Livestock Conservancy – TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources

This little lady is a standard Silver Laced Cochin, she’s 3.5 weeks old and growing fast. I don’t usually raise standards, my preference is definitely bantams, but sometimes we have to veer a little from the norm, right?

Right now there are Silkies in the brooder, cochins, and next month I’ll have eight Mille Fleur d’Uccle Bantams arriving. This will surely keep me busy through the winter. Come spring I’ll pick the birds I want to keep, and the rest will be sold.

Silver Laced Cochin 100115

It is doubtful that any other single breed of chicken has inspired more people to keep poultry as a hobby or fancy. When the Cochin chicken made its debut outside of China it was met with astonishment, wonder, and awe. Continue Reading

Definition: Standard breeds of chickens as defined by the American Poultry Association that are naturally mating, long-lived, and slow growing.

The Livestock Conservancy now lists over three-dozen breeds of chickens in danger of extinction. Extinction of a breed would mean the irrevocable loss of the genetic resources and options it embodies.

Where to Find Heritage Chickens

Some Heritage Chickens can be obtained from hatcheries. These hatcheries are listed by territory all across the U.S. See List.

Note: The Livestock Conservancy encourages contacting the hatchery directly to determine the breeds of birds available and to determine whether these are in fact Heritage Chickens.

The Livestock Conservancy also maintains a list of Heritage Chicken breeders in its Breeders Directory. You can visit the online directory HERE.

This is a compilation of images taken of a variety of heritage breeds that were photographed by Conservancy staff at several poultry shows.