RARE BREEDS TRUST OF AUSTRALIA
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Poultry 2024
| Meet the 2024 Rare Poultry Breeds | 2024 Rare Poultry Categorisations | Breeder Directory | Background |
The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia thanks all those who made submissions to the 2024 Poultry Census and also thanks those persons 
especially in the exhibition poultry community who provided valuable support, advice and encouragement.
DISCLAIMER. It is important to note that the Poultry Census is (1) voluntary and (2) unlike other livestock is unable to be based on breed registration records due to the lack of pure breed registration requirements for poultry. Therefore there may be differences between "on the ground" numbers to numbers reported through the Census. If you have not participated in the 2024 Poultry Census, you can submit numbers using our online watchlist update form.
Meet the 2024 Rare Poultry Breeds
Click the relevant link to access the poultry species breed profiles..
- Chickens
- Ducks (Large and Bantam)
- Geese
- Turkeys
- Guinea Fowl
You can also view a single listing of all the poultry species on the Poultry 2024 Watchlist page.
Please note that the rare poultry listings are indicative. Breeders with further information that would modify any of the listings are welcome to submit that information using our online Watchlist Update form. The privacy statement used for the 2024 Poultry Census continue to apply to such submissions.
2024 Rare Poultry Categorisations
The 2024 Rare Poultry categorises poultry into Critical, Of Concern, and Watch groups. These new categories are based on a revised analysis approach for 2024.
- Critical: A breed that may not be able to be sustained.Very low breeding male/female ratios (Effective Population Size index) and/or in recreation.
- Of Concern: A breed vulnerable to environmental, social and economic shifts and/or long term viability. Low breeding male/female ratios (Effective Population Size index).
- Watch: A breed approaching Of Concern or where recent increases need to be sustained for the breed to be considered as Recovering. Reasonable male/female ratios (Effective Population Size index) but either:
- an increase in the number of breeding flocks is needed for the breed (and form where relevant) to be considered safe or recovering, or
- the increase in the number of breeding flocks is only of recent origin reflecting a need for sustained increase in breeding flock ratios over coming years for the breed to be considered as safe or recovering.
The individual Rare Poultry Lists also note Australian developed breeds whether rare or not. The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia has a special interest of course in Australian developed species whether rare or not.
Breeder Directory
You can find the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia Poultry Directory here. Trust members are eligible to be listed on the Trust's Poultry Breeder Directory. Find out more on how to get listed.
Background
The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia held the 4th National Poultry Census in the period 1 May to 30 June 2024. The purpose of the Census was to identify rare poultry breeds, and to identify the category of threat in Australia. Previous Censuses were held in 2017, 2019, 2021. The 2024 Census was held over the period 1 May to 30 June.
Breeds included in the 2024 Census were:
- Breeds in the Australian Poultry Standards Edition 2 (up to and including the 2nd addendum) in each of the five groups of Chickens
(Hardfeather and Softfeather), Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Guinea Fowl. - Australian feral/heritage breeds – King Island Turkey, North West Island Feral Fowl.
- Breeds that are in development and/or included in some major poultry shows – for example Quamby, Welbar.
Only numbers for breeding age males and females data was sought.
Data on colour and comb varieties as well as data on utility strains (eg CSIRO strains) was also sought. The submitted colour variety data was however incomplete and is not therefore included in the published results.
All participation in the Census was voluntary. Privacy statements and arrangements were in place stating that there would be no further use of provided participant names and emails, and that data publication would be disaggregated from personal information. The Privacy Statement is available online at https://rarebreedstrustofaustralia.tidyhq.com/public/pages/2024-rare-breeds-trust-of-australia-privacy-statement.
