e-edition Backyard Spring 2017 PoultryAmerica’s Favorite Poultry Magazine Small & Useful Bantam Breeds The World’s Most Unique Chickens A Storybook Life of a Polish Chicken Exploring Cherished Poultry Breeds www.CountrysideNetwork.com BACKYARD POUTLRY e-edition Spring 2017 1 Contents // e-edition Spring 2017 4 From the Editor 10 Poultry Talk Selecting a chicken breed. Ron Kean and Pam Freeman answer reader questions about their flocks. 6 Flock Photos Featuring photos from our Instagram 12 Poultry Breeds ... What Are They #backyardpoultryfelfie contest. Anyway? What is the true definition of a poultry 8 Something to Crow About breed and why does it matter? Reader-submitted letters. 15 BACKYARD POULTRY Resources 16 Unique Among Chickens Distinctions that separate some breeds from all others. 12 2 BACKYARD POUTLRY e-edition Spring 2017 22 Are Bantams Real Chickens? Yes! And for some, they are even ideal chickens. 25 Small & Useful Bantam Chickens Bantam breeds that prove good things come in small packages. 30 Wyandottes, An American Tradition Fall in love with one of the most prominent chicken breeds in America. 34 A Storybook Life of a Polish Chicken Jan Brett, author and illustrator, travels the world and raises world-class chickens. 37 Delawares A few poultry enthusiasts are passionately trying to recreate this entirely American bird. 40 16 40 Garfield Farm and the Java Chicken A second chance for one of America’s 34 oldest chicken breeds. 44 The Long Line of Brown Leghorns Explore the legacy of the most commonly kept breed. 50 The Fighting Story Behind Hawaii’s Feral Chickens Stray chicken-corralling is proving a costly venture in Hawaii. 52 Coop Inspiration — A Rustic Coop 12 An upcycled design that blends with its surroundings. BACKYARD POUTLRY e-edition Spring 2017 3 from the editor BACKYARD POULTRY www.countrysidenetwork.com Selecting a Chicken Breed EDITORIAL Steph Merkle, Content Director [email protected] hoosing chicken And, what about buying Pam Freeman, Editor breeds is one of birds that aren’t good [email protected] Cmy favorite poul- egg layers but you have Editorial Assistants try topics and I suspect a goal to sell eggs? Samantha Ingersoll, Ann Tom a favorite topic for many I think it’s fair to other chicken owners say that choosing the CIRCULATION & MARKETING too. After a few years of right breed is one of Ellen Grunseth, Marketing Director [email protected] chicken keeping, we all the most important start to develop some decisions a backyard Publication Designer favorites. It’s only natural. chicken owner can Malisa Samsel Whether you have Pam Freeman make. As you scroll favorites or not, your Editor through this e-edition, ADVERTISING Alicia Soper, Advertising Director breed choices are cru- you’ll find lots of infor- [email protected] cial to whether you’re mation about different (715) 748-1388 happy with your flock. That may sound breeds and about how to pick what’s like an exaggeration, but think about it. right for you. Kelly Weiler If you pick breeds that are stand-offish You’ll also find some brand new [email protected] (715) 748-1389 and unfriendly, the kids in your family Something to Crow About letters plus may be less than thrilled. If you pick new Ask the Expert questions and Clint Lindell breeds that aren’t cold hardy but you answers along with photos from our [email protected] live in the north with harsh winters, #backyardpoultryfelfie Instagram con- (970) 392-4436 you’ll spend lots of time trying to pull test finalists. General Manager those birds through the cold. The same I hope you enjoy this spring e-edition. Mike Campbell is true for buying birds that can’t take May you always make great breed [email protected] the heat, yet you live in the south. choices! Backyard Poultry’s Main Coop Backyard Poultry 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 www.countrysidenetwork.com Subscriptions (U.S. funds): $24.99 per year Backyard Poultry Subscriptions 580 Mallory Way, Carson City, NV 89701 (970) 392-4419 ON THE COVER Backyard Poultry (ISSN 1559-2251, USPS 023-374) is published bi-monthly by Countryside Publications, at 145 Industrial Dr., The black Spanish is the only breed with Medford, WI 54451. Periodicals postage paid at Medford, WI and additional mailing offices. ©2017 Countryside an entirely white face. Photo courtesy Publications. Countryside Publications is owned and operated by Fence Post Co. The views presented here do not necessarily of Dyanna Byers, California. Learn more represent those of the editor or publisher. All contents of this issue of Backyard Poultry are copyrighted by Countryside about unique chicken breeds on page 16. Publications, 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited except by permission of the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Backyard Poultry Subscriptions, 580 Mallory Way, Carson City, NV 89701 4 BACKYARD POUTLRY e-edition Spring 2017 Features 128+ Birds! • Chickens • Ducks • Geese • Turkeys • Emus • Guinea Fowl • Ostriches • Partridges • Peafowl • Swans And Much More! This definitive guide to North American barnyard and wild fowl includes a brief history of each breed, detailed descriptions of identifying characteristics, and colorful photography of more than 128 birds that celebrate the birds’ quirky personalities and charming good looks. If it’s fowl facts and photos you want, you’ll find them all here. Only $24.95 plus S&H CountrysideNetwork.com/shop/storeys-illustrated-guide-to-poultry-breeds BACKYARD POUTLRY e-edition Spring 2017 5 Featuring Photos From Our Instagram #BackyardPoultryFelfie Contest 1st Place My Easter Egger, Penelope, is not the friendliest chicken. She’s not mean, she just isn’t affectianate and hates being held. Today she was uncharacteristically friendly. I love this little face! – thelochflock 2nd Place 3rd Place Today we brought home three adorable little Pekin/Silkie crosses from the poultry auction. This is Cornflakes. – karen_grundy At least 18” so far, and it’s still snowing! Poor chickens In March, we partnered with Greenfire Farms to bring you a fun don’t know what to do with themselves ... Gilly’s face definitely captures the mood! – newburyfarms Instagram #backyardpoultryfelfie contest. Never heard of a felfie? It’s a selfie taken with a farm animal! Here are our favorites! WAYS TO SHARE: EMAIL PHOTOS IN JPG FORMAT TO [email protected] MeSSAGE US ON FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/BACKYARDPOULTRY TAG US ON INSTAGRAM OR USE #BACKYARDPOULTRYMAG: INSTAGRAM.COM/BACKYARDPOULTRYMAG MAIL YOUR ENTRY TO: BACKYARD POULTRY, 145 INDUSTRIAL DR., MEDFORD, WI 54451 Backyard Poultry retains the right to publish and/or reproduce any and all photos submitted. To have your photos returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. 6 BACKYARD POUTLRY e-edition Spring 2017 Mazikeen sometimes thinks my hair is a nest. – odytherooster A bunch of my bantams Because when you discover the hashtag decided to cuddle! #chicksinteacups ... well, need I say more? – faithwalkfarms – pfsmith00 Here’s my #backyardpoultryfelfie taken with my girl, Red. – jmab66 WAYS TO SHARE: EMAIL PHOTOS IN JPG FORMAT TO [email protected] MeSSAGE US ON FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/BACKYARDPOULTRY TAG US ON INSTAGRAM OR USE #BACKYARDPOULTRYMAG: INSTAGRAM.COM/BACKYARDPOULTRYMAG MAIL YOUR ENTRY TO: BACKYARD POULTRY, 145 INDUSTRIAL DR., MEDFORD, WI 54451 Backyard Poultry retains the right to publish and/or reproduce any and all photos submitted. To have your photos returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. BACKYARD POUTLRY e-edition Spring 2017 7 Do You Have Something To Crow About? We want to hear from you. Send questions, comments, opinions, advice, coming events, etc. to: Backyard Poultry Editor, 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 or email [email protected] Maude, Our Special Needs Chicken her, but she came through it. She became Maude and I feel that they felt bad for After moving to the country, one day our special needs chicken. her because they stopped laying eggs. a rooster and hen came onto our prop- We had gone on a trip for two weeks This went on for three to four months. erty. Not sure where they belonged, we so our neighbor cared for her and the rest They hovered over her and seemed sad. asked around the neighborhood to no of our brood. It was pretty funny because Now all is well and Maude is happy, her avail, no one claimed them. The rooster, my husband created a document on how comb is straight up and bright red again. Wylie, kept hanging around our property to care for the chickens including, “Miss She likes to take dirt baths with Wylie, and the hen, Maude, decided to take up Special Needs Maude.” All went well flies and hops around on her one leg. So residence in the neighbor’s barn. The while we were away. when one thinks they need to put down neighbor didn’t want the hen around, a chicken, think of what can you do to and the rooster (not friendly at all) kept help. All our chickens have different running away. My husband persisted personalities and are fun to watch. on capturing him, he had success. He Karen Cone, California caught both Maude and Wylie and put them in a secure area for a few days. Meanwhile, he made them a hutch and A Chicken Helper a fenced-in chicken run for safety. These My granddaughter helping introduce days they are let out to roam the property my rooster to our eight-week-old hens. during the day and in the hutch at night. Rosemary Anderson, Ohio That was 2009. Over time we have added a few more chickens to the hen house.