At Kintaline Poultry and Waterfowl Farm, our interest has been in developing flocks of the best UTILITY stocks of various breeds of ducks and chickens we can.

HISTORY OF UTILITY STOCKS:
In the United Kingdom in the 1950's and 60's poultry breeding was much affected by the egg laying trials. This encouraged breeders to select the best lines of pure breeds for high productivity - in both meat and egg birds.
Since then, with the exponential increase in demand for eggs, the commercial flocks have become predominantly hybrids, mostly based on the Rhode Island Red in the UK, - but now genetically almost unrelated. These hybrids can produce 320 eggs a year in the intensive farming units that supply the greatest majority of our eggs. Unfortunately this also includes the large free range units - as there are many methods used to prevent the hens really ranging to keep the conditions as optimal as possible for productivity and cost control.
As a result many of the great breeders of earlier have stopped or significantly reduced their flocks. Much of the breeding of the pure breeds in recent years has been by the exhibition owners. Their requirements are different - concentrating on feather and form creating the perfect bird rather than the practical uses of each breed. The productivity is not so great a concern and like in any breeding programme one cannot select for all features at the same time - something has to be sacrificed.
At the end of the last and in the early part of this century some small breeders started to notice the paucity of good utility stocks and began to take on the work to protect a few strains for future generations.
The results created birds that can be quite different from their exhibition cousins. For example - show Buff Orpington's tend to be much larger and very much more feathered than the utility Buff Orpington- which tends to be meatier and harder feathered so surviving free range well.
Sadly, with the explosion in demand for garden poultry, most of the good work done for our national flocks by these breeders has since been overwhelmed by the proliferation of novice breeders who simply buy a few birds or eggs and hatch and sell anything, or dealers who are only interested in maximising the numbers of birds they can grow and sell to the ever eager, inexperienced new keeper.

Our husbandry methods are to provide our growing flocks of waterfowl and chickens with individual pens for each breed and large grass rearing pens which also provide an interesting and educational attraction for visitors to the farm, market and plant centre.

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Breeds of Chickens | Breeds of Ducks | Rearing our Chicks | Hatching Eggs | Directions to the Farm

For near two decades we have been rearing Black Rock pullets for sale, and to replace our own laying flock. This hybrid is, in our view, the best for free-range egg production. The birds have a very high disease resistance, are in their element outside feeding on insects and vegetation, improving your pasture or garden as they go. With high productivity of large brown eggs and a docile nature, we do not think there is a better hybrid.

We have since added pure Traditional and Utility breeds to answer an increasing demand for well-reared domestic pure breed birds for eggs, meat and breeding.

Our pullets and cockerels are raised with all possible care and attention and allowed to free-range once old enough. This, and lots of the best feeding, gives them the very best start in life. Follow the links to see the breeds and how we rear them.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you require any information ~ BUT we cannot supply birds or eggs outside the United Kingdom and are now so busy here that we cannot provide delivery. However Oban is a lovely place for a day out or a weekend break before taking your birds home.
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Our breeding park is landscaped and information points erected to help visitors learn more about the origins of the breeds of ducks,chickens and geese, all of which have developed by man for different uses. There is an amazing array of colours, shapes and personalities to meet and find out about.

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The park has being laid out so it is easy to walk around, with lots of plants to give more interest and attract wildlife. We hope you will make lots of new friends as you feed the birds, watch the babies and admire the antics of these fascinating birds.
We also sell poultry and waterfowl housing - for nationwide delivery around the United Kingdom - we cannot sell them outside of the UK nor are there any plans available I am sorry - we have a few in stock here at the farm sometimes but please contact us first to ensure we have what you want before making a long journey. These houses are the ones we use and feel that the designs are probably the most user friendly for both birds and owners and the prices are very competitive. We hope you will find something of interest.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE MUCH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR HOUSES

At the farm we are constantly open to new ideas, and in 2008 a Local Producers Market started, held here, every First and Third Thursday of the month, from March to December.
The shop is full of feeders and drinkers, and lots more equipment, books and videos. All of which is available mail order around the country, along with our unique Electric fencing kits.
We also supply a wide range of feeds, including all the high quality, low waste wild bird feeds and seeds, as well as poultry feed - and can get feeds for other livestock and pets - please enquire - local customers only.

Tim and Jill Bowis
Kintaline Mill Farm, Benderloch, OBAN Argyll PA37 1QS Scotland
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