So, you’re ready for those baskets full of eggs, early morning wake-up crows, and friendly little bug be-gone-ers? Welcome to the fluffy-butt world of chickens! Before you know it, you’ll have poop on your sidewalks and eggs in the fridge.
But before you can start your own flock of fowl, there are a few things to consider. For instance, first, you need to research and figure out what kind of chickens you’ll need, as well as what their purpose will be. Then you have to decide where you’re going to get your birds. (For a great list of online hatcheries, check out this post.)
Meat? Eggs? Dual Purpose?
While your grandparents might have raised hundreds of birds a year simply to stock their freezers, perhaps you’re looking for a more gentle approach to poultry farming… You’d rather dip your toes in the water than jump right into the deep end!
If that’s the case, why not look at breeds known best for their egg laying abilities? While you’ll want to pick between brown, white, or colorful eggs, here are a few egg layers to consider and help get your research started: Leghorn, Rhode Island Reds, Sexlinks, New Hampshire, Wyandottes, Barred Rock, and Ameraucauna.
On the other hand, some people might be more interested in a bird that is strictly raised for meat purposes. If that’s the case, there are a variety of chickens out there that are bred specifically to be broilers. (Broiler: noun. A young chicken that is raised to be suitable for roasting, grilling or barbecuing.) Meat or broilers: White Cornish Slow-Grower (avoid the fast-grower because of the detrimental effects it has on the bird’s health), Dark Cornish, New Hampshire, Deleware, and Ranger Boilers.
Sometimes though, it’s nice to not have to decide between two things. You know the old saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence“? What if I told you that it’s possible to get the best of both worlds? A bird that was raised to lay great eggs and make a great addition to that pot of Homemade Alfredo simmering on the stove? Enter, the dual purpose bird! Bred to have the option of being a great young fryer or maturing to an excellent egg layer, they can make a wonderful addition to a farm. Dual Purpose: Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rock, Wyandottes, and Dominiques.
For the record, there is also another category of chickens known as ornamental chickens. While I did not include them specifically in this list, here are a few breeds to look up if that’s what you’re interested in: Blue Cochin, Russian Orloff, Black Sumatra, Black Langshan, and Black-Breasted Red Cubalaya.
Eggs
Eggs are one of the main reasons that people often invest in a flock of chickens and they can oftentimes be one of the most rewarding! (Unless you’re in my current predicament of too many eggs + too few people to eat them… In that case, you must find some creative ways to take care of them until you can fully catch up!)
This also happens to be one of the most fun parts of picking out your chickens. Do you want small or large eggs? Brown or white? Perhaps, you’re more on the wild side and want to mix it up with a variety of pastel shades? Here are a few breeds that will fit each category:
Brown egg layers: Barred Rock, New Hampshire Red, Buff Orpington, Wyandotte, and Dominique.
White egg layers: White Leghorn, Ancona, Black Sumatra, Austra White, and Golden Campire.
Rainbow eggers: Easter Egger, Cream Legbar, Olive Egger, and Blue Ameraucana.
Size
Size can play a factor in deciding the best breed of chicken for your farm. Perhaps you’re thinking of some smaller bantams that are more for ornamental purposes or maybe you want to find the largest broilers you can. Consider the amount of land you will have for the chickens to free-range on, as well as the size of coop, roost, run, etc.
Bantams will be about one-quarter to one-fifth the size of large breed chickens, lay smaller eggs, and have a bit more of an intense temperament than their larger counterparts. If your main purpose is to raise chickens for meat and eggs, you should probably look more to the standard or large side of the chicken spectrum. And if you’re still wanting to keep a few bantams around, consider mixing them into your flock as more of the “pets” of the fowl residency.
Hardiness
Where we live in Kansas, it can get bitter cold during the winters and almost unbearably hot during the summers. An important factor when considering any new animals for your farm is their ability to tolerate the weather.
For chickens that are hardier and more tolerant of cold climates, consider rose combs instead of single combs (as the single comb will stand up higher and have more of a chance of frostbite due to so much exposed skin), as well as ones with plenty of plumage. (Plumage: noun. Collectively, a bird’s feathers.) This could include Dominques, Wyandottes, Brahma, and Buckeyes.
Likewise, there are certain chickens that do better during the heat of the summer than others. If you live in an area where the temperature doesn’t dip much below mid-50s, look for breeds that include a lighter color pattern (to reflect sunlight rather than absorb), more exposed skin (so as to let the heat go from their bodies easier), and a smaller size (less body that needs shade). Breeds might include: Barred Rock, Cinnamon Queen, Rhode Island Red, Brown Leghorn, and White Rock.
Outside of how well chickens react to varying kinds of weather, hardiness can also refer to what some might call “thriftiness” or the bird’s ability to forage for themselves and find bugs, weeds, etc., as well as hens’ natural instinct to brood over a clutch of eggs. Some of the newer breeds may have lost some of those very qualities that you’ll still find in many of the older, heritage breeds.
Temperament
While the temperament of a bird might not matter as much to some people, to others who will be working around these animals every day, it can make a big difference. Currently, we have a rooster that will possibly be finding his way to a crockpot sooner rather than later. This is due to his nasty habit of attacking almost anyone that comes near him.
For this reason, if you have small children or animals around that could be seriously hurt by a mean rooster (or in some cases, even a broody or overprotective hen), look for chickens that are known for their mild and gentle temperament. Some breeds that you can start with include: Wyandottes, Plymouth Rock, Orpington, and Australorp.
Looks
While this might sound a little on the shallow side, it is true that sometimes people judge chickens by their looks. For instance, there is a lot of difference between the naked-necked Turken and the fluffy-butt Wyandotte! Which is why it’s important to at least consider what your flock will look like before making a selection.
I loved the black/silver plumage of the Dominique, as well as the gold/black of the Golden Laced Wyandotte. This is why I chose to do a mix of the two. Although I have one Dominique rooster, I don’t intend to breed/incubate eggs, so the two breeds will remain separate and pure. For now, this matters to me. Later on? I probably won’t mind so much!
Heritage & Rare Breeds
While chickens, in general, are a fun animal to have around, sometimes people will enjoy helping to keep a rare or heritage breed from going extinct. This was part of the fun when I chose to get Dominiques. While they certainly aren’t the rarest breed, they are considered critically endangered. If your interest is in helping to revive a dying breed, check out The Livestock Conservancy to see what you can do!
If you have any questions or additional comments, please feel free to reach out to us via email at contact@prairiegalcookin.com or drop a comment below. If you’re starting your own flock, please send me pictures and let me know how it is going! I’d love to hear from you.
Check out these other poultry-related articles:
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