Our Heritage Chickens, Turkey & Duck Breeds

Here at Healing Homestead we focus on conservation of purebred heritage breeds and their bloodlines that date back for some to the early 1900. These birds are hardy, tend to be resistant to some diseases, and have not had their innate abilities to go broody bred out of them. These are not your average commercial hatchery birds.

We believe in raising good quality stock, and with that includes access to highly nutrient dense feed.

Click the link below to see what heritage breeds we have available and all the details to preorder hatching eggs, chicks and pullets. More breeds are still being added to the website so check often for updates.

SHOP Hatching eggs, Chicks, Pullets Here

Niederrheiner

Meat/Light Brown Eggs Dual Purpose

Through very selective German breeding, Niederrheiner chickens are one of the heaviest, largest breed of all chickens. Hens are double the weight of most standard birds weighing in at 8-10lbs, and roos at 10-12.

They make an excellent carcass size within just a few short months. I processed mine last year and noticed the size difference compared to my Cornish cross. White skin and clean legs make for a deliciously appetizing table bird.

My flock consists of Lemon and Crele Hens under Lemon and Crele Roos.

Use: Meat (8-16 weeks)
Egg Size / Colour: Large Light Brown
Rate of Lay: Early layers 16-18wks, 200
Standard Market Weight: 8-10 lb Hens (12-16wks) 10-12lb Roos (12-16 wks)
Rate of Growth / Maturity: Faster Growing
Temperament: Docile, Friendly, fit well in a mixed flock, Highly recommend for family safe breed.
Special Characteristics: Adapatable to different weather conditions (heat and cold tolerant), Cold Hardy,

Random 1978

Meat/Light Brown Eggs Dual Purpose

Unselected for any traits since 1978. Were developed from different broiler breeder strains. Broiler breeders are the parent stock of meat type birds which are called broilers. These birds were kept to be representative of meat type birds of that era. The birds show a variety of colors due to the different stock originally used to contribute to the breed.

Use: Meat (8-10 weeks)
Egg Size / Colour: Large Cream
Rate of Lay: 180-200 per year
Standard Market Weight: 8 lb (16wks) 4 lb (8 wks)
Rate of Growth / Maturity: Faster Growing
Temperament: Friendly, fit well in a mixed flock.
Special Characteristics: Random coloring, from all white, to almost all black.

Rhode Island Red

Meat/Brown Eggs Dual Purpose

The Rhode Island Red was developed not by fanciers but by poultry farmers in the area of Little Compton, Rhode Island, beginning about 1830. From the beginning, the breeders’ goal was a utilitarian, dual-purpose chicken, not a show bird. They started with their own stocks, which were a blend of many breeds.

The Rhode Island Red is widely considered to be the most successful dual-purpose breed in North America, although the Barred Plymouth Rock is a close second. It is not a meat specialist, but its size and conformation make for a good eating bird. Its dark-colored pinfeathers were definitely a handicap in its becoming a more popular market meat bird.

Use: Eggs/Meat

Egg Size / Colour: Large/Brown
Rate of Lay: 250-300
Standard Market Weight: 6-7 lb
Rate of Growth / Maturity” Faster growing
Temperament: Friendly and Cold Hardy
Special Characteristics: Broodiness, Long-lived, Adapatable to different weather conditions (heat and cold tolerant)

Plymouth Barred Rock

Meat/Bown Eggs Dual Purpose

The Plymouth Rock was first developed in the 19th century in New England. In 1869 they were first exhibited as an all-American breed. They are renowned for their egg laying and utility purposes. Our breeding stock originated from the University of Saskatchewan, after many years of selection and maintained as an unselected population since 1965 . Their original characteristics have been maintained over the years without any change in their body conformation and production performance.

Use: Eggs/Meat
Egg Size / Colour: Large/Brown
Rate of Lay: 200
Standard Market Weight: 6-8 lb
Rate of Growth / Maturity: 12-16 weeks
Temperament: Calm
Special Characteristics: Early Feathering, Cold-Hardy, Meat Qualities

Light Sussex

Meat/Cream Egg Dual Purpose

The Sussex chicken was created in the county of Sussex, England over a century ago. Back in the 1930’s they were very popular for laying trials. They are still considered one of the oldest breeds that exist today and still serve commercial purpose. Our breed stock originated from the University of Saskatchewan since 1967 as an unselected population. The female weight averages 4lbs while the male on the average has a weight of 5 lbs.

Use: Eggs/Meat
Egg Size / Colour: Small/Cream
Rate of Lay: 150
Standard Market Weight: 7 lb
Rate of Growth / Maturity: N/A
Temperament: Calm and Curious,
Special Characteristics: Good All Around Table Bird, Famous for Flavor, Cold Hardy

Brown Leghorn

Brown Egg Layer

These old leghorn chickens and the modern white leghorn chicken are among the most popular commercial strains worldwide. They originated in Italy and were introduced to America in 1853. Our breeding stock originated from the University of Saskatchewan since 1974, were initially selected for high egg production rate to 273 days of age and related traits such as resistance to Marek’s disease.

Use: Eggs
Egg Size / Colour: Medium / White
Rate of Lay: 250-300
Standard Market Weight: 4-5 lb
Rate of Growth / Maturity: Medium / Early
Temperament: Very Active
Special Characteristics: Noted for hardiness and vigour, excellent layer

Whiting True Blue

Blue Egg Layer

With its ever-changing, rainbow hues of color and pattern combinations, the Whiting True Blue Chicken is a unique breed. While the WTB is a mix of a few different heirtage breeds, it is not considered a heritage breed itself. It currently has no breed standard.

Some of the most commonly reoccurring colors for these birds include: Silver blue, Blue wheaten, Blue red, Lemon blue, Solid blue, Black-breasted red, Black

Use: Eggs
Egg Size / Colour: Large / Blue
Rate of Lay: 250-300
Standard Market Weight: 5.5 lb
Rate of Growth / Maturity: Medium / Early
Temperament: very active,
Special Characteristics: Noted for hardiness and vigour, excellent layer, 5-10yr lifespan, good foragers.

Black Copper Maran

Meat/Dark Chocolate Brown Egg Dual Purpose

The original Marans (poule de Marans) comes from La Rochelle’s area in southwestern France. These original landrace birds were crossed with the local barnyard hens and gamecocks from India and Indonesia that the sailors brought in. These originals came to be known as Marandaise fowl.

In later years the Marans were further refined to produce the ancestors of the Maran breed we know today. In the 1930s saw the setting of the breed standard in France for this dual-purpose bird. They were called Marans after the French port of the same name. By 1932 there were six recognized varieties of Marans – silver cuckoo, white/ black, black copper neck, ermine, golden cuckoo, and red.

Use: Eggs/ Meat
Egg Size / Colour: Large / Dark Brown
Rate of Lay: 200
Standard Market Weight: Hens 6.5lb, Roos 7-8lbs
Rate of Growth / Maturity: Medium
Temperament: Friendly, Calm, Curious
Special Characteristics: Good foragers. Dual Purpose, Cold Hardy, Can have feathered and non feathered legs

Easter Egger

Can lay a variety of egg colors from blue to green and sometimes even pink.

Easter egger is any hybrid or mixed-breed chicken that can lay a variety of colors.

Hybrid birds of this type may be of any color, and commonly muffed and bearded, often with a pea-comb; the wattles may be small or entirely absent. The legs can be grey, yellow, or greenish. Because of their cross breeding, Easter Eggers do not have set egg, or body colors. Easter Eggers are mainly egg-laying birds, as their meat is not great. Easter Eggers are also known for being good pets around children.

Use: Eggs
Egg Size / Colour: Varies
Rate of Lay: 200
Rate of Growth / Maturity: Medium, Small
Temperament: Friendly, Calm, Curious
Special Characteristics: Good foragers. Cold Hardy, Great with kids,

Pekin Duck

Jumbo White Egg Layer

Pekin ducks are a popular breed of domestic duck, known for their white feathers, fast growth rate, and suitability for meat production and egg laying. They originated in China and are now raised globally.

Key Characteristics of Pekin Ducks:

Appearance: Pekin ducks are white-feathered with yellowish bills and orange shanks and toes.
Growth: They are known for their rapid growth, reaching a mature weight of 7-13 pounds in a relatively short time.
Meat Production: Their meat is mild in flavor and tender, making them a popular choice for meat production.

Egg Laying: Pekin ducks are also good layers, producing a generous amount of large eggs.
Origin and History:
The Pekin duck originated in China and was introduced to the United States in the 1870s. Distinction from Peking Duck (the dish):

It’s important to distinguish between the Pekin duck breed and the Peking duck dish. The Pekin duck is a breed of duck, while Peking duck (also spelled Peking duck) is a famous Chinese dish made with a whole roasted duck. The dish is known for its crispy skin and is traditionally served with thin pancakes, sweet bean sauce, and other garnishes.

Red Bourbon Turkey

Meat/ Eggs

The Bourbon Red is an American breed of domestic turkey. It is named for its reddish-brown plumage and for its area of origin, Bourbon County, Kentucky, where it was developed in the last years of the nineteenth century.

It was accepted into the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1909, and in the early twentieth century was an important commercial meat breed until the Broad Breasted White began to dominate industrial production.

Use: Meat/ Eggs
Egg Size / Colour: Large / White Speckled
Standard Market Weight: 15 kg (32 lb) for mature toms (males) and 8 kg (18 lb) for mature hens.
Rate of Growth / Maturity: Medium
Temperament: Friendly, Calm, Curious
Special Characteristics: Good foragers. Dual Purpose, Cold Hardy,

Healing Homestead is family owned and operated.