Heritage Poultry Breeds โ FarmPal
Heritage chicken, turkey, duck, and goose breeds offer vigor, foraging ability, and flavor that commercial hybrids simply cannot match. They lay beautiful eggs, forage for much of their own food, raise their own young, and produce meat with actual flavor. Essential for any self-sufficient homestead.
Space/Animal
Chickens: 4 sq ft indoor, 8-10 outdoor. Turkeys: 6-8 sq ft indoor, 20+ outdoor. Ducks: 4-6 sq ft. Geese: mostly outdoor, minimal shelter needed.
Fencing
Chickens: 4-5 ft fence or electronet. Turkeys: 4 ft fence (clip wings) or free-range with guardian. Ducks/geese: low fencing works they don't fly much.
Feeding
Daily Ration
Layers: 1/4-1/3 lb feed per day. Meat birds: free-choice. Heritage breeds on good forage can reduce feed by 20-40%.
Oyster shell for calcium (free-choice)
Grit for digestion (free-choice)
Poultry-specific mineral/vitamin supplement
Scratch grains as treat (not primary feed)
Fermented feed improves nutrient absorption
Maturity
Chickens: 5-6 months. Turkeys: 7-8 months. Ducks: 5-7 months. Geese: 1-2 years.
Gestation
21 days
Litter Size
Chickens: 200-300 eggs/year. Turkeys: 80-120. Ducks: 150-300. Geese: 15-40.
Frequency
Year-round for chickens and ducks. Seasonal for turkeys and geese (spring).
Primary Product
Eggs, meat, and breeding stock. Heritage turkeys for holidays.
Yield
Eggs: 200-340/year depending on breed. Meat birds: 4-10 lbs depending on species. Heritage turkeys: 12-25 lbs.
Market Value
Pastured eggs: $5-8/dozen. Heritage chicken: $6-10/lb. Heritage turkey: $8-12/lb. Duck eggs: $8-12/dozen. Breeding stock: $20-100+ per bird.
Startup Cost
Small flock (12 hens + rooster): $200-500. Coop: $200-2,000. Equipment: $100-300. Total: $500-2,800.
Annual Cost/Animal
Chicken: $40-80. Turkey: $80-150. Duck: $40-70. Goose: $20-40.
Revenue/Animal
Laying hen: $80-200/year in egg sales. Meat bird: $25-60. Heritage turkey: $80-180. Breeding stock: $25-100+/bird.
Break Even
Egg sales: 6-12 months. Meat birds: single season. Turkey: first Thanksgiving.
Breeds (4)
๐ Buff Orpington (Chicken)
๐ฆ Bourbon Red (Turkey)
๐ฆ Khaki Campbell (Duck)
๐ชฟ Pilgrim (Goose)