The American Livestock Breed Conservancy (ALBC) lists a number of rare chicken breeds. We carry many of those rare breeds at McMurray Hatchery — below is a list grouped by the ALBC status for each breed. Each listed breed contains a link to the appropriate page or pages on our website for that breed.
- Critical: Critical status means that there are less than 500 breeding birds in the United States, and the estimated population across the globe is less than 1,000.
- Campines
- Crevecoeurs
- Modern Game
- Spanish
- Sultan
- Sumatra
- Threatened: Threatened status means that there are less than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States, and the estimated population across the globe is less than 5,000.
- Watch: Watch means that there are less than 5,000 breeding birds in the United States, and across the globe, the estimated population is less than 10,000. Any breeds that have a limited geographic distribution or that have genetic or numerical concerns are also listed as “Watch” status.
- Ancona
- Brahma – Buff Brahma, Light Brahma, Dark Brahma
- Cochin – Black Cochin, Partridge Cochin, Blue Cochin, White Cochin, Silver Laced Cochin, Buff Cochin
- Cornish – White Laced Red Cornish, Dark Cornish
- Dominique
- Hamburg – Golden Penciled Hamburg, Silver Spangled Hamburg
- Houdan
- Jersey Giant – Black Giant, White Giant
- Minorca – Black Minorca, Buff Minorca
- New Hampshire
- Old English Game – Silver Duckwing Old English Game
- Polish – White Polish, Golden Polish, Silver Polish, Buff Laced Polish, White Crested Black Polish
- Sebright – Bantam Silver Sebright, Bantam Golden Sebright
- Recovering: Breeds that were previously listed in any of the above categories but that now have populations that exceed that of the Watch category but still need to be monitored are listed here.
- Australorp
- Orpington – Buff Orpington, White Orpington
- Plymouth Rock – Silver Penciled Rocks, White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Partridge Rocks, Buff Rocks
- Sussex
- Wyandotte – White Wyandotte, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Silver Penciled Wyandotte, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Columbian Wyandotte
- Study: Breeds in this category are those that are of genetic interest but which lack definition, genetic, or historical documentation.
Our New Hampshire Reds are so much fun we spend several hours a day petting and watching their antics. Ours are only 1 month old without health issues and are growing like weeds…. I can’t wait ’till they start laying…..
I have a lovely Campine hen I’d love to give to a serious breeder. She is 11 months old and laying now. How can I find someone in my Tampa area to take her?
Try Craigslist or here is a listing of breeders near us.
http://www.hcfair.net/Livestock/Poultry%20Clinic/Poultry%20Breeders%20List.pdf
They [Silkies] are a friendly breed!!!!!!
I must say that I love my Lakenvelder hens. They are flighty but very good girls.