In this post we will provide information on different types of chickens and breeds of chickens. There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence and we will cover the 26 most common breeds in this post. (Note – this post is a work in progress and we will be continually adding to the list over the coming weeks as part of our chicken trivia post – Spoiler Alert if you don’t want to know the answers to the chicken trivia yet then stop reading now and go back the chicken trivia post).
We also have a free “Guide to Selecting the Best Backyard Chicken Breed” e-book which you can download. Get your copy here.
Sumatra
Blue Sumatra Rooster
Sumatras are primarily an ornamental breed with an attractive black and green plumage. They also come is blue (as seen in the picture) and white variations. The cocks weigh 4-5.5lbs and the hens around 4lbs. The hens are considered to be poor layers producing around 100 white eggs a year and can be susceptible to broodiness. Both males and females have small wattles and the males can have multiple spurs on each leg. This breed retains a strong flying ability unlike some of their more domesticated cousins.
The breed originates from the island of Sumtra and were originally imported into the US and Europe in 1847 mainly for cockfighting but are mainly kept for exhibition today.
Recently I was discussing different types of chickens with another backyard chicken keeper and we had a small wager on who could correctly name the breeds of chickens shown in photos. It was a lot of fun and I didn’t get as many right as I thought I would.
This was the inspiration for this post because I wanted to give our readers the same chance to test their skills by trying to correctly identify the types of chickens shown in photos I will post here.
Time to test your skills by leaving a comment below with your answer. (Note I am going to hold all comments from publishing for 24 hours so it doesn’t spoil it for everyone and then we can see who got it right).
Test your friends knowledge by sharing this post also.
If you want to be notified by email when we post the answer simply subscribe by providing your email above and as a bonus you will get a copy of our e-book on selecting the best backyard chicken breeds.
Also check out our other posts about types of chickens and breeds of chickens by searching through the menus above.
No matter where or with whom you are spending the holidays, Christmas is a time for celebrating and expressing your love for your close friends and family. However, looking for that perfect gift for a particular person can be a daunting process (especially for an indecisive husband like me!). But online shopping makes this difficult task a breeze with numerous Christmas gift options. And if you are feeling especially festive, you can embark on a 12 Days of Christmas Chick-mas inspired gift giving spree.
Now at Backyard Chicken Zone we know that buying gifts for chicken lovers can be a challenge so we have come up with a list of suggestions for the 12 Days of Christmas.
DAY 4 – FOUR CALLING BIRDS
The last thing you probably want is four calling birds – particularly if they are roosters! So we have decided that on this day of the twelve days of Chickmas we are going with the theme of “four”.
For the Rooster (aka men) and for the chickens (aka the chickens)
What better way to spend the holiday season than with a set of instructions, a handful of tools, and a determination to build something. I can almost feel the surge of testosterone from here. Why not get the man in your life the ultimate chicken project with the ultimate in chicken coops (it is four sided in case you were wondering how we went from four calling birds to a hen house!). The Colonial Gable Chicken House with Ramp and Nesting Box by Little Cottage Company is sure to please both the rooster (aka men) and the chickens – A real WIN WIN.
Whilst the men our out building their awesome chicken coop how about sitting back and relaxing with this retro 4 speaker Retro inspired record player which delivers room filling sound with a perfectly tuned acoustic cabinet and four speakers for high fidelity audio performance. It plays vinyl records, AM/FM radio, CDs, MP3s through USB and includes a 3.5mm auxiliary input for music from your iPhone, iPad, Android or any other smartphone or tablet.
Made from authentic handcrafted real wood cabinetry with deep walnut finish creates a vintage design backed by Electrohome’s 100 years of developing analog audio systems.
To keep fully with the theme how about getting a copy of the 12 days of Christmas song.
Check it out
“My wife and I had several old records laying around and were looking for something to play them on. It didn’t take long after reading all the positive reviews for this item that we purchased the Electrohome record player. This was a perfect addition to our room and the sound from our record collection is more than what we could have asked for.” Review – Tom via Amazon, 3 December 2015
For the chicks (aka children)
As a parent I know that four children calling at the same time can rank right up there with four roosters crowing so how about giving yourself some peace and quiet and chill out listening to music on your retro sound system whilst the children enjoy a movie.
Click here
DAY 3 – THREE FRENCH HENS
Woohoo – for backyard poultry keepers this is the premium day of the 12 days of Chickmas with chickens front and centre.
Therefore the gifts you give on this day should have a distinct chicken theme to make sure you get that perfect chicken gift for the chicken lovers in your life.
For the Rooster (aka men) and for the hen (aka the special lady)
What better gift for the day three than the gift of knowledge with this online course on raising backyard chickens by Criss Ittermann through the online learning marketplace Udemy with over 9million+ students. Raising Chickens in Your Backyard: hen’s eggs for food
Click to see course details
“Excellent course and instruction!
If you are considering chickens, now to chickens, struggling with your chickens, or are experienced and want to expand your knowledge this is an excellent course.
The subject coverage is comprehensive and Criss’s style left me feeling that I had an extended personal visit with an expert. I’ve had chickens for years. I still loved the course and learned a lot.
Criss does a great job at making this a very personal experience.”
Robert U Smith, Udemy student and chicken owner, 4 October 2015
Ranked in our top 10 best gift for husband, best gift for boyfriend, best gift for men, best gift for wife, special gift for her, and unique gift for her.
Check out the other courses at Udemy – maybe a French language course to go with the three French hen theme.
Click to explore courses
For the chicks (aka children)
Whilst the children would be more than happy to be chasing three French hens around the yard why not try this “Count your chickens” board game.
Winner of four awards including Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and Creative Child Game of the Year Award.
Check it out
Players work together to help Mother Hen collect her chicks and bring them back to the coop; if they are successful everyone wins!
Children learn counting and social development skills with no reading required.
For 2 to 4 players ages 3 years and older.
For the chickens (aka the chickens)
Whilst the chickens are out celebrating their favorite day of the 12 days of Chickmas you can slip this awesome chicken treat ball into the coop. This treat ball will keep them busy for hours.
Click to check it out
“My chickens LOVE this toy —they peck it and move it to have it spill the treats…it is like watching a Chicken Soccer game!” Joe M. 24 October 2015
DAY 2 – TWO TURTLE DOVES
Now two turtle doves is not the most practical present you could get and ranks right up there with the hand knitted iPhone cover your Grandma made for you last Christmas or the tattoo you got of a rooster jumping a motorcycle through a flaming hoop that seemed like a good idea at the time (we’ve all been there right?!).
Anyway no need to stress about getting the most awesome present on day 2 of the 12 days of Chickmas because the Backyard Chicken Zone team have got you sorted.
For the rooster (aka men)
Now if you do get a pair of turtle doves for the man in your life the chances are he is going to need to feel like a man again after you make him walk those turtle doves down the street in with those cute fluffy harnesses they came with.What better way to recharge the testosterone levels than with a bit of wood splitting using this awesome Kindling Cracker Firewood Kindling Splitter.
Click to check it out
Ranked in our top 10 best gift for husband, best gift for boyfriend and best presents for men.
For the hen (aka the special lady)
Gentlemen, let’s face it, despite our manly wood chopping skills our domination of the world around us is but a hollow façade and the ladies really are in control.Well now is the time to give in to this reality and take it to a new level with this wearable ring that will allow her to even control smart phones, home appliances simply by gesturing with their finger!(Now I know they can achieve the same feats simply by gesturing with their fingers at us but now you don’t even have to move!).
Wearable technology – click to check it out
I didn’t even know these things existed and it is truly the shortcut to everything.
Ranked in our top 10 best gift for wife, unique gifts for women, and unusual gifts for her for 2015.
For the chicks (aka children)
On day one of our 12 days of Chickmas we suggested that a drone was the perfect gift for the man in your life.If you missed out how about a kids drone (or two because dad will need one of course).
Click to check it out
For the chickens (aka the chickens)
It wouldn’t be the Backyard Chicken Zone without something for our feathered friends. Try this treat ball to keep them busy this holiday season.
Click to check it out
DAY 1 – PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE
On this day, give a single gift. While a partridge in a pear tree may be impractical on day one try some of these fun alternatives.
For the rooster (aka men)
It fly’s better than a partridge, is able to hover effortlessly over the pear tree, and lets face it – it is a lot more awesome than any partridge. Try a remote control drone for the hard to buy for man in your life. If that special person is into photography some models even come with in-built cameras to take amazing pictures and video. My 65 year old father even purchased a drone similar to the one in the image and uses it for filming coastal scenes as a hobby and is now obsessed with it.
Voted by the Backyard Chicken Zone team as the 2015 Best Gift for Husband (okay I was the only one who voted for this category), 2015 Best Gift for Boyfriend, and 2015 Best Presents for Men.
For the hen (aka special lady) Now gents, while you are flying your awesome new drone you need to make sure you find some special gifts for her. Show your appreciation for the awesome remote control drone she bought you with these beautiful pear shaped earrings. Present these to her on day one and you will be strutting your stuff as top rooster for the rest of the holiday period. Voted by the Backyard Chicken Zone team as the 2015 Best Gift for Wife (note that your chances of getting that 2015 Best Gift for Husband is directly related to the value of the jewellery you buy her!).
For the chicks (aka the children)
Why not start off day one with a beautifully illustrated book about the 12 days of Christmas.
For the chickens (aka the chickens)
Now we don’t want the flock to get jealous about the partridge in the pear tree so get them a chicken swing to hang from the tree (don’t worry the three French hens will get their day in the sun straight after the two turtle doves and your flock can go nuts celebrating their special day in the 12 days of Christmas).
In our FREE to enter December prize draw, one lucky winner will win a copy of the best selling “Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens” by Gail Damerow.
Win this Book
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In our FREE to enter December prize draw, one lucky winner will win a copy of the best selling "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens" by Gail Damerow.
When the prize draw closes one lucky entry will be drawn at random and will win the prize.
The prize draw is totally free to enter and all you have to do is type your first name and email address below and click the ‘Enter’ button.
Good luck.
HINT - You can greatly increase your chances of winning by simply sharing your unique url link (you will get this when you enter) to your friends. Simply copy the link and include it in your post with your friends.
1. One (1) winner will receive a copy of Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow .
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Now I know that this post is likely to generate lots of passionate debate about what your favorite breeds of chickens are for your backyard chicken flock but a recently released study by the University of California has finally given us our first insights into America’s backyard chicken coops.
In the largest study of its type into backyard chicken ownership in America, The University of California research has obtained insights into backyard chicken owners perceived flock health and welfare issues, the most favored breeds of chickens to keep in backyard flocks, backyard chicken husbandry practices, why people raise backyard chickens, what resources are necessary to help improve backyard chicken flock care and management, as well as demographic information about backyard chicken owners and their attitudes to chickens and chicken derived products.
This is the first of a series of posts to discuss the results of the study (if you want to be kept up to date on future posts make sure you subscribe to our newsletter in the banner above.)
Now to the reason why you are probably reading this in the first place (you probably just jumped ahead to look anyway) – the results are in and America’s top 5 favourite breeds of chickens for backyard chicken flocks in no particular order are…….
America’s top 5 favorite breeds of chickens
Plymouth Rock
Golden Laced Wyandotte
Ameraucana
Orpington
Rhode Island Red
Interestingly America’s top 5 breeds of chickens are all egg-laying breeds and 3 out of the 5 are also in our recommendation for the top 5 best egg laying chickens for beginners.
The study noted that the backyard chicken owners “appeared sensitive to egg color, as all of the 5 most frequently cited breeds lay colored eggs and other “blue-green egg” layers (Araucana and “Easter Egger”) and chocolate egg layers (Marans and Wellsummer) were also popular.”
The researchers noted that this could possibly be partly explained due to the colored egg dissimilarity to grocery store predominantly white eggs – in non-researcher speak this means that backyard chicken owners are simply rebelling against industrial production of eggs by giving the proverbial middle finger to industrial white eggs.
Tell us about your favorite breed by posting a comment.
Keep an eye out for future posts where we will reveal other insights from the study including top reasons why Americans own backyard chickens, how many backyard chickens people keep in their flock, where they get their chickens and much more. (Remember to subscribe to our newsletter and we will send you the posts straight to your inbox).
One final note. Whilst raising chickens is a sustainable way to produce your own food – why stop there. At backyard chicken zone we believe that going green does not mean sacrificing your lifestyle and that green tech and eco friendly products can give you the lifestyle you desire whilst moving towards a more sustainable future. Our partners at GoGetEco.com have the latest in cool eco friendly gadgets, future gadgets, future tech, the latest in green technology, eco friendly products and cool green tech inventions. Why not check them out.
Hatching chicken eggs using artificial incubators is both an art and a science. Whilst it is not difficult incubating chicken eggs there are a number of key principles that you need to adhere to.
The first thing you need to do is to source quality fertilized eggs for hatching your own backyard chickens.
Good quality eggs require that the hens are in good health, have a well balanced diet and managed so that each hen is regularly serviced by a fertile rooster. The eggs should be clean fresh eggs that ideally have not been washed – washing can dramatically reduce the eggs viability be removing its protective bloom creating the potential for germs to infect the egg.
Source your eggs from a reputable breeder who keeps the nest boxes clean and filled with fresh dry bedding to prevent soiled eggs, collects eggs frequently, and stores them correctly.
For the best results in hatching chicken eggs the eggs should have been stored at room temperature with their pointy end down, rotated daily, and ideally should be less than 7 days old.
If possible your should pickup up eggs directly from the farm gate, however if you get them through the mail you should keep them still for 12-24 hours to allow the air cells to settle prior to placing them in an incubator.
As temperature is the single most important factor for successful hatching you should try and locate your chicken egg incubator in a room that has a relatively steady temperature, not in direct sunlight and away from draughts.
Recommended incubator – click for details
Turn on your chicken egg incubator and allow it to run for at least 24 hours to make sure the temperature inside the incubator has stabilized.
Set your eggs up in the chicken egg incubator on their sides or pointy end down in accordance with the incubator manufacturers instructions.
(Quick note on hatching rates – no matter how good your chicken egg incubator you can never fully replace a brooding hen and hence some eggs simply won’t hatch. The best rate you can expect is about 85%. If you are using eggs that have been posted to you then the hatching rate can be much lower around the 50% mark.)
Incubating chicken eggs will take 21 days after whichever time you will have a bunch of hungry chicks to feed.
Successful hatching using an chicken egg incubator requires four key factors:
1. Temperature
2. Humidity
3. Ventilation
4. Turning
Temperature
Every chicken egg incubator model will have its own settings for temperature however it is a good idea to get an incubator thermometer rather than rely on the incubators factory thermometer. If your eggs fail to hatch then temperature is the most likely cause. As a guide your eggs are unlikely to survive several hours of temperatures above 103degF or under 96degF.
Humidity
Humidity within the chicken egg incubator affects how much moisture is lost from the eggs during incubation. Fortunately most incubators create their own humidity through the use of water trays. (Tip – always use Luke warm water when you refill these water trays). The ideal humidity for hatching your backyard chickens is around 50-55% for the first 18 days and 65-70% in the final three days before hatching.
Ventilation
The embryos inside the eggs need oxygen which they get via their shell from the air around them. Therefore ensuring your incubator maintains good ventilation is important.
Turning
To be successful at incubating chicken eggs and hatching the chicken eggs, the eggs must be turned regularly for the first 17 days to prevent the embryos sticking to the shell. Ideally they should be turned 2-3 times per day. (Tip – mark the shells with a pencil with an A and a B on opposite sides so you can easily see if you turned all the eggs.)
You stop turning the eggs in the last 3 days of incubation.
Hatching your backyard chicken eggs
Soon the chicks will begin pipping – this is when they begin to peck through their shell. This can take up to 6 hours with a further 6 hours for the chicks to dry and “fluff up”. Since they still have the reserves for the egg yolk to draw upon the chicks don’t need to eat or drink for the first 24 hours.
Once they are dry they can be moved to a brooder. Check out our post on raising chicks to see what to do next.
With the holiday season fast approaching we got together with our partners at Amazon to come up with a selection of fun chicken gifts for the special ones in your coop.
Gifts for Roosters (aka Men)
Can’t find what you are looking for? Search “chicken gifts for chicken lovers” in the search bar above.
Gifts for Hens (aka the Ladies)
Can’t find what you are looking for? Search “chicken gifts for chicken lovers” in the search bar above.
Gifts for the Chicks (aka the Kids)
Can’t find what you are looking for? Search “chicken gifts for children” in the search bar above.
Gifts for the Chickens (aka the Chickens)
Why should the people have all the Christmas fun. Check out this great range of gifts for your chickens.
Raising chicks is relatively simple and simply requires you to provide three key things for your chicks.
1. Warm clean housing
2. Plenty of food and water
3. Lots of love and attention.
About 24 hours after your chicks hatch or when they first arrive the first place they will call home is the brooder. The brooder is basically the equivalent of the nest in the case where the chicks are being cared for by a hen. It can be as simple as a box, enclosure or even a cat carry box.
The brooder should be lined with soft materials such as towels or blankets for the first few weeks (be careful of loose threads that small feet can get tangled in) and then changed for straw or pine shavings. Do not use slippery surfaces such as newspaper to line the brooder as it can result in the chicks having malformed legs.
It is very important to keep the chicks warm as they will require temperatures between 95 and 100 deg F. This can be achieved by using a heat lamp or a purpose designed radiant brooder (our recommendation).
Radiant heater (recommended). Use 90% less energy. Click for details.
Heat lamps are a low cost option but they do come with some safety risks of burns and also risk of fire if located inappropriately hence why our recommendation is to use a radiant panel style of brooder similar to the Brinsea Ecoglow brooder panel shown in the photo above. The heat source should be located down one end of the brooder to allow the chicks to move about and experience a range of temperatures.
Now that we have housing and warmth sorted we need to think about food and water.
You will need a good quality chick starter crumble (see our post on what to feed your chicken for more details) and something to feed them in such as a chick feeder or just a simple bowl that the chicks cannot tip over. Same for water.
At around 6 weeks of age they can move onto a pullet ration that has a slightly lower protein content until they are around 22 weeks of age or until they begin laying eggs.
With housing, warmth, food and water under control we need to think about some other practical issues.
At about 4 weeks of age you can introduce a low perch so the chicks can start to practice roosting.
Some chicks will also start to want to practice having dirt baths (a critical skill for managing parasites) so if you have space introduce a tray of dirt or sand and watch the chicks having fun.
Perch installed in simple chicken brooder
Cleanliness is important to keep you chicks healthy so make sure you do regular housekeeping. Change their bedding regularly (at least daily) and make sure they always have clean food and water.
Last but not least, enjoy the experience and delight in watching your chicks grow. They grow very fast so enjoy it while it lasts because in no time you will be feeling that empty nest syndrome – but hey, to overcome the grief of your chicks growing up at least you have fresh eggs to look forward to (around week 22 for most breeds).
One of the great things about having your own flock of backyard chickens is fresh eggs. When it comes to egg laying not all chickens were made equal. In fact some breeds have been selectively bred for decades to be the egg laying Olympians of the chicken world.
For beginner backyard chicken keepers you need to balance the egg laying ability of the chicken breed with ease of raising the breed.
If you have decided that your main purpose for keeping backyard chickens is for eggs there are a number of great breeds suitable for beginners that we would recommend based on the advice of some of the leading experts (now not all of these chicken breeds are necessarily the most prolific layers but for beginners it is a balance between egg laying and ease of care).
The Backyard Chicken Zone top 5 egg laying chicken breed recommendations for beginners:
1. Rhode Island Red
Coming in at number 1 on our top 5 egg laying chickens is the Rhode Island Red. This is our favourite layer with an above average laying rate of medium size Brown eggs. They are a versatile backyard chicken suitable for most climates and very easy to care for. They can be a little temperamental and aggressive to other breeds so be careful what other breeds to put with them. The Rhode Island Red is a good all rounder that is also suitable for meat production so if you are not sure what breed will be best for you the Rhode Island red is a good starter.
2. Leghorn
Coming in a close second is the Leghorn. These chickens are egg laying machines, producing over 300 large white eggs a year. They can be a little flighty which makes them a little more difficult to manage but if it is eggs you are after this breed will certainly deliver. They are also a useful dual purpose chicken (although a little on the scrawny side) and can be used for organic meat once their egg production declines.
3. Buff Orpington
This breed is one our favourite beginner chickens with an above average production of large brown eggs. Orpingtons are good brooders so an excellent choice if you plan to raise chicks. They are also an excellent choice for a pet chicken due to their docile nature and ease of care. If you live in a cooler climate the Orpington is a must have for your backyard chicken flock.
4. Black Star
Coming in at number four in our top 5 egg laying chickens is the Black Star. Black stars are a hybrid breed (cross between Barred Rock hens and Rhode Island Red roosters) and lay an above average amount of large brown eggs. They are very easy to raise and also very hardy making them an excellent beginner breed. They have a calm nature also making them suitable for families and as a pet chicken.
5. Ameraucana
Rounding out our top 5 egg laying chickens is the Ameraucana. This breed is known as the “Easter Eggers” because they produce eggs in a variety of colours including blue, blue-green, green, and cream (our kids love collecting the colourful eggs). They lay medium sized eggs with an above average laying rate. They have a calm temperament and make a excellent family or pet chicken.
For a family of four, a flock of three or four hens will usually produce sufficient eggs so try a few different breeds when you start out and work out which breeds work best for you.
Whilst our top 5 egg laying breeds will produce regular eggs for you, remember that the quality and nutritional value of those eggs will be controlled by the chickens diet including the health benefits, richness and colour of the yoke, as well as the chickens overall health. What you put in is what you get out so check out our tips on what to feed chickens to ensure a happy, healthy flock, and the most deliciousness and nutritious organic eggs for your family.
One final note. Whilst raising chickens for eggs is a sustainable way to produce your own food – why stop there. At backyard chicken zone we believe that going green does not mean sacrificing your lifestyle and that green tech and eco friendly products can give you the lifestyle you desire whilst moving towards a more sustainable future. Our partners at GoGetEco.com have the latest in cool eco friendly gadgets, future gadgets, future tech, the latest in green technology, eco friendly products and cool green tech inventions. Why not check them out.
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affects how much moisture is lost from the eggs during incubation. Fortunately most incubators create their own humidity through the use of water trays. (Tip – always use Luke warm water when you refill these water trays). The ideal humidity for hatching your backyard chickens is around 50-55% for the first 18 days and 65-70% in the final three days before hatching.
