Breed Profiles and Characteristics

Which Breed is Right For You?

There are many different breeds of chickens, each with its unique characteristics. Some breeds are known for their egg-laying ability, while others are raised for meat. Some breeds are known for their ornamental value and are kept for their beautiful plumage.
The 🙂 represents we have enjoyed this breed’s presence on our farm.

This section is a new addition and a work in progress; your patience is appreciated.

Ameraucana, Araucana, or Easter Egger? 🙂

The Ameraucana is defined as an Easter Egger, as any chicken that possesses the blue egg gene but doesn’t fully meet any breed description as defined in the APA standards.
Standard Weight: 4.5-6.5 lbs,
Standard & Bantam Size
Egg Laying: Very Good,
Egg Colors: Green/Blue, Pink, Multi, Brown,
Egg Size: Large

Australorp 🙂

  • Status: Recovering
  • Use: Eggs, Meat
  • Egg Color: Brown
  • Egg Size: Large
    Weight: 5.5 – 7.5 lbs
  • Temperament: Active, gentle

Black Star 🙂

The Black Star, also known as a Black Sex-Link is produced by two separate breeds. The breeds are usually a Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire rooster mated with a Barred Plymouth Rock hen. The Black Star is known for its hardiness, excellent egg-laying ability, and attractive appearance. Continue Reading

Brahma Chicken Flock

Brahma

  • Status: Recovering
  • Use: Eggs, Meat
  • Egg Color: Brown
  • Egg Size: Medium to Large
  • Weight: 8 – 10 lbs
  • Temperament: Calm, docile

Brakel

  • Primary Use: eggs
  • Egg Production: 180 Yearly
  • Egg Size: Small
  • Temperament: Active
  • Recognized Variety: Gold, Silver
  • Egg Color: White

Campine

  • Type: Large Fowl
  • Size: Male: 6lb. / Female 4lb.
  • Purpose: Egg Laying
  • Eggs: Med/large white, about 3 times per week.
  • Recognized Varieties: Silver & Golden.
  • Non-Setter
  • Single comb
Chantecler

Chantecler

  • Use: Eggs, Meat
  • Egg Color: Brown
  • Egg Size: Large
  • Weight: 5.5 – 7.5 lb
  • Temperament: Gentle
  • Winter Hardy, inter layer

Cookies & Cream (A Hybrid)

  • When fully grown this breed will be a medium size, with feathered legs and mottled feathers. 
  •  Produce cream-colored eggs
  •  Crosses are generally created for egg production qualities, egg color, or feather color variations or patterns.
  • May or many not have 5 toes.

Delaware

  • Breed Purpose: Dual Purpose
  • Comb Type: Single
  • Broodiness: Occasional, very good mothers.
  • Climate Tolerance: Cold Hardy.
  • Weight: 8.5 lbs roosters, 6.5 lbs hens.
  • Egg Productivity: Good
  • Egg Size: Large/Jumbo
  • Egg Color: Light Brown

Dominique 🙂

  • Purpose: Dual, Eggs/Meat
  • Eggs: 230-275
  • Egg Color: Brown, Medium Size
  • Weight: 6lb
  • The birds’ plumage pattern, also known as “hawk coloring”, offers some protection against some aerial predators.

Dorking

  • Primary Use: Meat/Eggs
  • Egg Production: 140 – 200 Yearly
  • Egg Size: Medium / Large
  • Temperament: Calm, Docile
  • Recognized Variety: Colored, Red, Rose Comb White, Silver Grey, White
  • Egg Color: White ? Tinted
  • Weight: 6-8 lbs
  • Most Dorking hens will go broody, make good mothers and are quite docile.
Sizzle Chicken

Frizzle 🙂

  • Primary Use: eggs
  • Egg Size: Small
  • Temperament: Good forager, Hardy
  • Recognized Variety: Black, Blue, Cuckoo, White
  • Egg Color: Tinted, White
  • Origin: Asia

Lakenvelder

  • Small when mature, 3 to 4 Ibs.
  • Black and white markings and slate-colored legs
  • White egg layer
  • Non-setter
  • 180-200 eggs per year

🙂 Mille Fleur d’Uccle

  • Mille Fleur means “Thousand Flowers” in French, which refers to the colorful feather patterns on the birds.
  • Type: Ornamental
  • Size: Small
  • Egg Laying: Fair, Small
Turken

Naked Neck Turken

  • Size: 6.5 to 8 pounds
  • Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
  • Black, Buff, Red, White
  • Egg Laying: 2-3 per week
  • Egg Size: Medium
  • Egg Color: Light Brown
    Personality: Docile & Friendly
  • Broody/Setters

Orpington 🙂

  • Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
  • Size: 7-8 pounds
  • Purpose: Meat / Egg
  • Recognized Varieties: Buff, Black, Blue, White
  • Egg Color: Brown
  • Egg Size: Large, 3-4 per week.
  • Broody / Setter

Plymouth Rock 🙂

  • Primary Use: Meat/Eggs
  • Egg production: 280 Yearly
  • Egg size: Large
  • Temperament: Calm
  • Recognized Variety: Barred, Black, Black Frizzle, Blue, Buff, Columbian, Partridge, Silver Penciled, White
  • Egg Color: Brown, Light Brown

Polish 🙂

  • Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
  • Size: Small (4-5 lbs)
  • Purpose: Ornamental
  • Recognized Varieties: Bearded: Black Crested White, White Crested Black. Bearded & non-bearded: Golden, Silver, White, Buff Laced.
  • Egg Laying: Good (150-200 Annually)
  • Egg Color: White
  • Egg Size: Medium / Bantam, Small

Rhode Island Red 🙂

  • Primary Use: Meat/Eggs
  • Egg Production: 260 Yearly
  • Egg Size: Large
  • Temperament: Hardy
  • Recognized Variety: Rose Comb, Single Comb
  • Egg Color: Brown

Salmon Faverolle

Salmon Faverolles originated in a small village in France called Faverolles. Their genetic composition is believed to be a mix of Houdan, Brahma, French Rennes, Flemish cuckoo, Malines and Dorking.

Sebright

  • Breed purpose: Ornamental
  • Comb Type: Rose
  • Broodiness: Seldom
  • Climate Tolerance: Average
  • Weight: 22oz males, 20oz females.
  • Egg Productivity: Poor
  • Egg Size: Small
  • Egg Color: White/tinted

Serama

  • Class: Single Comb Clean Legged
  • Type: Bantam
  • Rarity: Rare
  • Purpose: Ornamental
  • Egg Laying: Very Good (4/wk)
  • Egg Color: Cream or Tinted
  • Egg Size: Tiny (bantam)

Silkie Bantam 🙂

Silkies are a breed of chicken known for their fluffy, soft plumage that resembles fur. They have a distinctive appearance, five toes, and with combs and wattles should be a mulberry color or black. Their beak is usually a blue-gray color. They have black eyes and are described as exotic chickens. They are prized for their soft fluffy appearance and are quite popular in showing and exhibition.

Speckled Sussex

  • Primary Use: Meat/Eggs
  • Egg Production: 250 Yearly
  • Egg Size: Large
  • Temperament: Alert, Docile
  • Recognized Variety: Brown, Buff, Buff Columbian, Coronation, Light, Red, Silver, Speckled, White
  • Egg Color: Brown, Cream, Tan

Standard Cochin 🙂

  • Status: Recovering
  • Use: Meat, Ornamental
  • Egg Color: Brown
  • Egg Size: Large
  • Market Weight: 7 – 9 lbs
  • Temperament: Friendly, docile
  • Characteristics:
  • One of the best broody breeds, good in cold climates. Excellent capon at 12 months of age.

Steele Egger (Hybrid)

  • The color is considered Blue or Splash
  • Will most likely lay blue-green eggs
  • Most likely bred to be a prolific egg layer or for colored eggs.
  • A cross-bred chicken

Welsummer 🙂

  • Primary use: Dual
  • Egg Production: 160- 180 Yearly
  • Egg size: Large
  • Temperament: Friendly, Intelligent
  • Recognized Variety: Gold Duckwing, Partridge, Silver Duckwing.
  • Egg Color: Dark brown

Wyandotte 🙂

  • Primary Use: Meat/Eggs
  • Egg production: 190 Yearly
  • Egg Size: Large
  • Temperament: Calm
  • Recognized Variety: Black, Blue, Buff, White
  • Egg Color: Light brown
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