Five Types Of Chickens For Backyard Breeders
Everybody likes to eat it. Roasted, fried, stewed, in potpies, in parmigiana and more, chicken is a popular food when eating out or having dinner with the family. The eggs are fried, scrambled, boiled and poached for breakfast and help give cakes and pastries a rich taste that desert lovers crave; they also make a fantastic holiday drink common in the winter season.
Produced commercially by the millions each year, they find their way onto tables on every continent. Chicken is one of the easiest food animals to raise, with a high feed to meat conversion rate that helps keep prices down and the birds in demand. Some people have concerns, though, about the way that chickens are raised, and prefer to raise their own, believing that in doing so, they can control the health and well-being of their birds and, by knowing what the birds have eaten, they can control the flavor as well.
With that in mind, those considering raising chicken for their own use look for varieties that offer benefits that commercial growers, who produce for either meat or eggs, ignore. While the commercial fowl are usually single purpose animals, backyard breeders tend to prefer dual-purpose birds, and gravitate more toward the breeds that developed before commercial birds were so available.
Five Types of Chickens for Backyard Breeders
1. Jersey Giant
This extremely large bird is an excellent choice for backyard breeders looking for a large roaster for Sunday dinners.
Average weight for males: 13 pounds
Egg Production: Moderate in number, large, light brown
Temperament: Easy to handle, calm
Disadvantages: Slow growing; takes over a year to reach size
2. Dorking
Look at a box of Corn Flakes, and this is the bird on the front. One of the oldest breeds, the Dorking is a delicious dual-purpose bird known for its friendliness.
Approximate weight for males: 9 pounds for the standard variety
Egg-production habits: Moderate, large, white
Temperament: Friendly, easy to handle
Disadvantages: May be hard to contain, since the breed likes to forage
3. Plymouth Rock
This breed has been popular for over a hundred and fifty years due to its many qualities. For those looking to raise chicks, this bird makes a good parent for those eggs.
Average weight for males: about 8 pounds
Egg production: High (about 4 per week), large, brown
Temperament: Smart, friendly, easily handled
Disadvantages: Can become broody: this is not a disadvantage if grower is interested in raising chicks
4. Sussex
This breed provides a moderate-sized meal for a family, and lays plenty of eggs for its owners.
Approximate weight for roosters: about 9lbs
Egg production: High (about 4 per week), large, brown
Temperament: Friendly, easy keeper, calm
Disadvantages: No real disadvantages; these birds have it all
5. Wyandotte
With a wide range of colors available and a fantastic personality, this bird will shine in a backyard flock.
Average weight for roosters: about 8 pounds
Egg Production: High (about 4 per week), large, brown
Temperament: Friendly, quiet, docile
Disadvantages: Can become a dominating member of a flock
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