Traditional breeds carry important, irreplaceable genes, the value of which remains for future events to determine. They may be the birds that will rescue the poultry industry of the future.

Traditional breeds, such as Rooster Cockburn, a Dorking, carry on specific traits such as strong foraging, broodiness, natural mating abilities, etc. Dorkings are a good dual-purpose bird with fine-textured meat. Photo courtesy of Marybeth Bullington, Oregon, and taken by J.J. Johanson.

Breeds are the repository of genetic diversity in domestic animals such as poultry. A breed has a unique appearance, productivity and behavior. They breed true, which means that when they are mated together, their offspring are predictably like them.

Breeds are a package deal, not a collection of individual traits such as comb type and body conformation. We cannot know all the genes that comprise a breed. To lose a breed is to lose the entire unique genetic package. All chickens are the same species and share some genes, but other genes are unique to the breed. Ducks, geese, turkeys and guineas similarly share traits within their species but carry others that make them quite different, both from other domestic breeds and from wild relatives.

Loss of a traditional breed operation is like the loss of a great library.

Traditional breeds are part of a culture that is being fragmented and lost. Traditional breeds do not flourish in industrial settings. The traits that make them special include being a good forager, good brooder and good mother (and father), alert protector, longevity, disease and parasite resistance, ability to mate naturally and with high fertility.

Choosing the right traditional breed for your situation works best when made part of a long-term plan. White Faced Spanish chickens are known for their strong egg-laying abilities and have a long history in the United States. Photo courtesy of Dyanna Byers, California

Traditional breeds are an important part of an integrated and sustainable farm. Each breed's characteristics suit it to a climate and certain production goals. The Chantecler, developed in Canada, is suited to a cold climate. Mediterranean breeds such as the Leghorn, the Ancona and the Spanish group are known for egg laying.

Sustainable, integrated systems include poultry as working contributors to farm ecology and production. They consume weed seeds and insects. They consume green waste and produce high-nitrogen manure for fertilizer. They provide meat and eggs. They reproduce themselves and perpetuate the flock.

For the breeder, choosing which birds to breed is never simple. Flocks need variability to be vigorous and to avoid the pitfalls of inbreeding. On the other hand, birds need uniformity and predictability to retain breed identity. Industrial strains seek uniformity. Traditional breeds seek genetic diversity within phenotypic consistency.

In the 21st century, industrial chickens are controlled by a few multinational corporations dedicated to increasing profits, from a narrow genetic base. While that succeeds in the marketplace, it is inevitably vulnerable to failure. Such genetically similar birds are all vulnerable to the same diseases. The crowded conditions in which they are kept create conditions under which disease outbreaks spread rapidly and are often resistant to treatment.

SPPA's mission encompasses all traditional breeds, whether they are currently included in a standard or not.

Breed standards are mainly physical but also behavioral. Selective breeding is guided by breed standards. The APA specifically includes mention of Economic Value. Conformation, plumage, comb and color are all significant aspects of the description.

Traits such as fertility, parasite and disease resistance and longevity are less easily observed than physical traits.

Cochins are an attractive, calm breed with good laying ability, and strong mothering skills. Photo courtesy of Mark Pacheco, Massachusetts.

Breed health depends on maintaining a viable population size in geographically separate flocks. Birds raised in different environments under the supervision of breeders pursuing different breeding strategies will insure a healthy, strong breed.

Hobby breeding can save rare breeds from extinction, but finding or creating a market for traditional breed poultry will generate market conditions that give them a more secure future. If breeders can sell their birds and earn income, they will raise more of them. Having an economic purpose fulfills one of the original purposes of domestic poultry.

Traditional breed poultry need to be more than living exhibits in museums. Offering the public the option of purchasing traditional breed meat and eggs will assure the future of traditional breeds as well as good food.

Christine Heinrichs is the author of How to Raise Chickens and How to Raise Poultry, which focus on raising traditional breeds in small flocks. Her books are available from the Backyard Poultry bookstore.

As historian for SPPA, Christine maintains the collection of antique books and magazines, which she consults for research. Christine shares a wealth of information on her blog at http://poultrybookstore.blogspot.com. The SPPA is the oldest and only preservation organization dedicated solely to poultry. This singular focus allows the organization to concentrate the efforts of our membership on truly old and rare breeds. I cordially invite you to join the SPPA today for a reasonable $15. Just send your check or money order to Dr Charles Everett, 1057 Nick Watts Rd., Lugoff, SC 29078 or online.