Here at Birch Run Farm we encourage our stock to reproduce naturally and raise their own young. This gives our young birds a great start with their protective parents. Our oldest hens are our best biddies.
ARAUCANA
We have true Araucana, this breed was developed from native stock kept by an indigenous mountain tribe in Chile. These birds are in the large fowl class but are smaller than most laying breeds. Araucanas are bred to have no tails, called rumpless, have a pea comb and often have tufts of feathers growing out of the sides of their heads. No other breed has this feature! Araucanas lay blue shelled eggs and the color is complete through the entire shell.
Araucanas are a very rare breed, they are friendly calm birds and have recognized standard colors for showing but also come in many color varieties. Some are hatched with tail feathers, smooth faces or rumpless with smooth faces. Show quality birds are quite rare and have specific plumage colors, are rumpless and have bilateral tufts. We breed for the standard but very few birds are actually hatched to meet it. This is a colorful breed and are good egg layers and mothers.
AMERAUCANA
True Ameraucanas are also a specialized breed that lays colored eggs. This breed differs from Araucanas notably with tails and they have bearded and muffed faces. No wattles show through their facial feathering. Show quality birds have specific colors.
We have large fowl sized birds who lay blue shelled eggs. These are a calm and friendly breed to have around the farm.
MARANS
This is a French breed and they come in feather legged and smooth legged forms. There are several color varieties and we have smooth legged Cuckoo and Golden Cuckoo Marans. Cuckoos have a blurry barred color somewhat similar to a barred rock. This breed is noted for very dark brown shelled eggs, it is a large breed and good for dual purpose- both eggs and meat. Hens are often broody and are very attentive mothers.
RED STAR
Red Stars are a hybrid. This means they are a cross breed, usually consisting of Rhode Island red crossed with either White Leghorns or another white or barred breed variety. When they hatch the chicks can be sexed due to their down color, males and females look different. This variety was developed for egg production and they are exceptionally prolific layers of extra large brown shell eggs. They are a calm and very quiet hen.
EASTER EGGERS - Rainbow Layers, EE
Easter Eggers (EE) are cross bred birds that look similar to true Ameraucanas. All hatchery stock listed as Araucanas or Ameraucans are in fact EE's. EE's lay colored eggs with green, blue, pink, brown or stone colored shells and birds may have beards and muffs, pea combs or can have straight combs and no beards. EE's usually have wild colored leg shanks. In other words, they have greenish/yellow skin on their legs. They are generally mixed colors and nice birds to have in the barnyard.
BROILERS
We raise our own Cornish Cross meat birds for our freezer.
MUSCOVY DUCKS
This is an excellent breed of duck for both meat and eggs. The females are good mothers and fly well. These ducks enjoy eating slugs and other pests. They do not quack and the males have no voice at all. This is a huge breed of duck, almost goose sized. They are capable of perching in trees. Birch Run Farm stock are black and white pied, the unique Duclair pied (tuxedo look) and all black.
DUTCH HOOK BILLS
Light class mallard type breed, they lay blue or green shelled eggs, they are new to Birch Run Farm for 2009. We have Holderread select bred birds. Check in 2010 for ducklings and hatching eggs.
TURKEYS
On occasion we have turkeys and other game fowl available. Most of the time they are just found here as fun lawn ornaments.
