Picking The Best Chicken Breed

What Is The Right Chicken Breed?

There's more nearly 100 breeds of chickens now plucking and clucking in America's pastures, pens and backyards. So how do you decide the best breeds for you?

You may be looking for new birds to populate your brand new Backyard Chicken enterprise or, maybe, you are looking for replacement hens to add to your flock.

First off, what are your expectations of your future hens. Some want a show bird they can exhibit, win prizes and take home trophies. Those growers have very high expectations and, generally, have well-developed sources for "birds of distinction."

For the rest of us, we need some help and that is the purpose of this article.

Picking the right breed is NOT as straightforward as it may seem. Lots of the breeds that are available are unsuitable for a variety of reasons (price, disposition, habits, size, etc.)

Chicken breeders have a euphemism for breeds that are particularly nervous and easily excited. They call them "flighty." These birds are to be avoided if you have younger children or rambunctious dogs. The problem is, however, some of the "flighty" breeds are also super layers so, again, it boils down to your individual circumstances.

If you are into novelty birds with exciting plumage or 'Easter egg' colored eggs, you might consider some of the more conventional breeds like Araucana, Cochin, Orpington, Sussex and Wyandotte. If, you are a 'meat-first eggs-second' kind of grower, consider the tasty Dorking.

If your primary goal is egg production, select from breeds that originated from around the Mediterranean and look to Leghorns, Anaconas and Minorcas.

Several utility breeds were bred to meet the world's egg demands during the second half of the 20th century. They include the American Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire Red and the previously mentioned Wyandotte.

Let's talk specifics:

Leghorns

These originated in Italy (but, probably not by that name .) There fame comes from the fact they lay more eggs than most breeds. You can count on 280+ white eggs, even in the winter when lots of birds egg production slows down. They are also not very good egg-hatchers. You want Leghorn chicks, you will most likely have to grown them yourself. Another negative is they are extremely flighty and, logically, like to fly so suitable fencing is an issue.

Leghorns are easy-keepers with small appetites, probably because they are on the small to medium size. You can expect hens to live five to six years. Because of their egg-laying ability, they are frequently used in cross breeding.

Rhode Island Reds

This breed was developed in the U.S. during the early 1800s. They are good layers (250-300 eggs) producing large brown eggs. The meat from a RIR, is delicious and bountiful. They are adaptable to just about any environment, but like most birds, they don't care much for being overcrowded. Like the Leghorn, they are not good sitters. Because of their easy of care, prolific egg production and good meat characteristics, RIRs are highly recommended for beginners as a first bird.

Sussex

This is a British breed originally intended to be a meat producer. However, they turned out to be very prolific egg-layers (260 cream to light brown eggs). These really are a dual-purpose bird doing a good job of meeting the growers needs of meat or eggs. By my lights, a real plus is they are NOT flighty. They are not bothered by pets and they themselves make very good pets. The birds come in a range of colors, but the white and lighter colors produce more eggs.

Wyandotte

This breed is named after a tribe of Native Americans who were native to Kansas until moved to Oklahoma. The Wyandotte have a great temperament, they're very calm and like people a lot. If you are new to chickens, be sure to include a few hens in your brood. They are very maternal which is say they are excellent layers and naturally 'broody'. Pick white ones if you have a choice.

Orpington

If you have kids looking to make their backyard chickens into pets, this is the breed for you. The hens will lay about 200 eggs a year. The birds are big and very gentle. They seem to enjoy being carried around and cuddling. They are easily caught which is a big plus, in my book. Because they are so docile, they can be bullied by other breeds, so watch for that.

Well, I've outlined a few choices for you to consider. Of course, there are lots of possibilities out there. We haven't talked about the cross-breeds and the hybrid vigor they bring to your flock. Chicken people call the crosses 'sex-linked' birds and they are very popular.

This article is just a beginning as you decide the character of your own chickens and, remember, it is okay to have more than one breed in a flock.

Growing chickens at home can be both fun and profitable. Of course, it all starts with choosing the right breed. You can learn a ton more by going to www.allaboutbackyardchickens.com