In addition to keeping a half dozen or so Genuine Mexican Game crosses, we have a colorful, motley crew of green and blue egg layers I affectionately call the "McMutts" and a few production bred birds that have become special pets. But our primary focus is on our Dominique and Anconas. Both are traditional breeds with a long history on the American farm, and this past spring we got our start with another delightful "antique" breed; Buckeyes.

The Dominique, sometimes referred to as a "Dominecker", is America's oldest native breed of chicken, as much at home at Washington's Mount Vernon as it was scratching in the streets in Massachusetts. In fact, by 1820, there was enough interest in the breed in the Boston area that they had their own club. By 1849, the little "tiger striped" birds were so well known they had an entry in the Merriam Webster Dictionary as "Dominecker". I was given my first birds by Mark Fields the same year his excellent book came out, and they've been my favorites ever since. While the birds here are kept strictly kept for egg production, the Dominique is a medium sized, dual purpose bird, capable of economically producing both eggs and meat, with yellow legs and a pert rose comb that resists freezing. Their cuckoo barring, which to my eye appears "blue" from a distance, helps them hide from predators, and their lively disposition means they are ready and able to hustle a large percentage of their own grub; perfect for a pastured, free range operation such as ours.

The Ancona is a meduim sized, white egg layer which originated in Ancona, Italy. One of the oldest breeds in the Mediterannean class, they were first brought to the United States in the late 1880s. They're a handsome, glossy black with evenly spaced white tipped feathers. (think of a star filled sky on a clear, dark night, and you've got it) Thanks to Fred Zillich at ZPF, we have both the single and the rose comb variety, and they're great foragers and good producers of white eggs. Due to their coloration and their busy temprements, the Ancona is another breed that handles itself well in a pastured, free range environment. Plus, they're very smart looking, in an uptown kind of way.

This year, we're trying something old, but new to us; Buckeyes. They have the distinction of being the only American breed that was created entirely by a woman. Back in the 1890s, Mrs. Nettie Metcalf of Warren, Ohio decided she needed an active, cold hardy, dual purpose bird for her farm. Not seeing exactly what she was looking for in the existing breeds in her area, she set about crossbreeding to produce her own. The result was a medium sized, lustrous, deep mahogany bird with yellow legs and a frost resistant pea comb. Like the Dominiques and Anconas, the Buckeye are said to excell in free range conditions. They are the calmest, and definetly the most people oriented breed on the farm. I've taken to calling them my Boot Birds, because you can't do anything outside without them practically standing on your feet. Many thanks to Laura Haggerty and Jen Scott for such a great start, it's been fun watching them grow and enjoying the living history here on the farm.

Links:
Free Range eggs really ARE better
Traditional American Poultry article from Home Grown Poultry Magazine
How To Raise Organic,Free Range Laying Hens
Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
Mark Field's American Dominique Page
The American Buckeye Poultry Club
The American Buckeye Club
The American Poultry Association

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