WELCOME TO HOLDERREAD WATERFOWL FARM
AND PRESERVATION CENTER, located in the picturesque foothills of the
Pacific Coast mountains in Oregon. While we have enjoyed
raising and studying domestic geese and ducks continuously since
1961, the time for a change has come. (Please note that the updating
of our website is not complete!) We specialized in purebred waterfowl that possessed a
unique blend of superb production and exhibition qualities.
Birds bred by us were exceptional layers, fast growing and won
top honors at the largest poultry shows in North America and Europe,
including Supreme Show Champions at the American Poultry
Association's annual National Shows. Our breeding program
encompassed more than 20 heritage goose varieties and 40 heritage duck varieties, including some of the world's
rarest and most unique breeds. It is time for others to carry on the
work.
For those of you who are
interested in more about our move towards retirement, we've
included a link to an article published in
Capital Press in March 2021. It covers some of the breadth
and scope of Dave's interest and efforts as a breeder and
geneticist.
ONLY ROBUST
DUCKLINGS, GOSLINGS AND
MATURE BIRDS
WERE SHIPPED and each order was
prepared with great care. Our duck and goose hatchery
produced day-olds from early April until mid June. During the past four and a half
decades, we've supplied purebred ducks and purebred geese to satisfied customers throughout the United
States, Canada and Puerto Rico (orders to Canadian customers are
shipped to the stateside town of choice). We are currently
shipping only adult stock.
BOOKS AND BULLETINS COVERING MANY
WATERFOWL TOPICS can still be ordered from our catalog.
Titles include Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, The
Book of Geese, Managing Ducks For Top Egg Production, Wing
Disorders In Waterfowl and How to Prevent Them, and
bulletins on many individual breeds of ducks and geese, all
written by lifetime waterfowl breeder, researcher and historian
Dave Holderread in his easy-to-understand writing style.
OUR
MISSION INCLUDES:
- Propagating and conserving
heritage varieties of domestic waterfowl and making them
available to the public.
- Producing the best quality
stock possible.
- Conducting long-term
studies that document the unique physical, behavioral and
production characteristics of each variety we raise.
- Preparing accurate and
detailed literature on the history, physical
characteristics, behavior, management, breeding and genetics of
domestic waterfowl.
- Exploring ways to humanely
raise farm animals while improving habitat for wild plants and
animals.
OUR FARM GUIDELINES:
- We treat our animals with respect
and provide an environment that allows them to live as
naturally as possible.
- We do not kill surplus
birds.
- We actively work at
improving habitat for native flora and fauna .
- We protect our birds from
predators through management and deterrents, rather than
trapping and killing.
- If at all possible, we do
not use sprays to control pests and unwanted vegetation.
- We maintain health through
proper nutrition and a healthful environment, rather than the
routine use of antibiotics or other pharmaceuticals.
INTERNATIONAL POULTRY
SPECIALIST HANS SCHIPPERS of the
Netherlands has traveled the globe collecting material for articles
and books. Hans has visited our Preservation Center twice to
photograph our birds. He stated that we have one of the two
best collections of domestic waterfowl in the world--one in Europe
had the largest number of varieties, ours had the highest over-all
quality.
PEOPLE FREQUENTLY
TELL US that the ducks and geese they purchased
from us were the most robust they've seen. We attributed this
exceptional vigor to the meticulous selection of our breeding stock,
our premium feed formulas that closely duplicated the natural diets
of wild waterfowl, and our spacious pastures, pens and ponds where our
web-footed friends delight in fresh air, exercise and the
opportunity to forage for live food. We worked very hard to make
it possible for our birds to have an enjoyable life that is as
natural as feasible, while protecting them from predators.
PRIMARY FUNDING
FOR OUR PRESERVATION WORK came from the sale of
birds and donations from people who share our interest
in saving endangered waterfowl from extinction. Maintaining
such a large genetic stock of ducks and geese was a time-consuming
and expensive undertaking. To increase their chances for
long-term survival, we kept a minimum of three strains in every
breed raised here.
WE'RE
KEEPING THIS WEBSITE to
provide an overview of the various components of our work and to
illustrate with colored photos many of the varieties we worked with
in the past. All photos were taken here at The Preservation
Center. The birds were
photographed in their pens and were not fitted or altered prior to
being photographed. We have tried to make sure that the colors
accurately portray what the birds actually look like, but keep in
mind that computer monitors vary considerably in their color
reproduction. All of these photos are copyrighted by
Holderread Waterfowl Farm and Preservation Center--please do
not use without permission.
WE HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY the beauty and energetic antics of
these web-footed treasures along with their many practical qualities. A flotilla of waterfowl on a pond or a
gaggle in the yard becomes a bona fide home entertainment center when you take the time to watch. Happy duck and goose
raising from all of us here at Holderread Waterfowl Farm and
Preservation Center.
We are honored to have received the following recognition:
American Poultry Association Master Exhibitor #101
American Poultry Association Grand Master Exhibitor Awards for Chinese
& African Geese, and Runner & Cayuga Ducks.
International Waterfowl
Breeders Association 1993 Waterfowl Persons of the Year
Western Waterfowl
Exposition 1996 Waterfowl Persons of the Year
American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy 1997 Breed Conservation Award
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