversity. Turkeys come in a range of colors and patterns, and a few different shapes as well. As we try to sort through this mix, it is […]

Blogger Clair Woods tells us a bit about Brahma chickens. The Brahma is widely known as one of the most majestic breeds of chicken. It is a favorite among beginners and veteran chicken owners alike. There was lots of debate among U.S. chicken owners in the mid-nineteenth century about the origin of the Brahma chicken. […]