When I was planning Misty Moonlit Acres I wanted to be as self reliant and diversified as possible. Poultry for eggs, meat and offspring where on my list. Little did I realize what I was getting into.
For instance, I knew nothing about endagered breeds. To me "endangered" brought up visuals of Cheetahs, Bald Eagles and California Condors, not chickens, turkeys and ducks. As it turns out many species of what we consider domesticated breeds of animals are endangered. The reasons are varied, but many have suffered the fate of mass production. Animals that are too small, don't produce fast enough, have the wrong skin color, etc. are no longer raised, much to the detriment of both the breed and our enjoyment. Many of these breeds were raised in colonial times on small homesteads where these smaller animals were more efficiant and more desease resistant, often providing multiple sources of food and income. As many people search for a more rural lifestyle these heritage breeds are making a come back, but not all, and not quickly. To find out more about endagered breeds click here
So in my search for unusual poultry and fowl, I discovered the added bonus of helping to preserve endangered varieties. To find out what we are raising and learn more about our chosen breeds click on one of the links in the menu above.
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