Poultry were raised for meat and eggs. Some chickens were raised specifically for meat, while others were laying hens. It was also not unusual to raise doves and pigeons for meat. Today we have a variety of breeds of chickens and doves on the ranch. You can buy feed in the gift shop for them!
The turkeys raised at the Leonis Adobe Ranch are Black turkeys, also referred to as Spanish turkeys. They originated in Spain and were brought to America by early colonists. Turkey feathers were used to make quill pens which was the primary writing tool through the early 1800s. When southern California’s cattle and sheep industry were decimated by flood and drought in the 1860s, women in Calabasas raised chickens and turkeys for income.
Guinea hens were not raised by the Leonis family, but were brought here in the 1960s when the Leonis Adobe was saved from demolition and transformed into a museum. The most common variety is the Pearl Guinea, the breed raised here at the Leonis Adobe. They are a wonderful option for natural pest control as they hunt for ticks, fleas, beetles, and other insects. Guinea fowl also provide great security, sounding off when strangers or intruders approach. As a bonus, they are quite entertaining and fun to watch!
