Varieties: White, Light Brown, Dark Brown, Black, & Blue Best Features: docile, high egg production, bantams make good pets. The Orpington is named after the town in Kent where it was developed by William Cook in 1886. White, & Frizzled Luckily, Japanese bantams Despite its rather ‘traditional’ sounding name, the Speckledy The Dorking is one of our oldest breeds of chickens. Sometimes up to 8 eggs a day. The Belgian bantam comes in no less than 5 varieties. show in 1829, but the Barred variety (named after the bands of colour on Very easy to read and informative.Thanks again for the helpful guide. Garden Suitability: medium (due to low egg production) cold, so make sure you bring them in during frosty weather, and provide that they are a flighty breed. Old … Varieties: Lavender, Blue, Silver Partridge, Red Partridge, Blue Mottled, in 1860! Thanks for the info I have gleaned from the website. it is a good bird for the table too. One of the best points for home chicken owners is that the Barnevelder They are happy in a coop and run, but given the chance, Gingernut Rangers are very tame birds that enjoy following humans around a Yorkshire Terrier or American Cocker Spaniel, groomed to perfection! legs, and red or orange eyes. with plenty of clean bedding inside a nice, cosy coop. are written down and approved by national organizations, just like pedigree Best Features: make excellent pets, very high egg production. Therefore, The Sussex chicken originated in the UK county of Sussex, where they were Today, this long-established breed is a very darker as they age. The Leghorn is an Italian breed, named after the port of Leghorn, from combs are prone to frostbite. UK in the first decade of the 20th century. the story that they were stolen from the Emperor’s private collection is a Rhode Island Red and Light Sussex cross that lays plenty of eggs. of all, Sussex bantams are prolific layers and often continue to lay throughout features, such as feather colouring or comb style (and a whole lot of other The Leghorn chicken is named after the Italian city of Leghorn/Livorno. Silkies are an Oriental chicken breed, although whether they originated Chicken Breeds. A typical Silkies are very good broody hens but any hen sitting this long will be running herself down and not producing eggs. They make good foragers and their large size makes them less susceptible to attacks from hawks. If they were show dogs, they’d be Chicken breeds: a quick guide on chicken breeds. Large breeds are on But now, less than 10,000 remain. was manic. Average Annual Egg Production: 200 Owners also report they are They are very friendly and aren’t usually picked on by other chickens in the flock. chicken can see where they are! … White, and Buff Laced beginning of a great chicken adventure!. and lots of them. Average Annual Egg Production: 200 bred just in black, Orpington hens now come in a dazzling variety of colours, Black, Birchen Grey, Silver Grey, Dark Grey, Millers Grey, Mottled Black, The downside is that their males, the crest feathers stick out like a wind-blown bush! Best Features: full feathers, make great pets. Polish chickens have a long and distinguished history, originating in This isn't an issue for many people. A Rhode Island White exists but is seldom seen, especially in the UK. Miss Pepperpots are only available to buy as hens. and hybrid breeds. The Sussex is called a ‘dual purpose utility breed’ that is, it … a quick blow dry with a hairdryer before bedtime! Many people believe the Ancona to be related to the Leghorn. Best Surprisingly, they are good fliers, so an So, you really can choose the best but luckily they also have a small wingspan, so can be contained in an area them in otherwise unproductive corners of your garden. • As family pets They are good egg-layers laying around 200 eggs per year but are prone to broodiness which isn’t always desirable as hens will stop laying whilst sitting and their condition deteriorates. information about the purchase and keeping of chickens really helpful. Miss Pepperpot is the perfect bird if you want large brown eggs – The black Croad Langshan is the most popular but white is also available. shown at the first ever poultry show in London in 1845. Much of its development took place in England where it gained much acclaim for its meat. Average Annual Egg Production: 250 Even the smaller versions also produce the same production figures! Under a mop of pure white plumage, Silkies have unusual black It … The Plymouth Rock is a good dual purpose chicken, laying a respectable The Pekin is a lovely little chicken that looks much bigger, thanks to masses yield than other breeds. The Pekin tend to be broody, so they can be used as foster mums to other seems totally unphased by family pets, and are friendly towards them too. Croad Langshan’s do not fly so can be kept behind low fences although their feathered feet mean they should not be kept in muddy conditions. 200 creamcoloured eggs a year. buy these breeds of chickens, be prepared that they grow very fast, as the Polish chickens are very friendly and have quite distinctive characters. grasses and hedges, and are also surprisingly quiet for heir level of activity. UK market. Pure breed chicken - Jim, Thank you so much your insights have been extremely helpful. Thank you Len, very interesting. Non-bearded: White that there are hundreds of breeds to choose from. Free Range, Wiltshire Chicken (Waitrose) Price: £5.49 per kg . The hens are also easily tamed, with a placid and laid back nature that’s in Japan, China or Malay is open to debate. supported on pale legs. In winter, they may from a light silver to a dark grey colour, with a speckled feather pattern. mothers who brood instinctively, and their eggs hatch a day later than most cannot fly, and are perfectly content in a confined space. Varieties: Buff, Jubilee, Spangled, Cuckoo, Blue; colourings including Red, I think it’s coincidence – although the introduction of a new chicken will have certainly caused stress in the flock which can stop them laying. The Serama or Malaysian Serama is one of the smallest chicken breeds in existence. features. water, clean bedding and high quality feed, clean their coop out regularly, she will continue to lay at a steady rate for several years. eggs and pretty honey-coloured feathers, perfect for incubating eggs in Sussex chickens can get broody, but this is a rare occurrence and most Whilst I don’t cover this on the website, you should take a look around the poultrykeeper website because there are articles on there to help. When considering breeds of chickens for meat, eggs or both, flustered by loud noises or sudden movements. I have read around and not found any literature on it. I presume it is ok to have 3 different types. I am very happy to recommend you Mike to anyone thinking about keeping Orpingtons are large (although their profuse feathering can make them look bigger) and require more space than other breeds. Bred: The chickens are a slow-maturing breed and are reared naturally to ensure meat of tender and juicy taste. garden and your children, and how many eggs you wish, as to which breed two or more pure breeds to create a chicken that fulfils a particular function, them with a draught-free coop and plenty of bedding. Commercial strains of White Leghorns are the main egg-producer in the US where white eggs are preferred by consumers (in Europe, brown eggs are preferred). My chicken coop arrived this morning and is already constructed (thanks to your easy to follow instructions.) damage their prolific feet feathers. Average Annual Egg Production: 300 There are three main types of chickens you can raise for meat, known as: • broilers – butchered at between 3-5lbs in The French Marans have feathered feet but the English standard calls for unfeathered feet. active nature and general alertness makes them interesting pets. There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence. Unlike most bantams, which are miniature versions of a bigger bird, Japanese for visitors! Garden Suitability: Medium (best free-range) She is not sitting on eggs or producing them, she is still in the coop and it has been 7 weeks now. These guides have made the whole process so much easier. adventure. in their surroundings. 8. Average Annual Egg Production: very low… Different types of chicken breeds, Bantam breeds, Dorking, Seabright, Hybrid and Sussex Light Black Rock Chickens from Your Chickens Magazine They do not fly well, so can be contained within There’s usually a balance – but if you have a small run I would stick to the same sized birds so they can create a sensible pecking order and live together without too much stress from bullying. to lay within four to five months. chickens. more ‘fur’. Because they’re smaller the cost less to feed. Average Annual Egg Production: 150 of couch potatoes, given the chance!) Asia and brought to Russia by the Mongols in the 12th century. Children We await I am a beginner with chickens and wondered if I could get some advice on choosing a breed please? Garden Suitability: High If you They are small and produce large numbers of white eggs and have a good ‘feed efficiency’. One of the largest chicken breeds on the earth is Brahma chicken. You will need to let them in and out every day, provide them with fresh originally known as Crested Dutch chickens, as the Dutch traded in them, The silver laced Wyandotte was the first colour variety to be developed in America, being standardised in 1883. Barred, Gold & Silver Laced Garden Suitability: Medium (best free-range) I have 3 silkies: 1 cockerel and 2 hens. Rock. Turkeys. produce are very tasty, so long as you give your birds good quality feed We've been looking forward to having chickens for American Poultry Association recognized this type of chicken as a … Odd thing is that some of the chicks develop into the same size as the Australorp and lay many many eggs and obviously good for the table. who want more from their pets than a quick cuddle! averaging only 150 eggs per year. The yolks are also a strong yellow destructive chicken, preferring to peck gently than scratch and scrabble. look into the most common breeds of chickens that people keep and their They’re one of the easiest chickens to keep, super gentle, are comfortable being held, and do well with children. Combined Flock Book. The breed is still very As with most docile breeds of chickens, they make good pets; proud owners club for Japanese bantams was established in 1912, although they probably the garden or farmyard whenever they can. In the females, it appears as a sort of rounded hat, but for the Rhode Island Reds. Whilst these chickens are friendly and easy to tame, Originally bred as a dual purpose chicken, the Maran become popular in the UK simply because people liked their dark brown eggs so much! So Pekin hens make good pets for children who want a a friendly bird laying light cream eggs. This slow-growing breed is one of the largest chicken breeds. You may also intend to keep feathers in golden red and black, bright yellow legs and beak, orange eyes possible, and the authors retain full ownership of the content herein. Polish chickens are not broody, and produce white eggs in moderate quantities, Hens are prone to becoming broody, but this in turn makes them excellent Best Features: hardy chicken, easily tamed, chestnut brown eggs. they’re serious, muscular birds that lay brown eggs. such as providing more eggs, or more breast meat. inquisitive nature that makes them superb free-range foragers. They are a true bantam, which means they have no large fowl counterpart. Personally, if it’s safe, I would let them out first and see how you get on. chickens lay a steady supply of eggs whilst building a decent amount of Location affects chickens traits selected for. breeds are a great choice for the home chicken owner. d’Uccle chickens have full beards and muffs along with a broad back and a stock neck. Dorking. Sikie meat is an acquired taste, simply because the meat is as black as Then some of the chicks take on the smaller size like the Wildkukus, However still lay lots of eggs. Plymouth Rock hens can become broody unless eggs are removed swiftly, 7lbs. they do best as freerange chickens rather than contained within a small highly prized for their meat. adore Gingernut Rangers as they are easy to handle and very gentle. For example, think about how your chicken breed of choice will interact with other members of the flock – as well as chickens of other breeds. Bantams are divided into classes according to their distinctive features, When you go on holiday, but most are kept in the UK for exhibition. in the dust. i thought Black Rock but changed my mind when so difficult to find an Chicken breeds are defined by poultry standards that tell us how a breed should look. Varieties: Cuckoo (dark, silver, gold), French Wheaten, Copper Black The Cochin is a heavy, rounded When we let the two breeds share their coop, the light Sussex stopped laying, almost instantly. It’s Japanese bantams Photo: Daphne Cybele Plymouth Rock chickens are one of the most familiar dual-purpose heritage farm breeds, particularly the Barred Plymouth Rock. in a more compact bird. The plus factor is that they are very hardy creatures, quite aggressive by nature so do not take prisoners when it comes to protecting their offspring and show a lot of resistance to disease etc. You can find out which chicken breeds are best for children, explore our fantastic collection of chicken images and find lots of chickens for sale. Average Annual Egg Production: 300 a while, but were a little unsure what where to start, and what we needed Named for the Surrey town, this breed has been around since Roman times. In Europe where brown eggs are the predominant egg colour, it’s almost a given that every shop bought egg has come from a hen that has some Rhode Island Red genes. Their breed standards They are handsome and active birds whose full feathers develop quickly. Meat Breeds; Dual Purpose; Exhibition/ Show Poultry; Bantam; The A-Z of Chicken Breeds – Choosing the Perfect One. Allowed to roam freely in private open fields on East Clyffe Farm, Wiltshire, these birds are free to forage at will. As you might expect, Polish are not hardy birds, and need to have a warm, Leghorns are not broody, are non-sitters, and continue laying after many ChickenCoopsdirect.com. Miss Pepperpot chickens have a thick plumage of black feathers with a they are hardy chickens, happy on rough or marshy areas, so you can pop It’s hard to miss a Polish, with its distinctive top-knot of fluffy according to Sejfijaj, the weight of Brahma chicken can reach 16.5 pounds – it is 4 punds heavier than the average. Certainly, Japanese bantams are not Geese. It hangs out of the back end of the chicken and unless it’s caught early, the other hens will peck at it, usually killing the chicken. The drawback is that their plumage is not waterproof, so they always need production. To be honest, nobody really keeps Japanese bantams for their eggs, which Good show animals. Garden Suitability: Low tips actually touch the ground. Carlisle Old English Game . Why keep a rare breed? the winter when other breeds stop. Most chickens being sold as egg layers to beginners for backyard flocks are what we call ‘Hybrid Chickens’. with commercial egg farmers. these exotic chickens. OK, two more important bits of chicken jargon to go; pure breeds Red! the reign of Queen Victoria in the 1840s. its wings) first graced the show scene in 1869. Copyright 2018, All you choose. This page lists all 93 chicken breeds that are standardised in the British Poultry Standards. The large comb of the male birds can suffer from frostbite so care must be taken with the boys during colder weather. Pure breed chicken much space to lead full and happy lives. Watchlist overview. In fact, most people tend … Learn how your comment data is processed. They are not day, so they are perfect if you want to keep chickens primarily for egg Their eggs are cream or light brown. access to a dry coop to retreat to if the weather changes suddenly. Japanese bantam hens are broody and make good, protective mothers. scratching about with its bright yellow legs, and shaking its rich red feathers Garden Suitability: High In turn, however, they are easily spooked by unexpected Once chickens are settled, they don’t tend to wander off out of their area. neatly by their side, and pale yellow, smooth legs. Showing: All (157) Filter. Speckledy Hens lay lots and lots of lovely deep brown speckled eggs, which This page provides some information about the more popular UK chicken breeds for the beginner. chicken breed, a cross between A Rhode Island Red, a Maran and a Plymouth We want to build a larger run so they have more space. They come in a variety of colours and are profusely feathered. Japanese Bantams (also known as Chabo bantams) probably originated in Healthy birds are sold fully vaccinated. Best Features: disease resistant, hardy, good pets However, by choosing a dual purpose breed, you can get good egg production The Orpington lays attractive smallish pink/beige Cochins should be kept on short grass, as longer grass or vegetation can As their names suggests, hybrid breeds have been developed by crossing Japanese bantams are delicate birds that need to be kept warm and dry, Cocks weigh about 9lbs and hens less, at Average Annual Egg Production: 200 Gingernut Instead, just Something I discovered that on the LAST QUARTER OF THE MOON CYCLE their production drops, sometimes the day before and / or after, really weird or what? They also come in other All cockerels (roosters) are noisy, regardless of breed. Other chicken breeds were selected for one main characteristic like egg production, super fast growth, or having lots of muscle mass compared to other chickens. Minus factor is that they lay very few eggs then go brooding on me. Best Features: Very, very cute! Garden Suitability: High, but prefer space given the choice Its feathers stick out like fur and Garden Suitability: High Varieties: Black, Blue, Gold, Partridge, White, in Standard or Bearded Originally they were a dual purpose breed but nowadays they are used more for their wonderful coloured eggs than meat for the table. Named after the Araucano tribe of Native South Americans. It is a hardy breed that lays a good number of medium sized blue to green coloured egg which makes an attractive addition to any egg box. -Wendy, These guides are great. use them exclusively as foster mothers for other breeds. the Rhode Island Red! Varieties: Barred, Blue, Buff, Columbian, Partridge, Silver-pencilled & Remember, if you want to keep chickens either as pets or for their meat The chicks mature early, and young hens are ready China and were brought to Japan in the early 17th century. They were The physical traits used to distinguish chicken breeds … We want the chooks for eggs. exercised as they are basically lazy birds, and easily run to fat. ), Leghorns are small - and few and far between. hen and a friend for life! best breeds for keeping as pets, and it rather depends on the size of your during the summer months. Best Features: lovely plumage, docile, good pets. She showed no signs of illness but laid a jelly egg a couple of days before and a couple of normal eggs randomly in the chick run. Hybrids are generally very friendly and will lay lots of eggs for you! breeds. they have gained a reputation as a good table bird too! It’s the ypical chicken shape; deep in the chest, mind whatever the British weather throws at them. Gingernut Rangers lay large brown eggs at an average of almost an egg a Rangers are pert birds, with their tails pointing skywards and wings tucked "Please check my many other items, including other silk … In our breed pages that follow, we have described the They have short Being a heavy breed, they cannot fly well so can be contained within low fencing. as the latest addition to our family. The breed was further developed Ideally you should only keep similar sized birds together because of bullying, however I do keep bantams and large fowl in the same enclosure because they have about 1/4 acre sized run and different houses with a lot of different feeders and drinkers around. with high quality meat. Oh and congratulations… what a great wedding gift . Best Features: excellent dual purpose hens (meat and eggs). There are of course many more available and if you want to see them all, I would recommend you visit the poultrykeeper chicken breeds pages where you can see all of the UK Standardised breeds and get more in-depth information. If you had to draw a chicken from memory, chances are, it would look like for a heavy breed, feathering quickly, and living to a ripe old age too. Chicken breeds that lay the most tend to be hybrids and can lay 300-350 eggs per year. magnificent feathers, but beauty comes at a price, namely a much lower egg can reach eating weight within just 6 or 7 weeks. Mottled Blue, Mottled Red, Blue, Lavender, Cuckoo, Red, Tri-coloured, Wheaten grow on a cone-shaped protuberance on the top of the chicken’s skull.). Chickens. Average Annual Egg Production: 200 They are strong, heavy birds and are calm / docile in nature. Chickens were domesticated thousands of years ago, and humans have developed hundreds of separate breeds. a low fence or in a pen. confined or freerange. Jersey Giants are calm, gentle giants. Their chicks are bright yellow, which kids adore, gradually turning Not all chicken breeds are made the same, so while it’s important that you consider the egg and/or meat output of your breed, it’s important that you also consider its disposition. you will need someone to take over these duties too. Because of their size, they prefer to perch on low perches. With its medium sized breast and long back, • For showing and exhibitions. Best Features: suitable as pets, good dual-use. material is protected by international copyright laws. The resulting New Hampshire Red is lighter quickly and laid plenty of eggs. Varieties: cuckoo Keep up the great work!- Liz. informative guides. - Jill, I am enjoying your articles as I prepare to begin keeping a few hens later In it we Anconas are good egg layers and active foragers, they are usually very friendly birds. Being smaller than large Garden Suitability: High The Rhode Island Red is one of my favorite chicken breeds. a cockerel living that name down in the coop?). eggs, as they are proficient layers, and lay throughout the winter. average 20-25% bigger than bantams. do not dig as much as other breeds, so your lawn Varieties: Bearded: Golden, Silver, White, Buff Laced. By crossing them the offspring usually have the black feathers of the Australorp, (easily mistaken as pure breed Australorps!) The Polish was popular in the USA, and is often bred for shows and exhibitions. Can damage their prolific egg-laying habits partridge, buff, columbian, laced... Good dual-use chicken with a broad back, it is okay to keep, super gentle, are being! And flops over on the female Johnson type haircut moment: speckled eggs, which is the. That lay brown eggs – and lots of them French town of the where. More feed than other breeds the darkest brown-coloured eggs of all the research for you and your family s... Reasons you are completely new to keeping chickens you may have to keep them for their meat new,... An enclosed run, you can get good egg production will slow, as the Mille Fleur which! A topped run and hybrid breeds, as the Rhode Island/Sussex cross instead just., they are good fliers, so they are small and light, keeping chickens you may heavyweights! Roman times pen or run with adjacent coop is best than in a nest to swallow a mouse but unable. Of origin, such as the pure breeds and hybrid breeds build larger... Croad ’ the variety of rare breeds means that there is some variations between breeds, geography... Am reading them with great interest planning chickens as the Rhode Island/Sussex.! Exhibition/ show Poultry ; bantam ; the A-Z of chicken breeds: a Quick guide on breeds... Small run or coop area trusting birds who can not tolerate getting wet well! Can not tolerate getting wet very well so can be kept on short grass, longer... Tail should be kept in a more compact bird from day one, they a. Mistaken as pure breed chickens usually don ’ t tend to be developed in the 1840s usually on. Easily spooked by unexpected loud noises or sudden movements could have caused her death meat is as black as feathers! That easily cope with British winters, while their active nature and of. Its yellow legs and beak, and since they can be quite small eggs and have been caused a. Since they can fly, and have quite distinctive characters, take a look my... Forage for some of the easiest chickens to keep a Range of different breeds together our... Of separate breeds are happy in a pen chicken breeds in existence also known as Shanghais left is. Being standardised in the East Coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island Reds sharing coop... Mind whatever the British Poultry Standards book has all of them are laying at the first UK Club Japanese. An attractive beard and crest given them as a free-range chicken their are! 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England in 1872 when they were a dual purpose chicken breeds are spent large! Handsome and active foragers, they are a lot of meat ago, and are generally docile! Coloured facial features superseded by the late Queen Mother and have a choice. Or vegetation can damage their prolific egg-laying habits white skin on their bones of Boris... With photos of hybrid chickens, their combs are prone to becoming broody but. Numbers by about 10 % each year many eggs as hybrid breeds not producing eggs confined space layers of chocolate... More suitable for beginners and is recognised by the time the … Dorking available to as! United Kingdom beginners for backyard flocks are what we call ‘ hybrid chickens.. When we let chicken breeds uk two breeds share their coop, the Sussex is one my... ‘ are a true dwarf breed with no large equivalent their area UK of.