What is a heritage breed?

Let's explore what makes a chicken a 'heritage breed' and why you should consider them for your farm or backyard.

Defining a heritage breed

At Hen Scratch Acres, we define a heritage breed as a chicken that has been around long enough to be proven sustainable. These chickens are slower in growth but outlive and perform for years, offering a different kind of value than modern breeds. These breeds are for just about everyone. Homesteads, small farms, backyards.

The benefits of heritage breeds

While modern hybrid chickens grow fast and have a high production rate, they don't live very long compared to heritage breeds. That means buying chickens more often. Heritage breeds may only produce 200 eggs per year for 7 years, while hybrid birds produce 300 eggs per year for 2-3 years. That's potentially 1400 eggs with the heritage breeds versus a max of 900 eggs with the hybrid chicken. The math is undeniable!

The hen scratch acres difference

At Hen Scratch Acres, we care for both our chickens and customers and want what's best for all. We're dedicated to providing healthy, sustainable heritage breed chickens for your farm or backyard.