POULTRY AND WATERFOWL

All domestic poultry are descended from Asian Red Jungle Fowl. The modern poultry industry is based on a very few intensively managed hybrid strains while the barn yard method of production and the barnyard breeds, which had been developed over many years from stock imported from around the world, are slowly disappearing.

Red Pile OLD ENGLISH GAME are of ancient English origin and were developed as a fighting bird. Julius Caesar noted that the Britons kept fowls 'for pleasure, but not for the table' and cock fighting was not made illegal in Britain until 1849. Today they are kept by enthusiasts for show and Red Pile is just one of some thirty colour varieties found in the breed.

Silver Grey DORKINGS are also very ancient and were described by the Romans in AD. 47. They have a large, long, deep body and five toes on each foot. Most chicken breeds have only four toes, three pointing forwards and one at the back.

The LIGHT SUSSEX are a very old breed and were the most popular of all the Sussex varieties, particularly well known for producing good quality table birds.

The Yorkshire or Golden Pheasant Fowl were given their modern name, OLD ENGLISH PHEASANT FOWL, in 1914. They were particularly popular with farmers because they have a meaty breast for a light breed and produce white eggs.

The RHODE ISLAND RED was developed in the Rhode Island region of the USA from Asiatic black-red fowls of Shanghai, Malay and Java in the 1860's and were first introduced into this country in 1909. They became very popular for both meat and egg production since they lay attractive light brown eggs.

Above: Light Sussex pair

Above: Buff Cochin {NB: larger image is very big)

The Dutch village of Welsum gave its name to the WELSUMMER imported in 1928. They are famous for their richly coloured dark brown eggs and unlike many 'fancy fowl' they are still judged on their egg production, as well as their good looks.

Dark BRAHMA were imported into New York in 1846 from the area around the Brahma-Pootra river in India and first appeared in Britain in 1853. They have nicely tinted eggs and are classified as a heavy breed with a pea comb.

In the 1950's Buff COCHINS were first imported from China and were first imported frm China and were known as the Cochin-China. They were very popular because of their great size and good laying ability although sadly they have been selected recently more for their fluffy leg feathers, which are popular in the show ring, than their utility characteristics.

The SCOTS DUMPY is related to the Scots Grey, which is another traditional barnyard breed. The Dumpys have a standard size body and a very short leg. Birds of this type have been known in Scotland since 1678, but by 1975 they were almost extinct. Fertile eggs were reimported from a flock located in Zimbabwe, after the owners saw a TV programme about the Cotswold Farm Park.

The White SILKIE, which are thought to be of Asiatic and probably Japanese origin have been known for several hundred years. They are small standard fowl, and are well known for their persistent broodiness. They will happily sit on and hatch the eggs of anything, and make excellent mothers although they do get most upset when their offspring take to the water, which happens when they have hatched a brood of duck or goslings !

Above: Silky poultry

Bantams are miniature poultry breeds, sometimes strains of standard size fowl but many occur only in the bantam form. OLD ENGLISH GAME Bantams mimic the standard Old English breed but have very little common ancestry. They were evolved from common barnyard bantam stock and are selected entirely for the show ring where the detailed colour patterns are of great importance to the breeders.

Above: Silver Seabright Bantam cockerel

The Silver SEABRIGHT is one of the oldest British varieties and is a genuine bantam breed with no standard size counterpart. Their delicately laced wings, rose comb and clean shape make them one of the most attractive of our breeds.

SILVER SPANGLED HAMBURGS originated in Northern Europe but the spangled variety was developed in Yorkshire and Lancashire 300 years ago. They were excellent egg producers but like many bantam breeds were sadly selected for the show ring, losing much of their laying ability along the way.

Originating in Japan the Black Tailed White JAPANESE are another true bantam breed of great antiquity. They are the shortest legged of all the bantams and the Black Tailed Whites are most striking with thrie snow white bodies, black tails and necks and yellow legs. White-Crested Black POLANDs were first shown in London in 1845 but are believed to have originated from Poland and are probably descended from the ancient Paduan or Patavinian Fowl.

The Bearded Belgian or BARBU D'UCCLE originated as its name suggests, in Belgium and they are a true bantam breed with no counterpart among the Standard Fowl. It is said that their feathered legs stop them from scratching the ground, making them ideal ornamental garden fowl. They are certainly very attractive birds.

Guinea Fowl were originally brought to Europe on sailing ships from the Guinea Coast of Africa, but when they arrived in Britain, from Turkey, they were called 'Turkeys'.

When the Pilgrim Fathers first colonised America, they named the large birds they found 'Turkey', after the Guinea Fowl which they resembled, and this is how the American Turkey got its name.

Turkeys originated in North America but were brought to Britain via Spain in 1524. They were domesticated and improved and then later re-exported to the United States.

NORFOLK BLACK TURKEYS were the first of the domesticated breeds of Turkey.

PIED TURKEYS also known in Germany as the 'Crolwitzer', or in america as the 'Royal Palm', are one of the colour varieties of old fashioned farmyard turkeys.

Unlike modern 'broad breasted' turkeys, which have been selected for such extreme meat production that they are no longer able to reproduce naturally but must be assisted with the use of artificial insemination, both these old breeds are active thrifty outdoor birds.

Above: Turkey stags meeting the goats (NB: No larger image available. Sorry!)

All British Domestic Geese are thought to be descended originally from wild Greylag geese but the BRECON BUFF was the first buff-coloured breed, created in Wales in 1934, from geese on the local Breconshire farms in Wales.

It is thought CAYUGA DUCKS were originally descended from Black east Indian ducks. They are beautiful birds with a green flourescence shining off their jet balck feathers. They take their name from Lake Cayuga, in New York State in the USA from where they were introduced to Britain in 1851.

Fawn and White INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS were first introduced fron Malaya in the 1870's, they were renowned for prolific egg laying. They have a very upright posture and are now available in many different colours although the fawn and white was the original colour variety.

Above: Silver Appleyard Bantam Ducks

SILVER APPLEYARD BANTAM DUCKS are an ornamental breed found in both Standard and bantam varieties. They were created by Reginald Appleyard in the late 1930's in Ixworth in Suffolk where he also created the Ixworth breed of hens. Our director Joe Henson was taken to visit his farm and meet him, while he was still at school, adding to his lifelong fascination for livestock breeding.

CRESTED DUCKS have always been a rare breed and are somewhat of a curiosity. Any colour is permitted and they have a large, globular crest of feathers set on the very top of their heads.