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What is Heritage Poultry?
Well, Heritage Poultry consists of original breeds and strains of domestic fowl that were developed and/or recognized in the late 19th or 20th centuries and are defined by a specific set of criteria.
The purpose of preserving and marketing Heritage Poultry is to maintain, improve, and expand populations of high quality poultry for the production of meat and eggs that conform to the American Poultry Association (APA) Standard of Perfection for poultry breeds from genetic populations established prior to the mid-20th century. Poultry marketed as “heritage” must include the variety and breed name on the label.
Terms like heirloom, antique, old-fashioned, and old time! imply heritage and are understood to be synonymous with the criteria provided here. Poultry must meet all of the following criteria to be marketed as Heritage:
- APA Standard Breed
Heritage Chicken must be from parent and grandparent stock of breeds recognized by the 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. - 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. - 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. - 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 14 weeks. This gives the chicken time to develop strong skeletal structure and healthy organs prior to building muscle mass.