4-24-21
3:51 pm Saturday
We received nine beautiful Indio Gigante on Wednesday 4/21/21 morning from Rare Rooster Acres, a 10-acre family-owned farm in Central Florida. They are participants of NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Plan) which helps keep flocks healthy. The farm is around 3 years old and is owned by Allison Anjos and his wife Elisa Souza. Kayla Anjos, their 9-year daughter, helps on the farm and is an important reason why Allison and Elisa raise animals. Allison believes it makes his daughter more active, brighter, and more humane by working with the animals on their farm. Elisa added, “The farm allows Kayla to be more in tune and passionate with nature.”
Mario is a hired helper on the farm.
Allison’s father Joaquim Anjos is the resident Indio Gigante expert. Joaquim has been working with these birds since the 1980’s and Joaquim’s father had been working with these birds from the 1970s. It is wonderful and rare to see a farming tradition being passed down through so many generations. Joaquim has been teaching his son, Allison, as they work close together. Rare Rooster Acres is the first to farm Indo Gigante in the USA.
I asked Allison why they do what they do. They love birds. They want to have the best quality birds while preserving these animals and educating people about them. They want to show people how beautiful they are and once they see these birds, they will become interested to know more. They say Indo Gigante are smart birds and were developed in Brazil. They mentioned that their birds meet Brazilian standards. Elisa added, “Indio Gigante’s are smart, docile, giants that help protect their entire flock from arial attacks. They look like prehistoric velociraptors. They do not have a fighting gene in their body.” Allison mentions that the temperament is more docile then asils and he mentioned that males will not fight each other in the same run.
I asked them why people would buy their birds. Allison suggested they can be bred into one’s flock to help to increase meat production. He told me 3 years ago in Brazil one of the best roosters sold for $70,000 US and one of the best hens sold for $32,000 US. These birds are being developed to increase meat production in poultry farming. Elisa added to why people buy their birds, by saying, “Because they are 100% pure Indios with the best quality of standards. Indios are considered the larges breed in the world, literally. They are meaty birds and hens are great layers. They get along with other breeds. But raising this bred requires and extensive amounts of supplements to allow for simultaneous bone and muscle growth.”
Here are some more details from Rare Rooster Acres website.
“We specialize in what is considered the world’s largest breed of chickens; the Indio Gigante. Imported from a very well-known and reputable breeder in Brazil, who has been working on their genetics for over 10 years. We also raise a variety of colored egg layers such as Marans, Ameraucanas, Olive Eggers, Appenzeller Spitzhaubens, and Blue Laced Red Wyandottes.”
As for the care for their birds Rare Rooster Acres vaccinates on day one for Marek’s Disease and at 18-21 days they vaccinate for New Castle. They recommend feeding 2.5-3 months of Purina Start and Grow that is medicated to preventative coccidia. After the 2.5-3 months of Purina Start and Grow they move to crumble layer feed of 16%, milled corn, milled alfalfa hay pellets, and milled whole wheat. They also feed at this point a health booster once a week that is mixed with water that contains:
Crumble layer feed 16%
Alfalfa hay pellets (milled)
Corn (milled)
Recycled crushed eggshells from past hatches
Dried mealworms
Oats
Apple Cinder Vinegar supplements
Poultry Cell supplement consists of iron, amino acid and minerals
Kickin’ Chicken supplement consists of omega 3 and fatty acids
Oregano
Ultracruz Calcium supplements
This heather booster has proven to be essential at Rare Rooster Acres for proper simultaneous strength and growth of bones and muscles in Indio Gigante’s.
Rare Rooster Acres wants to offer the best quality of a very unique bird. We at Cascadia Heritage Farm are excited to work with Rare Rooster Acres. We appreciate the values they are supporting at their farm and we are thrilled that they are offering such healthy unique lovely animals.
As you can see in our video, Viggo and I are excited to get these 9 birds that are about two to three weeks old. Cascadia Heritage farm appreciates what this contribution will make to the M.I.G.H.T, Malay Invigoration Gene Hybridization Team, Project. We believe Indo Gigantes have a very import genetics history that will help invigorate the American Malay.
Thank you Rare Rooster Acres for your love of these animals. We agree with you that exposure to wonderful beasts such as these, makes our children brighter and more humane. These animals make us better. Keep up your great work!
We at Cascadia Heritage Farm believe we can make a difference and you can too.