Our Poultry
Poultry is one of our many passions here at AlvaryWinters. We keep a range of breeds from the elegant egg laying Hamburg chicken, to the placid cuddly Aylesbury duck.
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Check out our "For Sale" section to see prices and availability.
I apologize for the few missing photos, will add them soon!
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Check out our "For Sale" section to see prices and availability.
I apologize for the few missing photos, will add them soon!
*Basic Information Legend
Classification: Breed classing (eg "Duck, light breed.")
Size: The size of the breed, relative to it's class. Also the average weight of the bird as an adult.
Use: The main use throughout the breed history. 'Dual-purpose' means used for both meat and egg laying.
Eggs: Basic information about the eggs laid; Colour, size and frequency (frequency may drop as birds age).
Broody: Whether a hen will sit on and hatch eggs, and if she is a good mother.
Personality: The breed's character traits and manageability.
Status: The breed/variety population status according to The Rare Breeds Trust Australia - http://www.rbta.org/poultry.htm
Size: The size of the breed, relative to it's class. Also the average weight of the bird as an adult.
Use: The main use throughout the breed history. 'Dual-purpose' means used for both meat and egg laying.
Eggs: Basic information about the eggs laid; Colour, size and frequency (frequency may drop as birds age).
Broody: Whether a hen will sit on and hatch eggs, and if she is a good mother.
Personality: The breed's character traits and manageability.
Status: The breed/variety population status according to The Rare Breeds Trust Australia - http://www.rbta.org/poultry.htm
Hamburghs
Classification: Softfeather, light breed.
Size: Medium (2kg) Use: Egg layer Eggs: White, 60g, Prolific layer. Broody: No. Personality: Highly intelligent, can be flighty. Status: Vulnerable to Critical We keep: Nearly all colours in large and bantam, and blue versions of each. Silver Spangled, Gold Spangled, Silver Penciled, Gold Penciled, Black, Blue. Always working on more. The hamburg is a very old breed, being one of the first to have an established standard. Previously known as the 'Dutch-every-day-layer', this stunning and agile breed is a reliable layer with a long life expectancy. |
Silkie
Black bearded Silkie pullet
Classification: Softfeather, heavy breed.
Size: Small size.
Use: Pet, broody, layer.
Eggs: Tinted.
Broody: Yes, great mothers.
Personality: Docile, friendly.
Status: Common.
We keep: Bearded; silver, black/blue/splash.
Silkies are one of the best known backyard chicken breeds, and for good reason. They are hardy, friendly, docile and good little layers.
Size: Small size.
Use: Pet, broody, layer.
Eggs: Tinted.
Broody: Yes, great mothers.
Personality: Docile, friendly.
Status: Common.
We keep: Bearded; silver, black/blue/splash.
Silkies are one of the best known backyard chicken breeds, and for good reason. They are hardy, friendly, docile and good little layers.
Wyandottes
Two young partridge Wyandotte bantam pullets
Classification: Softfeather, heavy breed, bantam.
Size: Large bantam (1kg)
Use: Broody, egg layer, pet.
Eggs: Tinted, 40g, 4-6 a week.
Broody: Yes, good mother.
Personality: Quiet, friendly and intelligent.
Status: Vulnerable
We keep: (bantam only)Partridge, Black laced Gold, Blue laced Gold.
Wyandottes are a fantastic dual-purpose breed with a sweet nature, making them perfect as a backyard layer or child's pet. Wyandottes are also very popular as a show bird as they present well and are easy to manage in the show pen.
Size: Large bantam (1kg)
Use: Broody, egg layer, pet.
Eggs: Tinted, 40g, 4-6 a week.
Broody: Yes, good mother.
Personality: Quiet, friendly and intelligent.
Status: Vulnerable
We keep: (bantam only)Partridge, Black laced Gold, Blue laced Gold.
Wyandottes are a fantastic dual-purpose breed with a sweet nature, making them perfect as a backyard layer or child's pet. Wyandottes are also very popular as a show bird as they present well and are easy to manage in the show pen.
Ancona Ducks
Classification: Duck, medium weight.
Size: Medium (2.5kg)
Use: Egg layer
Eggs: White or green. Good layer, medium eggs.
Broody: Unreliable.
Personality: Energetic and cheeky.
We keep: Blue, Black, Chocolate
Ancona ducks are, at present, not a breed recognized in Australia. This spotted breed is steadily gaining in popularity in Australia, so with luck this will change in the future.
Anconas are characterized by their spots and splotches (the more random the better) and bright yellow bills. They come in a range of colours and are very easy to manage.
Size: Medium (2.5kg)
Use: Egg layer
Eggs: White or green. Good layer, medium eggs.
Broody: Unreliable.
Personality: Energetic and cheeky.
We keep: Blue, Black, Chocolate
Ancona ducks are, at present, not a breed recognized in Australia. This spotted breed is steadily gaining in popularity in Australia, so with luck this will change in the future.
Anconas are characterized by their spots and splotches (the more random the better) and bright yellow bills. They come in a range of colours and are very easy to manage.
Aylesbury Ducks
A 5 month old Aylesbury duck.
Classification: Duck, heavy breed.
Size: Large (3.5kg to 4kg)
Use: Dual-Purpose
Eggs: White, 80g, 5-6 a week. Seasonal layers.
Broody: Variable, some sit well.
Personality: Easy to manage, placid, appreciate routine.
Status: Critical
Aylesburys are one of the oldest domestic breeds of duck. They were kept in England as a heavy, fatty, meat producing breed. They layed well and were able to cope and breed very well in the cold. The Aylesbury peaked in popularity at the start of the 20th century. When people began to become more commercial orientated, the Aylesbury was pushed aside in favour of other faster growing, leaner breeds. The Aylesbury has become very rare world-wide, with only a few decent quality birds available in Australia.
Size: Large (3.5kg to 4kg)
Use: Dual-Purpose
Eggs: White, 80g, 5-6 a week. Seasonal layers.
Broody: Variable, some sit well.
Personality: Easy to manage, placid, appreciate routine.
Status: Critical
Aylesburys are one of the oldest domestic breeds of duck. They were kept in England as a heavy, fatty, meat producing breed. They layed well and were able to cope and breed very well in the cold. The Aylesbury peaked in popularity at the start of the 20th century. When people began to become more commercial orientated, the Aylesbury was pushed aside in favour of other faster growing, leaner breeds. The Aylesbury has become very rare world-wide, with only a few decent quality birds available in Australia.
Polish
Polish
Classification: Softfeather, light
Size:
Use: Eggs, pets
Eggs:
Broody: Variable, some sit well.
Personality: Alert, placid, intelligent.
Status: At Risk
We keep: (bantam) Gold Laced, Gold Spangled
Classification: Softfeather, light
Size:
Use: Eggs, pets
Eggs:
Broody: Variable, some sit well.
Personality: Alert, placid, intelligent.
Status: At Risk
We keep: (bantam) Gold Laced, Gold Spangled
Indian Game
Classification: Hardfeather, heavy.
Size:
Use: Meat, Pets
Eggs: Poor layers, medium, off-white.
Broody: Dedicated, can be clumbsy.
Personality: Easy going, curious.
Status: At risk
We Keep: Bantam Dark.
Perhaps one of the ugliest of breeds, these charming birds quickly grow on you. Little bothers them, and they are very easy to manage. There is no fluff to an Indian Game, they are broad and solid birds, carrying plenty of breast and leg meat. Indian game are frequently used to cross with larger faster growing birds (such as Plymouth Rock or Leghorns) to produce excellent meat birds.
Size:
Use: Meat, Pets
Eggs: Poor layers, medium, off-white.
Broody: Dedicated, can be clumbsy.
Personality: Easy going, curious.
Status: At risk
We Keep: Bantam Dark.
Perhaps one of the ugliest of breeds, these charming birds quickly grow on you. Little bothers them, and they are very easy to manage. There is no fluff to an Indian Game, they are broad and solid birds, carrying plenty of breast and leg meat. Indian game are frequently used to cross with larger faster growing birds (such as Plymouth Rock or Leghorns) to produce excellent meat birds.
Brahma
Classification: Softfeather, heavy.
Size: Large Use: Dual Purpose Eggs: Large, average layer Broody: Good mothers Personality: Relaxed, friendly Status: We Keep: Light, Gold Laced. Developmental bantam Red. These easily recognizable "trouser chickens" are one of my favorite breeds. They are the epitome of gentle giants, with placid natures and ability to handle stress well. They are hardy and do as well in a small backyard as a large paddock. They sometimes struggle in the heat, but cope better with the cold than most birds. |
Belgium d'Uccle
Classification: Softfeather, true bantam.
Size: Small Use: Pets, broodies Eggs: Good layers of small off-white eggs Broody: Good mothers Personality: Curious, outgoing, placid. Males can be aggressive. Status: Not at risk We Keep: Millefleur, Porcelain, Black Mottled. An excellent pet and show fowl, Belgium Bantams are a must for kids, pet flocks, and small yards. Beautiful birds on the outside, and packed full of character. These tiny birds never fail to capture attention. |
Leghorn
Classification: Softfeather, light.
Size: Large
Use: Eggs
Eggs: Excellent layers of large white eggs
Broody: Rarely
Personality: Alert, excellent foragers.
Status: Not at risk
We Keep: Standard white, bantam red.
One of the best known chickens, the Leghorn is famous for their excellent egg laying. Not a great choice for small yards, these large birds do best with plenty of room to roam. They make a fantastic show fowl, being fairly easy to breed and prepare for show.
Size: Large
Use: Eggs
Eggs: Excellent layers of large white eggs
Broody: Rarely
Personality: Alert, excellent foragers.
Status: Not at risk
We Keep: Standard white, bantam red.
One of the best known chickens, the Leghorn is famous for their excellent egg laying. Not a great choice for small yards, these large birds do best with plenty of room to roam. They make a fantastic show fowl, being fairly easy to breed and prepare for show.
Austrolorp
Classification: Softfeather, Heavy.
Size: Medium (3.4kg / 4.3kg)
Use: Dual-purpose.
Eggs: Medium, Tinted, 5-6 a week.
Broody: Yes.
Personality: Docile, friendly, easy to manage.
We breed: Black, Blue, Splash.
Status: Common.
Size: Medium (3.4kg / 4.3kg)
Use: Dual-purpose.
Eggs: Medium, Tinted, 5-6 a week.
Broody: Yes.
Personality: Docile, friendly, easy to manage.
We breed: Black, Blue, Splash.
Status: Common.
Turkeys
Size: Very large.
Use: Dual-purpose
Eggs: Ample eggs most of the year, cream with brown spots.
Broody: Sit readily, poult mortality high for new mums.
Personality: Stubborn, ignore fences, not easily ruffled.
We breed: Lavender
Status: Varies by variety, lavender are rare (numbers unknown currently).
Turkeys are such funny creatures, and an excellent addition to any farm, big or small. They can be incredibly stupid and stubborn, and are often terrible mothers, but they also lay well most of the year, and make excellent eating. They are generally easy to manage, and forage well. Being prone to Blackhead (a disease commonly carried by chickens and other fowl), it's important that they and all chickens are wormed regularly, and ideally kept off ground frequented by other fowl. Turkeys have fantastic temperaments for pets (although some toms can be aggressive), and can live for a Decade.
Use: Dual-purpose
Eggs: Ample eggs most of the year, cream with brown spots.
Broody: Sit readily, poult mortality high for new mums.
Personality: Stubborn, ignore fences, not easily ruffled.
We breed: Lavender
Status: Varies by variety, lavender are rare (numbers unknown currently).
Turkeys are such funny creatures, and an excellent addition to any farm, big or small. They can be incredibly stupid and stubborn, and are often terrible mothers, but they also lay well most of the year, and make excellent eating. They are generally easy to manage, and forage well. Being prone to Blackhead (a disease commonly carried by chickens and other fowl), it's important that they and all chickens are wormed regularly, and ideally kept off ground frequented by other fowl. Turkeys have fantastic temperaments for pets (although some toms can be aggressive), and can live for a Decade.
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