Heritage chickens, waterfowl and turkeys. Maintaining attributes from the past into the future
Ridley Bronze
The Ridley Bronze turkey is the only Canadian Heritage breed Turkey. They were developed in Saskatchewan in the 1940's by John H. Richardson. In the 1970's, the University of Saskatchewan acquired a flock of these turkeys, and named them Ridley Bronze, after the Ridley family, which bred these turkeys along with Richardson. The University kept their flock closed, and all other breeding flocks disappeared. By 2009, the University had sold off their remaining Ridley Bronze turkeys. A few private breeders obtained some of these birds, and have been dedicated to bringing this breed back.
While heritage turkeys are naturally hardier than their broad breasted counterparts, the Ridley Bronze breed is especially hardy to our cold Canadian climates, being developed and raised, on our cold Canadian Prairies.
2014 American Poultry Association National Show
Heritage breeds represented at the APA National Show in 2014.
Heritage Poultry, Waterfowl and Turkeys
-
Poultry Breeds Defined As Heritage In Canada
American Class
Plymouth rock
Wyandotte
Javas
Rhode island reds
Rhode island whites
Buckeyes
Chantecler
Jersey Giants
Lamonas
New Hampshire
Holland’s
Delaware
Asiatic
Brahmas
Cochins
Langshan
English class
Dorkings
Red caps
Cornish
Orpingtons
Sussex
Austrolorps
Mediterranean Class
Leghorns
Minorca
White faced black Spanish
Andalusians
Anconas
Sicilian buttercup
Yellow Hungarians (non recognized)
Continental Class
Campiness
Hamburg’s
Lakenvelders
Welsummers
Houdan
Crevecoeurs
La Fleche
Faverolles
AOSB
Old English Game
Malays
Cubalayas
Naked Necks
-
Waterfowl Breeds Defined As Heritage In Canada
Pekin
Aylesbury
Rouen
Muscovy
Silver Appleyard
Saxony
Cayuga
Crested
Swedish
Runner
Campbell
Magpie
Welsh Harlequin
Call
East Indie
Mallard
Hookbill
Ancona
Shetland duck
Shetland geese
Toulouse
Embden
African
Sebastopol
Pilgrim
American Buff
Saddleback Pomeranian
Steinbacher
Chinese
Tufted Roman
Egyptian
-
Turkey Breeds Defined As Heritage In Canada
Black Spanish
Blue Slate
Beltsville Small White
Bourbon Red
Bronze
Orlop Bronze
Ridley Bronze
Narrangansett
Royal Palm
White Holland
Chocolate
Resources
-
American Poultry Association
The American Poultry Association is reponsible for setting breed standards across poultry, waterfowl and turkey breeds. Sanctioning shows and training judges are also facets of the organization.
-
Why Keep Heritage Poultry
A good article giving merit to the idea of keeping heritage breeds of chickens and turkeys. The same thought process can be applied to waterfowl.
-
A Guide To Raising Chicks
Purina Mills offer a guide to raising chicks. From the stage of setting eggs in an incubator, up to moving chicks out to the chicken coop at 6-8 weeks of age.
It is worth noting, the movement of chicks should be based on the climate in which they are born.
-
Good Shepherd Conservancy
If you are looking for inspiration in terms of breeding high quality birds and marketing them too, look no further than the Good Shepherd Conservancy.
-
Poultry Shows
A quick guide by the American Poultry Association giving an understanding of poultry shows, incuding classes and breeds.
-
Preparing For A Show
A brief, but useful outline of how to prepare for a show.
-
Ridley Bronze Turkey
A Facebook group dedicated to the Ridley Bronze, Canada’s very own turkey.
-
HLC Poultry Coordinator
Do you have questions? HLC’s Poultry Coordinator, Rob McCulloch can help.
-
HLC Waterfowl Representative
Do you have questions about heritage waterfowl? HLC’s Waterfowl Representative, Brad Metzger can help.
-
HLC Turkey Representative
Do you have questions about heritage turkeys? HLC’s Turkey Representative, Joe Hogenmiller Lafond can assist.