Courtesy American Livestock Breeds ConservancyJava chicken population in the U.S. have send away to 700 birds , harmonize to a nosecount by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy .
When it make out to protecting American legacies , the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is never one to back down from a challenge . In its recent undertaking to recuperate American heritage chicken breeds , the ALBC is focusing on the country ’s second - oldest chicken breed , the Java .
The task , started in 2009 by Jeannette Beranger , an ALBC enquiry and technical syllabus manager , follow on the heels of theBuckeye chickenrecovery project , which successfully levy the breed to historic standards . The Java , which is listed as Critical on the ALBC ’s Conservation Priority List , was selected among those breeds in need of retrieval based on its miserable universe numbers , its loss of valuable gentility line of descent and its dual - purpose production , says Steven Moize , another ALBC enquiry and technical syllabus director .
grant to the 2011 nosecount of Java chicken , overall populations have decreased by about 200 snort in the past five years , but the number of breeding Javas has most doubled .
“ That is great news , ” says Moize , who took over the project this year . “ What it mean is a lot of the diminished flocks are no longer being maintained ; however , the people keeping doll and selecting for APA Standard of Perfection is increased . ”
The Java recovery project will work with breeders and grow - out farms to develop quality bloodlines in the chicken stock . This year , the ALBC will order specific bloodlines on arise - out farms and measure the chickens at 12 weeks of age to determine the breeding stock for next yr . This process will continue until there are institute gentility flocks that meet the historic measure and production traits .
“ As the flocks and the projection grow , the placement of Bronx cheer will strategically spread outward , ” Moize enunciate . “ The ultimate goal is to increase the universe and the lineament of the birds , while increase chef and consumer interestingness in the meat and egg . ”
The Java strain is do it for its distinct torso case , which has a rectangular shape with a long , slop backline . It has a full breast , tight feathers , a exclusive comb and moderately large lappet . The stock comes in black , blank , mottled and auburn varieties , but only the shameful and mottled are currently recognized by the APA Standard of Perfection . Historically an extremely hardy chicken , the Java has been used to develop a number of other Gallus gallus strain , let in theBarred Plymouth Rockand theRhode Island Red .
The ALBC invite Java chicken keeper to get involved with the project . For those who have n’t take part in the Java nose count , Moize urges them to get through the ALBC to completethe sight . It identifies Java bloodlines and location and chicken keeper who can provide hatch eggs or chicks or that need to be a grow - out farm .
Moize also encourage Java breeders to pay penny-pinching attending to the APA Standard of Perfection in their breeding spate .
“ Breed only those birds that converge the standard , ” he says . “ breed low - timbre bird is not good for the strain in the long rivulet . Cull downhearted - timbre birds or hit them from the breeding plenty . ”
Likewise , new Java chicken keepers should buy from reputable breeders with calibre line and work to maintain or amend that quality .
For more information about the Java chicken stock , liaison theALBCor theJava Breeders of America .
