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Heritage Breed Chickens

Definition: 
As defined by the American Livestock Breed Conservancy, Heritage Chicken must adhere to all the following:

1. APA Standard Breed. Heritage Chicken must be from parent and grandparent stock of breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) prior to the mid-20th century; whose genetic line can be traced back multiple generations; and with traits that meet the APA Standard of Perfection guidelines for the breed. Heritage Chicken must be produced and sired by an APA Standard breed. Heritage eggs must be laid by an APA Standard breed.

2. Naturally mating. Heritage Chicken must be reproduced and genetically maintained through natural mating.  Chickens marketed as Heritage must be the result of naturally mating pairs of both grandparent and parent stock.

3. Long, productive outdoor lifespan. Heritage Chicken must have the genetic ability to live a long, vigorous life and thrive in the rigors of pasture-based, outdoor production systems. Breeding hens should be productive for 5-7 years and roosters for 3-5 years.

4. Slow growth rate. Heritage Chicken must have a moderate to slow rate of growth, reaching appropriate market weight for the breed in no less than 16 weeks. This gives the chicken time to develop strong skeletal structure and healthy organs prior to building muscle mass.

Chickens marketed as Heritage must include the variety and breed name on the label.

Terms like “heirloom,” “antique,” “old-fashioned,” and “old timey” imply Heritage and are understood to be synonymous with the definition provided here.

Abbreviated  Definition: A Heritage Egg can only be produced by an American Poultry Association Standard breed. A Heritage Chicken is hatched from a heritage egg sired by an American Poultry Association Standard breed established prior to the mid-20th century, is slow growing, naturally mated with a long productive outdoor life.


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  • WHO IS GAIA?
  • DEXTER CATTLE
    • Dexter Bulls
    • Dexter Cows
  • ICELANDIC SHEEP
    • AI Sires
    • Ram Flock
    • Ewe Flock
    • Lambing >
      • 2015 Lambing
      • 2014 Lambing
      • 2013 Lambing
      • 2012 Lambing
      • 2011 Lambing
      • 2010 Lambing
      • 2009 Lambing
  • HOGS
    • American Guinea Hogs >
      • Piglets >
        • 2011 Summer/Fall
        • 2011 Spring
        • 2010 Piglets
        • 2009 Piglets
      • Boars
      • Sows
  • LAMANCHA DAIRY GOATS
    • LaMancha Goats >
      • Kidding >
        • 2014 Kidding
        • 2012 Kidding
        • 2011 Kidding
      • Bucks >
        • Reference Herdsires >
          • Four-Oaks Hottie's Elvis
          • Fairwoods Max Hi-Ho Silver
          • Fairwoods Grand Mocomotion
        • Four-Oaks Pepper's Hey Jude
      • Does >
        • Four-Oaks Rhadames Angelica
        • Gaea's RF CatieBug
        • Reference Does >
          • Four-Oaks Pepper's Kara
          • MercyFarms MG Cricket - Freckles
          • MercyFarms MGD Cindy - Caramel
          • Mom's Menagerie Ana Maria - Gracie
          • MercyFarms MGD Oreo - Oreo
          • MercyFarms MJ Candy - Pansy
  • POULTRY
    • Heritage Breed Poultry >
      • Ducks >
        • Magpie Ducks
      • Chickens >
        • Erminette Chickens
  • DOGS
    • Belgian Shepherd Tervuren
    • Icelandic Sheepdogs
    • Anatolian Shepherd Dogs
    • Šarplaninac - Yugoslav Shepherd Dog-Šarplanina
  • GUARDIANS
    • Donkey
  • RESOURCES AND ARTICLES
  • Important Articles