Choose Chicken Breeds That Suit Your Environment

Introduction

Once you have decided on the chicken coops to build, it is now time to determine the chicken breed to raise.  While  doing so, it is important to consider the purpose for which you intend to raise the chicken and the environmental conditions of the area you live.

Cold weather and Hot weather breeds.

Chicken Breeds for Cold Weather:

In cold areas where temperatures fall below freezing point, it is better to have Standards than Bantams. Standards are hardier and fare better than

Bantams. Chicken combs and wattles are an important factor to consider since the smaller they are, the less they will be affected by frostbite. The Common Cold Weather Breed Chickens are Chanticleers, Plymouth Rocks, Langshans, Sussexes, Orpingtons, Wyandottes

Chicken Breeds for Hot Weather:

If your locality regularly experience climates of over 100 degrees, it is best to avoid the big-sized and feathery chickens. In hot weather, most Bantams do well with the exception of the feather-footed varieties, and the following Standard breeds are highly recommended for hot climates Blue Andalusians, Light Brown Leghorns, Golden Campines, White Leghorn

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Breeds According To Purpose and Intention

All chickens lay eggs, have edible meat, and have a unique appearance common to their particular breed. However, distinct breeds are the result of selective breeding to emphasize certain traits. Any breed may technically be used for general agricultural purposes, and all breeds are shown to some degree. But each chicken breed is known for a primary use.

Egg Producing Chicken Breeds:

Egg producing chickens are generally light-weight and hens have a balanced temperament. If you want the best possible egg production, limit your search to the laying breeds. The best breeds are White Leghorns Stars, Rhode Island Reds and stars. Other breeds are Ameraucana Kraienkoppe, Ancona Lakenvelder, Andalusian, Leghorn, Araucana, Marans, Asturian Painted Hen, Minorca, Barnevelder, Orloff, Campine, Penedesenca, Catalana, Sicilian Buttercup, Easter Egger, White-Faced Black Spanish, Fayoumi and Welsummer

Chickens Breeds for Meat Production:

People who raise chickens for the meat alone prefer dual purpose breeds for meat production purposes, the following breeds are commonly used, Bresse, Ixworth and Indian Game (or Cornish)

Dual-Purpose Chickens Breeds:

Dual Purpose breeds are those kept for meat and production of eggs. The common dual purpose breed [I.e. lay eggs and provide meat] Australorps, Plymouth Rocks, Marans, Wyandottes and Orpingtons. Others are Marsh Daisy, Brahma Naked Neck, Braekel, New Hampshire, Buckeye, Norfolk Grey, California Gray, Orpington, Chanticleer, Cubalaya, Poltava, Derbyshire Redcap, Rhode Island Red, Dominique, Rhode Island White, Dorking, Scots Dumpy, Faverolles, Scots Grey, Holland, Sussex, Iowa Blue, Winnebago, Java and Jersey Giant

Chickens Breeds Raised for Game, Exhibition or Shows:

These breeds are kept for competitive games and display at exhibitions and Bird shows. American Game G, Japanese Bantam, Asil G, La Fleche U, Appenzeller U. Others breeds for exhibition, display and shows are Malay G, Barbu de Watermael, Modern Game, Bearded d’Anvers, Nankin, Bearded d’Uccle, Old English Game G, Belgian d’Everberg, Pekin, Blue Hen of Delaware G, Phoenix, Booted Bantam, Polish U, Cochin, Rosecomb, Crevecoeur U, Sebright, Croad Langshan U, Serama, Dutch Bantam, Shamo G, Frizzle, Silkie, Ga NoiG, Sultan, Hamburg U, Sumatra, Houdan U and Vorwerk U

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Starting Your Flock

When starting off your flock, You have a choice between starting off with chicks or starter pullets (hens that have recently started laying eggs). If you are really into chicken raising, you’ll love starting your flock with baby chicks; however, doing so requires that you give your flock considerable attention until they are full-grown hens.

You can purchase your baby chicks from a farm supply store (mostly during spring time) but they may not carry special breeds they mostly have a limited selection from which you can choose.

Make sure that you purchase female chicks instead of a mix of male and female as you may end up with a lot of roosters instead of hens! Keep in mind that roosters are not a requirement for hens to lay eggs.

The easiest method to visually tell if a chicken is a layer or not is by inspecting the space between the pubic bones. If a chicken is a good layer, there is normally a two-finger spread between the public bones; if the chicken is non-layer, the pubic bones are rigid and close together.

Additionally, most good layers have yellow skin which shows signs of bleaching of pigment; however, there may be cases of disease and abnormality in chickens wherein the skin color may exhibit faded pigment.

It is advisable to visit your local department of agriculture to determine the best breeds for your area.

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