| Chicken Coop Friends - Choosing the Breed Will Be | | | | feather-footed group, the Cochin family of chickens |
| Fun | | | | is the most common. As with many other animals, |
| A great way to start your flock is to begin with | | | | those that were bred for something of an extreme |
| young chicks. You may go to your local feed store, a | | | | in unusual looks or plumage oftentimes are not the |
| local hatchery or you can order them and have them | | | | best at laying eggs or setting on the eggs. If you |
| mailed to your local post office. Ordering from a | | | | want these unusual looks but also want eggs and to |
| reputable hatchery, many of which offer online | | | | breed these chickens, make sure you shop carefully |
| shopping, gives you a broader range of chicken | | | | for these characteristics and from a breeder with |
| breeds to choose from. Online or printed, catalogs | | | | experience. |
| provide photos of the breeds and have them | | | | The crested group of chickens is certainly among the |
| categorized by the type of chicken, or other fowl, | | | | most ornate. The family of crested chickens called |
| you are interested in. | | | | Polish has beautiful "hats" on their heads. They are |
| All-Purpose Birds | | | | generally gentle birds and take to being handled well. |
| The Heavy Breeds, such as the New Hampshire Reds | | | | Most of them are also good layers of white eggs |
| or Rhode Island Reds or Black Australorps typically | | | | and tend to be non-setters. Certainly this bird would |
| blend quality egg laying with good meat production. | | | | catch a judge's eye at a show. Crevecoeurs and |
| Many of them are brown egg producers. Within this | | | | Houdans are similar, beautiful variations of these birds. |
| breed group the Buff Orpingtons are very good cold | | | | The Houdans have the interesting feature, along with |
| weather chickens. With their beautiful and full | | | | the rest of their exceptional good looks, of having a |
| plumage they stave off the cold very well. They | | | | fifth toe. |
| produce eggs all year long. They are terrific setters | | | | Finger Licking Good |
| and mothers too. | | | | The final group is the meat provider. These hearty |
| Eggs If You Please | | | | birds will typically reach dressing size in short order, |
| The White Egg Layers are, well, just what you'd | | | | the males about two weeks before the females. You |
| expect. This breed group provides white eggs. | | | | can expect them to reach their best size in about |
| Typically this group is bred for egg laying. You can | | | | eight weeks. Many of the chickens in this class are |
| expect the highest egg production from these hens. | | | | hybrids. Don't attempt to breed from hybrids |
| They'll lay for the longest period of time and the | | | | yourself, or if you do, don't expect the same "true |
| feed to production ratio will be best. Most hens in this | | | | qualities" that the original parent birds had. Hybrids of |
| breed group are non-setters, less inclined toward an | | | | both animals and plants expect to be bred by |
| attempt to hatch out their eggs. As with all chickens, | | | | experts who have the expertise necessary to |
| you'll find beauty as well as functionality. There's | | | | produce true to the best of the type. |
| plenty of variety so that you can enjoy spending | | | | Let's Keep 'Em Happy |
| time with your chickens, admiring them as well as | | | | Whatever your goals are for your birds make sure |
| appreciating their antics. | | | | you do the best you can to care for them. Plenty of |
| It's All About Looks | | | | light and air, fresh water, quality feed and a safe |
| There are Specialty Breeds available, those with | | | | chicken coop will serve both you and your chickens |
| feathers at their feet and those with crests. Of the | | | | well. |