Tag: chickens

Definition of Ornamental, Exotic, and Designer Chickens

What’s the Difference & Where to Find Them

Not all chickens are bred just for eggs or meat, some are raised for their beauty, uniqueness, or both. You’ll often hear the terms ornamental, exotic, and designer used to describe different kinds of specialty breeds. You’ll find a link below to help direct you to U.S. based hatcheries who may have these special breeds available.
Here’s what sets these specialty breeds apart:
Ornamental Chickens
Ornamental chickens are the showstoppers of the poultry world. These birds are bred mainly for their appearance rather than production. With their fancy plumage and striking colors, they’re often found in exhibition shows or simply admired by the backyard chicken keeper. A few common examples of these birds are the Sultan, Polish, Silkie (my favorite), and the Sebright.

Sultan
Polish

Silkie
Sebright


Designer Chickens (Sometimes called hybrids)
Designer chickens are all about creativity and crossbreeding. These birds aren’t purebred but are intentionally mixed to bring out special traits, like unique feather colors, egg hues, or personality. They are usually created by hatcheries or breeders for specific visual or egg color traits, blending both aesthetic and functional qualities, unlike exotic or ornamental breeds, which are historic or purebred.
A good example of designer chickens are Olive Eggers (a cross between Ameraucanas and Marans) and Easter Eggers, known for their colorful blue-green eggs. Both are prolific egg layers.

Olive Egger
Easter Egger


Exotic Chickens
“Exotic” refers to breeds that are rare or foreign to your region. I have never seen any of these birds in real life, but here are a few examples.
Ayam Cemani (Indonesia), Onagadori (Japan), Phoenix (Germany, derived from Japanese stock), Svart Hona (Sweden)

Ayam Cemani
Onagadori

Phoenix
Svart Hona

How & Where to Find Specific Breeds

First Time Buying from a Hatchery? Here’s What to Expect

Most hatcheries have a minimum order of 3 to 15 chicks to keep them warm in transit. You’ll choose your preferred breeds and check for an available shipping date at checkout. Hatcheries only ship newly hatched chicks so they can safely survive the journey without food or water due to absorbed yolk nutrients. Chicks are shipped via USPS Priority Express or Priority Mail. Delivery usually takes about 2 days. Your local post office will call you when your chicks arrive.

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Dream Chicken Coop with a Designer Price Tag

I always knew what my ideal chicken coop would look like, but trying to create a building plan that made sense to a contractor who knows absolutely nothing about chickens, well, that’s nearly impossible. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea of AI being an asset to society, but here I am, using it. With its help, I designed the coop of my dreams. I know it’s ridiculously over-the-top and elaborate in every way, but maybe you’re a dreamer like me, so here’s what I came up with.

The air conditioner isn’t something most chicken keepers would ever need, but we live in the desert, where temperatures hit 119°F this past July. Mist systems, a pool, and fans are essential to keeping our birds alive and comfortable, but adding an A/C unit would make life so much easier for all of us. A ceiling fan in the run? Perfect!
We also live in the foothills of a 700-acre mountain range, which means predators are a constant concern. Coyotes and bobcats pose the biggest threat to my flock, so a concrete perimeter and gravel base around the coop would be ideal.
After designing this insanely gorgeous coop, I asked AI for an estimate on the cost of materials and a pro contractor to build this monstrosity. Not a shocking response, but, oh my… $18,000. Like I said, it’s just a dream.

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Why and How to Use Lime in Your Chicken Coop

Controlling Oder & Pests in the Coop

Taking care of a chicken coop means keeping it clean, safe, and smelling as fresh as possible. One way to do this is by using lime. Not only does it help with odor but it’s also an insect repellent. Lime also helps soak up moisture which can lead to bacteria & mold. A good rule of thumb is to reapply lime at least once a month.

First Saturday Lime

I use First Saturday Lime in my coop, you can learn more about this product and where to purchase it HERE.

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