Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Here are some of the breeds of poultry that we keep at the farm at Bakersville. We keep over 35 distinct varieties of birds.

A Black Breasted Red Phoenix Rooster with Jere Gettle, This bird is a descendant of ancient Japanese chickens that sometimes grow tails to 20′ in length! In the USA tails over 6′ are rare. A great laying breed that eats little feed and is quite beautiful.

Nankin Bantams, A small true bantam breed that was imported from Asia to Europe several hundred years ago. The name is believed to come from their color, similar to the color of cloth that was imported from Nanking, China.

China Game Chickens, A lovely old breed that was brought to Missouri with Chinese emigrants in the 1930’s, and were used for fighting until the practice became banned in Missouri in the late 1990’s. Now this beautiful and historic breed from China is now endanger of extinction. Birds are wild-like and roosters have long flowing tails.

Asil, Ancient game-fowl mentioned in Indian texts over 3000 years ago, the name means “pure” in India. This hardy breed is fun to watch and hens make gentle mothers. The forefather of many of the modern breeds of chicken.

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Sasha holding a Silkie Chicken, a unique breed of gentle bantams that were developed in Asia. In the 13th century Marco Polo mentioned chickens with “fur-like” plumage from his Asian travels. Others talked about “wool-bearing” chickens as this birds plumage resembles hair.

Sultans, gentle small birds that are Crested and also have feet that are covered in feathers. Named for the 17th century, Turkish Sultan rulers who kept this ornamental breed in the gardens of Ottoman sultanate. Fun to raise and very prolific for us.

Cochin Bantams or Pekins as they are known in Europe are said to have been looted from Emperor of China at his palace in Peking  around 1860, by the British, of whom developed this breed into what we know today.  This breed has extremely heavy feathering over it’s entire body and feet. Great pets.

Red Golden Pheasant, wild Chinese birds that have been raised by fanciers since the 19th century. One of the most beautiful birds we know.

Lady Amherst Pheasants, a wild species named for Sarah Countess Amherst, wife of Governor General Amherst, of Bengal, who sent the bird to London in 1828. Lovely birds that are fairly tame.

Malays, these birds were introduced to Europe from Asia as early as the 15th century and this type of bird has been popular in Asia for thousands of years. Unique, upright and very tall, with some roosters attaining heights of over 32″, these can weigh over 10lbs, making them one of the largest. A parent breed of many a modern chicken, including the Rhode Island Red.

Mandarin Ducks, this species in native to China and Japan, and is often the subject of Chinese art, as a symbol of affection and fidelity. This fun little duck is so beautiful and easy to raise.

Buff African Geese and their smaller ancestors Russian Swan Geese. These birds have gentle temperaments and the African is a very large breed, not developed in Africa at all but rather from the wild Swan goose that is native to much of Asia.  We keep the rare Buff variety of African, but the original brown color is the same as the Swan goose.  Africans were known in the USA as early as the 1850’s.

Ko Shamo rooster with Emilee Gettle, this little Japanese bantam is very tame, perfect pets for children, but pugnacious around other birds, as this true game bantam was developed in Japan for people who have very small spaces. Birds weigh 1.5-2lbs and are very unique looking with their almost vertical stance. This breed is the smallest of the Shamo game breeds that were kept by the Emperor of Japan. Very hard to find in the USA. We love them!

Sasha with her pet Splash-colored Silkie hen, this is the tamest breed we raise, these little fur-balls even have purple-black skin!