Here you will find a listing and descriptions of our breeds we currently raise. The descriptions are quick snippets, what we like about them and in some cases info on the breed and our plans in the future for them. The descriptions are not exhaustive as information on the breeds can be found on the internet pretty easily. We give original breeder information for our breeds, (if the breeder wishes to be acknowledged) with each description. Note: we do not give credit per bird as often we have more than 1 bird per group from other breeders.  We do bring in new genetics every few years so there is no inbreeding. 

We are always available to talk about the breeds we carry more indepth. All of our birds can be viewed in our viewing area by appointment.

We do not give coop/farm tours due to Biosecurity rules for NPIP. 

Below are a description first followed by a picture of the breeds. 

* While we recommend any of these breeds for families with children, children should always have a family member with them during interactions with the chickens. 

NOTE: Breeder credit goes to who I got my original birds/lines from but does not mean the current offspring in any way represents or reflects on their lines. Every breeder makes their own decisions on where to go with the next generation.

They are people I highly recommend, they have wonderful healthy birds.

Bantam American Watermaal:

American Watermaals are a fairly new breed, a handful of breeders got together and decided to create this variety because of the lack of this breed in the US. The original breed is a European known as the Barbu De Watermael, due to the cost of importing breeds it was decided this was the easiest way to achieve the goal of a Watermaal breed. Although some of the Barbu De Watermael can now be found in the US thru the import efforts of some large hatcheries, we kind of like the idea of a variety that has been made in the US. The breeding efforts are on going and while still a work in progress there are some beautiful examples of the breed. We have a few colors available and we are working on our own line of cuckoo Watermaal. 

Watermaal lay a small white to creme colored egg, a few lines still lay some blue tinted eggs from the crossings with Bantam Ameraucana for temperament and personality. We have found Watermaal to be chatty and curious. They like to see what you are doing while you are visiting with them. We love the proud stance these birds are known for, like little soldiers. These little guys sport a tasseled crest and a beard which makes them look a little fancy and endearing. 

Note: the self blue color will not be available until next year and cuckoo are still in development. 

Original Breeders from: White info given when purchased, Black & Self-Blue from a local breeder who asked not to be named. 

Project Bantam Mille Cochins:

Bantam cochins are a very gentle breed, I have never come across an aggressive bantam cochin. These mille's are a first cross toward a Mille Fleur Satin/Silkie line. We will keep crossing these to silkies. We will keep some as Cochins with no crossing as they make wonderful mothers who love to brood chicks. They are like silkies in that they like to go broody.  They lay a small brown to creme color egg. We have found them to be good layers for a bantam breed. 

*Original Breeder: no information given when asked

Project Ermine Ameraucanas: 

Ermine Ameraucanas are a project bird started by Becky Pelton and now have a group working toward APA acceptance. A bantam version is also in the works by another breeder. They lay beautiful blue eggs like other Ameraucana lines and we are excited to take on Ermine's and help toward acceptance. They will be bred toward the standard of perfection and we hope others will join us in breeding this beautiful pattern. Ermine is not the same as mottled as there are mottled lines of Ameraucana.

Original Breeders: One rooster and pullet from Leigh Schilling Edwards lines 2022

Bantam Satins: White, Black, Blue, Cuckoo, Chocolate, Mille Fleur 

Satins are a breed seperate from silkies but bred to all the same standards of silkies but they have regular feathers instead of the silkie fluff feather. I call them silkies breeds cousin if you will. Satins are a breed started by a few breeders  crossing bantam cochins to silkies, it takes many years of crossing (close to 20 years) back to silkies for a satin to be a true satin... it will have dark skin ( except in colors like mille and cuckoo that the gene interfers with melanizers that create the dark skin) 5 toes and a full crest etc.    Here is a description by Sheri Minker, she helped create the Satin breed and sadly passed away this year. 

"From one of the creators of the breed...

About Silkies & Satins by Sheri Minkner
I'm going to try & explain the differences between Silkies & Satins. If you want to dispute what I say, that's up to you, but I helped create the Satin breed & I've been working on them, showing them, & breeding them for over 30 generations, so I like to think it's just possible that I know what I'm talking about!
I understand that there is a lot of confusion about frizzle, Sizzle, Satin, Silkie, etc., so I'm not being critical & only want to try & straighten some of the misinformation that keeps getting passed around.
#1 "Frizzle" is a breed in other countries but in the USA it is only a feather type and the word "frizzle" must be followed by the breed. So we have frizzled Cochins, frizzled Polish, etc.
#2 Satins & Silkies are 2 separate breeds, & both come in regular & frizzled varieties so there are Silkies & frizzled Silkies and also Satins & frizzled Satins. There is NO SUCH THING as a Silkie Satin or a Satin Silkie!
#3 Silkies are a recognized breed & frizzled Silkies are recognized as a Silkie variety. Both can be shown & complete for top prizes in poultry shows.
#4 Satins are still a project breed & have not yet been accepted by the poultry associations as a new breed. However, many of us are working hard towards that goal. In the meantime, they can be shown as NSB (Non Standard Breed) in the featherleg class. Both frizzled & non frizzled Satins can be shown, but only the non frizzled will be counted toward their acceptance as a new breed.
#5 It takes AT LEAST 10 generations of dedicated & knowledgeable breeding before a Satin project is exhibiting all the required traits & is breeding true enough to actually be called a Satin. Just because you bred your Silkie to another breed it DOES NOT mean you created a Satin.
#6 Sizzle is the former name for Satins. They were bred & shown as "Sizzles" for years, but the name was not acceptable to the poultry associations so it has now been changed to Satins.
#7 The biggest difference between the Silkie & Satin breeds is feather type. Silkies have shredded fur-like (barbless) feathers whereas Satins have regular (barbed) feathers (like a Cochin) with a soft thick undercoat. The frizzled varieties have feathers that are all curled backwards toward the head.
#8 One of great things about Satins is that they can continue to be bred back to Silkies & if one of the parents has the frizzle gene, you will get chicks in all 4 feather types - Silkie, frizzled Silkie, Satin, & frizzle Satin.
#9 Silkie chicks (those with Silkie feathering) that hatch from a Satin & Silkie breeding, can be shown & bred as regular Silkies. Even though the Silkie chicks have Satin genetics, when bred with another Silkie all the chicks will be Silkie feathered." Sheri Minker. Sheri will be missed, she worked very hard on this breed. 

Feathers can be frizzled or smooth. We do not keep frizzled hens in our breeding groups, only frizzled males. We give a full explanation in our in the know page. 

*Original Breeders: from a local breeder who asked not to be named,  Five A Farm Fancy Feathers, Rhonda Walch,  Del Trudez Farm,

Button Quail

Button quail, the smallest of the quail breeds are colorful tiny gamebirds. They lay tinted eggs in a variety of colors, from olive green to a purple/gray color. Button quail have a relatively short life span, they hatch in 16 days, start laying by 8 weeks and are entering old age by 18 months. Quail eggs are used by many cultures in specific cuisines. Many people hard boil the eggs for quick protein snacks. Here are a couple links on using quail eggs in cuisine. 

https://culinarylore.com/specialty-foods:do-people-eat-quail-eggs/

https://www.thrivinghealthny.com/posts/local-spotlights%3A-quail-eggs

Couturnix Quail: 

New this year for us are Couturnix quail. Quail are popular for people who would like to raise their own meat with out raising chickens. The breeder we got our started from prides themselves on friendly birds. So far we have found that to be true as far as personality. I am including a link to more information on Quail. We will only be doing small limited hatches for these. Hatching eggs may be available and quail eggs to eat my also be available upon request. 

https://www.heritageacresmarket.com/coturnix-quail/

Original Breeders from Triple Creek Quail