BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK Average Mature Weight: 6 lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very Good 4/week Disposition: Docile Hardiness: Very cold hardy Barred Plymouth Rocks are an all-around great addition to any flock and are very friendly. BLACK AUSTRALORP Average Mature Weight: 6 lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Excellent 5+/week Disposition: Docile and quiet Hardiness: Cold and heat hardy One Black Australorp can consistently lay up to 250 eggs annually all the way through the cold winter months. BLACK JERSEY GIANT Average Mature Weight: 10 lbs. Egg Size: Medium - Large Egg Production: Good 3-4/week Disposition: Calm and easy-going Hardiness: Very cold hardy Developed in the 1880’s in New Jersey, they are the largest chicken breed. BUCKEYE Average Mature Weight: 6 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Medium Egg Production: Good 3-4/week Disposition: Friendly, calm, sociable Hardiness: Very cold hardy Buckeyes originated in Ohio around the 1890’s. They are a great pet and also help control mouse infestations. BUFF ORPINGTON Average Mature Weight: 7 lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Good 3-4/week Disposition: Docile, quiet and affectionate Hardiness: Very cold hardy These birds are great with children. They appear larger than their weight because they are loosely feathered. BUFF BRAHMA Average Mature Weight: 9 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Good 3-4/week Disposition: Calm, docile, makes a good pet Hardiness: Both heat and cold hardy Buff Brahmas have feathered shanks and outer toes. The buff color in Brahma is the newest and rarest to obtain. COLUMBIAN WYANDOTTE Average Mature Weight: 6 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very Good 4-5/week Disposition: Generally docile Hardiness: Very robust, cold hardy First introduced at the Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair held in Chicago) in 1893. DELAWARE Average Mature Weight: 6 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very good 4/week Disposition : Calm Hardiness : Very heat and cold hardy Delawares were developed in Delaware and were once the top providers of their meat chicken industry. DOMINIQUES Average Mature Weight: 5 lbs. Egg Size: Medium Egg Production: Good 3-4/week Disposition : Calm and gentle Hardiness : Very cold tolerant Dominickers were one of the first breeds established in America because of their tolerance for hot and cold climates and ability to forage. EASTER EGGER Average Mature Weight: 4 lbs. Egg Size: Medium Egg Production: Good 3-4/week Disposition : Active and friendly Hardiness : Very cold hardy Easter eggers’ eggs range from olive green to turquoise blue and like their eggs, they come in an assortment of colors. GOLDEN BUFF Average Mature Weight: 4 lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Excellent 5+/week Disposition: Calm Hardiness: Cold tolerant Golden Buffs are a leader in the brown egg market due to their plentiful production of large eggs and quiet temperament. GOLDEN LACED WYANDOTTE Average Mature Weight: 6 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very good 4-5/week Disposition: Docile Hardiness: Very cold hardy Golden Laced Wyandottes have beautiful reddish gold feathers lined with black for a very distinct look. LIGHT BRAHMA Average Mature Weight: 9 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Medium Egg Production: Good 3-4/week Disposition: Gentle, easy to handle Hardiness: Hardy in cold and heat Light Brahma hens are a large, stately bird with good winter production. They do best with access to an outdoor run. MILLE FLEUR BEARDED D’UCCLE Average Mature Weight: 22 oz. Egg Size: Tiny Egg Production: Fair 2-3/week Disposition: Friendly and calm Hardiness: Not heat tolerant The French name of these birds translates to “million flowers’ and describes their speckled plumage. These bantams have both beards as well as feathers on their legs. MOTTLED COCHIN Average Mature Weight: 28 oz. Egg Size: Small to medium Egg Production: Fair 2-3/week Disposition: Friendly and docile Hardiness: Hardy in cold climates Mottled Cochin Bantams have feathers on their shanks and outer toes. Their black feathers have an iridescent green sheen. NEW HAMPSHIRE RED Average Mature Weight: 6 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very Good 4/week Disposition: Usually calm Hardiness: Heat and cold tolerant New Hampshire Reds mature early and are productive layers. RHODE ISLAND RED Average Mature Weight: 6 lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Excellent 5+/week Disposition: Docile Hardiness: Heat and cold tolerant Rhode Island state’s official bird can lay around 200-250 eggs per year. SALMON FAVEROLLES Average Mature Weight: 6 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Medium Egg Production: Very good 4-5/week Disposition: Affectionate and gentle Hardiness: Cold tolerant Salmon Faverolles are very gentle with children and can become very affectionate with their handlers. They are great layers of creamy, tinted eggs through the winter. They have beards and feathers on their feet and legs. SILVER LACED WYANDOTTE Average Mature Weight: 6 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very good 4-5/week Disposition: Generally docile Hardiness: Very cold hardy These birds are named after a Native American tribe (Wendat). They mature fairly quickly. SPECKLED SUSSEX Average Mature Weight: 7 lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very good 4-5/week Disposition: Calm Hardiness: Very cold hardy The Speckled Sussex have calm and curious personalities and make great mothers. WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCK Average Mature Weight: 7 ½ lbs. Egg Size: Large Egg Production: Very good 4-5/week Disposition: Docile, calm and pleasant Hardiness: Very cold hardy These birds are named after the first rock the Pilgrims stepped on. WHITE BROILERS FAST-GROWING MEAT BIRD Feed •Medicated Chick Starter---first 3 weeks •Unmedicated Broiler Feed (18%)---until processing at 7-9 weeks •White Broilers enjoy all types of vegetable scraps. Feeding Schedule 12 hours ON and 12 hours OFF starting at 3 weeks of age minimizes the risk of heart attacks due to rapid growth. Processing To minimize mortality and health issues white broilers should be processed at 7-9 weeks of age. WHITE SILKIES Average Mature Weight: 32 oz. Egg Size: Tiny Egg Production: Poor 1/week Disposition: Friendly and docile Hardiness: Do poorly in heat Although White Silkies have lots of silky, hairlike feathers, they are not waterproof and do not retain heat well. These birds are mainly raised for a beautiful show breed. CAYUGA Average Mature Weight: Drake 7 lbs. / Duck 6 lbs. Production: Good - 100-180/year Egg Size: 75-90 grams Class: Medium Origin: United States Broody: Occasionally Temperament: Calm Foraging: Good Cayugas are named for Cayuga Lake in New York. Their feathers are a beautiful, iridescent, greenish-black color. KHAKI CAMPBELL Average Mature Weight: Drake 4 ½ lbs. / Duck 4 lbs. Production: Excellent – 220/year Egg Size: 75-85 grams Class: Light Origin: England Broody: Yes Temperament: Active Foraging: Very Good Khaki Campbells have a similar coloring in tone to brown military uniforms. ROUEN Average Mature Weight: Drake 8-9 lbs. / Duck 6-7 lbs. Production: Good – 100-180/year Egg Size: 80-95 grams Class: Heavy Origin: France Broody: Yes Temperament: Calm Foraging: Good The Rouen have similar color and markings to wild Mallard ducks but these birds are heavier and do not fly. WHITE PEKIN Average Mature Weight: Drake 10-11 lbs. / Duck 8-9 lbs. Production: Very Good – 140-220/year Egg Size: 90-100 grams Class: Heavy Origin: China Broody: No Temperament: Calm Foraging: Fair White Pekin ducks are great layers and are perfect for producing duck meat because they are fast-growing, have a good feed conversion and an easily cleaned carcass. BROAD-BREASTED WHITE TURKEY Ready for processing in 14-18 weeks and dress out at 85% of their live weight. Broad-Breasted White Turkeys are the same type of bird raised by commercial producers for their sweet, tender, and juicy meat. They are fast-growing and have a great feed conversion rate. Toms are 45 pounds and hens are 25 pounds. BROAD-BREASTED BRONZE TURKEY Ready for processing in 14-18 weeks and dress out at 85% of their live weight. Broad-Breasted Bronze Turkeys produce ample amounts of meat, just like the BroadBreasted White Turkeys. They are fast-growing and have a great feed conversion rate. Toms are 38 pounds and hens are 20 pounds.
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