KINTALINE FARM PLANT AND POULTRY CENTRE Benderloch by OBAN Argyll PA37 1QS Scotland
2010 is a year for re-evaluating all our values and working to improve our personal sustainability, there has never been a better time to get our gardens working harder for ourselves, growing our own food: meat and eggs, recycling more, breeding more useful types of birds, and helping each other.
Our websites are full of experienced advice, from decades of breeding and rearing and eating, and well researched, reliable, state of the art products for the domestic environment.
We look forward to helping you get more out of your garden or smallholding, and your birds, for a fulfilling 2010.
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR OUR WINTER OPENING ARRANGEMENTS
Notice : Kintaline Plant and Poultry Centre and the Smallholder Shop will be closed from the 6th to the 14th February 2010 inclusive.
HOUSING    EQUIPMENT    ELECTRIC FENCING    BOOKS VIDEOS POSTERS    We Have a SALE now !    CHICKENS    DUCKS    ADVICE CENTRE    HARDY PLANTS    EVERYTHING ELSE

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information about our jacob sheep flock


Argyll JACOB SHEEP, raised here on the farm for their lamb, mutton, fleece and rugs

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ardchattan parish benderloch, barcaldine, north connel, bonawe


Ardchattan parish : Benderloch, Barcaldine, North connel, Bonawe - Past and Present

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Kintaline poultry : Chickens : Utility breeds : Wyandotte
What are we breeding in 2010? ~ ~ Contact Us ~ ~ About Us

The Wyandotte : Old dual purpose breed.

The Wyandotte is an American breed. Silver Laced Wyandottes were developed in New York State in the early 1870s and were admitted into the standard in 1883, these were the parent variety of the Wyandotte family. The other varieties accepted in the American Standard of Perfection are the Golden Laced, White, Black, Buff, Columbian, Partridge and Silver

There are at least 17 varieties~ the White was only utility strain in the UK, the others are pretty but not productive.
white wyandotte hen
As you can see from this picture of two hens finishing off our dogs breakfast, they are very pretty, medium sized birds.
White Wyandottes were at one time famed for their productivity, vigour, and hardiness, but their popularity waned after the 2nd World War. White Wyandottes should lay large light brown eggs, and, good utility strains bred outside can have wonderful feathering, making superb, tough layers. However most British strains are soft fluffy feathered birds, and these lay less and need much more protection from the elements. In the middle of the last century the hens used to be great winter layers and were a great choice for a hardy garden bird which gave plenty of eggs (around 200 a year - an exceptional bird may get up to 240) for a family with a gentle character. Sadly it is very hard to find birds of this type nowadays here.
The two pictures below show an old, 1920's strain which was a GREAT layer, and a modern utility bird, still capable of respectable egg numbers a year, and being a decent table bird - you can see the similarities between these and the differences between them and the exhibition types in the poster pictures further down this page.

old white wyandotte hens white wyandotte hen

What a good Utility Wyandotte should be like :-
Layers of good-sized brown eggs and reaching a weight in the males of 8 1/2 pounds, Wyandottes are good dual purpose birds, the boys being quite meaty.

The typical rose comb is low and tight to the head. The texture of the feathers is important in Wyandottes. This is especially true in the White Breed. Broad feathers and smooth fitting plumage are necessary to preserve the characteristic of formed curved lines in the true Wyandotte.

They grow very quickly, and reach near full size around 15 weeks. They should come into lay around 25 weeks, and lay good sized eggs right away.

Most breeders of Wyandottes in the UK are either breeding for the standard - aspiring to the Breed Club excellence in form and feather, or are novices without the knowledge or capacity to select for eggs and meat. The former are to be respected and admired, but produce a very different bird. Sadly the latter mean that the breed is no longer as useful for the table as it was, and there are plenty of better layers.

It would be really good to see more people working to improve their flocks, culling birds that do not come up to scratch, working to get a meaty, well grown bird by 18 weeks, and pullets that lay over 200 eggs in their first year. There has to be still birds to work with, but it is hard work.

picture from poultry posterpictures from chickens posters

Pictures from old posters - these are exhibition birds not like our utility ones!!!!


Tim and Jill Bowis
Kintaline Mill Farm, Benderloch, OBAN Argyll PA37 1QS Scotland
all text and images are copyright, do not use without express permission and links back to this site. Website online : 1999-2010.
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information about our hardy plant nursery


Our hardy PLANT NURSERY where we grow interesting and unusual perennials, herbs and lots of rhododendrons

poultry waterfowl livestock books videos and gifts mail order


Full range of BOOKS and DVDS's on poultry keeping, other smallholding topics and related gift ideas.

let the white campbell drake take you into the world of ducks at Kintaline


Let the white campbell drake lead you into the world of DUCKS

poultry waterfowl button leading to traditional breeds of hens, ducks and geese and poultry park


Click on Louis to find out about traditional utility breeds of CHICKENS

garden railway G scale


Around the garden we have a G scale Garden Railway track. Tim is delighted to meet fellow enthusiasts

Here at Kintaline Plant and Poultry Centre we have very full days with our birds and plants outside, guests and customers visiting the farm, as well as email and phone customers.
Please email with your daytime and evening telephone numbers if you are having difficulties getting hold of us by phone. We will return your call as soon as we can.

Local Origins Rural Network Oban farmers market Argyll

Local Farmers and Crafters Market - every first and third Thursday of the month, March to Decemberfor producers from Dalmally to Oban, Glencoe to Kilmelford, Lismore and Kerrera.


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Our Internet provider here is Plusnet, again we have been with them for many many years, even with our weak exchange we get a very reliable service, which just does what we want, without fuss or bother.
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