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Selecting A Breed
A Breeds of Chickens - A breed of chicken is a family of
birds that have the same general size, shape and carriage.
All birds in this family will share the same characteristics,
i.e. skin color, plumage style, number of toes. Breeds of
chickens are divided into classes. Large fowl classes generally
refer to their place of origin i.e. American, Asiatic, English,
Mediterranean, and other. Bantam breeds are classified by
characteristics, i.e. Game, comb style, leg feathering.
You might select a breed of chicken based on what you need.
There are egg laying breed, meat producing breeds, and dual
purpose breeds.
Layers - A smaller bird that
will lay between 250 - 280 eggs per year. They will begin
to produce at 5 months of age and will continue for three to six years. In reality, the first year of production is
the best and there is a decline in production after the first
season. You can choose between brown and white egg layers.
The Leghorn is the best of the white egg layers however they
can flighty and high-strung. Other breeds laying white eggs
include Minorcas, Anconas, and the California Whites. The
Production Red is the best of the brown egg layers. This hybrid
bird is a cross between Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshire.
Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshires are good brown egg layers.
Meat Production Breeds - The
Cornish Rock cross is the meat production bird. This
breed is a cross between Cornish and Plymouth Rock. The Cornish
Rock cross will consume two pounds of feed for each pound
gained. Keep in mind that broilers/fryers are butchered at
three and a half to five pounds and roasters are butchered
at six to eight lbs. The quicker a bird makes the weight gain
the more economical it is to raise. Other breeds that are
considered meat production birds are Brahmas, Cochins, and
Cornish. These breeds will take much longer to reach butcher weight.
Dual Purpose Breeds - These
birds are a compromise between the egg layers and the meat
producers. They generally don't put on weight as fast as the
meat breeds nor do they lay as many eggs as the egg layers.
They are the typical backyard flock type birds. You will have
a nice supply of eggs and the excess roosters and older hens
will provide a good chicken dinner. Dominiques, Plymouth Rocks,
Sussex, Orpington, and Wyandottes are examples of dual purpose
birds. Dual purpose birds are generally hardy and self-reliant.
They lay brown eggs and will brood their chicks.
There is a fourth type of chicken, the ornamental
or exhibition fowl. These birds are bred for their
appearance and how they conform to the standards of the American
Poultry Association and the American Bantam Association than
their economic value.
We are often asked about breeds for feathers. Fishermen have
asked us which breeds to raise for the hackle and saddle feathers
used in tying fishing flies. The males of the following breeds
provide the best feathers: Plymouth Rock, Blue Andalusian,
Buff Minorca, and Silver Penciled Wyandotte (Bantams tend
to produce more of the small and fine feathers prized for
dry fly tying.)
Another consideration in selecting a breed may
be your local weather conditions. Heavy feathered breeds will
do better in colder conditions than the light feathered breeds.
Orpingtons, Brahmas, Cochins are heavy feathered breeds. Breeds
that do well in cool weather are the Plymouth Rocks, Rhode
Island Reds and Wyandottes. The Leghorn, Minorca, Andalusian,
Hamburgs and other Mediterranean Breeds will do better in
warmer weather. The crested varieties may have problems with
freezing head feathers. Rose combed birds are also a better
choice for colder weather as the Single Comb is vulnerable
to freezing.
Bantams are miniature chickens.
Your reasons for selecting one breed of bantam would be similar
to how you select your breed of chickens. However, you are
more likely to be choosing bantams for other reasons than
for food or egg production. Bantams are often selected for
ornamental reasons or the fact that a person can raise more
birds in a smaller space than would be possible if you were
to have a large fowl of the same breed. Bantams still lay
eggs - the eggs are just smaller. You can still butcher your
bantams, they will produce a bird that is about 25% of the
table weight of the same standard sized breed.
Turkeys are raised for the table.
There are breeds that mature faster and are more desirable
as a production bird. Broad Breasted White and Broad Breasted
Bronze turkeys are noted for their fast growth. The hens of
these varieties will have a live weight of approximately 15
lbs. at 18 weeks. The toms will weigh approximately 25 lbs.
at 20 weeks. The other breeds of turkeys are generally hardier
and do well as free range birds. Turkeys should not be raised
with chickens or other poultry because turkeys can pass Blackhead
and other disease to chickens.
Ducks are very popular to
raise. They can be a good table bird, they are good egg layers
and can also be very entertaining. They are very hardy and
disease resistant. The Pekin, Rouen, and Muscovey ducks are
good meat type ducks. The Pekin will produce a eight to nine
pound bird in nine to twelve weeks. Khaki Campbell and Indian
Runner ducks are both excellent egg layers capable of laying
250 eggs a year. A pond is nice but not necessary. Ducks will
be cleaner and happier with a pond. One thing to keep in mind;
it is better to provide no pond or bathing facilities than
allow them access to stagnant or filthy water.
Geese are one of the most
economical birds to raise. They are great foragers. They will
provide large eggs, good meat, feathers for a pillow or comforter
and will also sound off when you have visitors. Geese are
not usually raised to provide a quantity of eggs, but the
best egg layer is the Chinese. Embden, African, and Toulouse
are raised more for meat production. The Embden geese are
favored because of their white feathers, which make the pin
feathers less noticeable in the carcass.
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