Photo © Colonial Williamsburg Foundation - All Rights Reserved
The Dominique chickens, pictured above, belong to one of the poultry breeds featured in Colonial Williamsburg's Rare Breeds program. One of the first breeds of chickens developed in the 18th-century mid-Atlantic United States, they are small to medium in size with a hardy constitution. Their heavy plumage protects the poultry from low winter temperatures.
Colonial Williamsburg began its Rare Breeds program in 1986 to preserve genetic diversity in livestock. Some of the selected breeds represent animals that historical research shows could have been present in Williamsburg during the 18th century. The program complements Colonial Williamsburg's living history interpretation by portraying another aspect of daily life in colonial Virginia and is recognized by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) for its outstanding historical, agricultural interpretation.
Rare is defined as having fewer than 1,000 animals registered annually in North America. Other animals in the Rare Breeds program include:
Colonial Williamsburg began its Rare Breeds program in 1986 to preserve genetic diversity in livestock. Some of the selected breeds represent animals that historical research shows could have been present in Williamsburg during the 18th century. The program complements Colonial Williamsburg's living history interpretation by portraying another aspect of daily life in colonial Virginia and is recognized by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) for its outstanding historical, agricultural interpretation.
Rare is defined as having fewer than 1,000 animals registered annually in North America. Other animals in the Rare Breeds program include:
- Leicester Longwool Sheep
- American Cream Draft Horses
- Canadian Horses
- American Milking Red Devons
- Milking Shorthorn and Randall Oxen
- Dorking Chickens
- Hamburg Chickens
- English Game Fowl