ISA Brown, Hy-Line or New Hampshire x hens are highly prized for beginners: they train you. However, their short life span often make people seek out a longer lasting breed. So which one is right for you?
This has been a hot topic amongst most of my callers, emailers and clients, that I just had to share it with everybody.
Growing up on a farm geared for high egg out put, I really only thought there were one or two breeds of chickens. But when I moved to the city, a whole new world of chicken breeds opened up to me.
Today I have had experience raising around 15 different breeds of chickens.
So where do you start when you have grown out of owning hybrid hens?
Big Chicken or Little Chicken?
- Do you have children that love to cuddle hens?
- Do you want a meat/egg bird?
Purebred meat/egg hens are much heavier than a utility hybrid hen. Some can weigh up to 4kgs.
Bantam hens can weigh between 570g to 1.5kg
Big Eggs or Little Eggs?
- Do you want large eggs or small eggs?
In recipes: use 2 bantam eggs per 1 normal sized egg
Bantam eggs hard boil quicker but can be a novelty for children and on platters.
Small egg layers are Silkies, Pekins, Sebrights, Japanese & Dutch Bantams
Very large eggs are most often laid by Leghorns
Eggs often or less often?
As you move away from hybrid hens into the heritage purebred range of breeds the egg laying will be less often in the week.
This is positive for the hens because:
CLICK ON THE POULTRYKEEPER.COM FOR INFORMATION ON EACH BREED
- size
- eggs per week
- personality
This is positive for the hens because:
- Less eggs means a longer life span - less strain on kidneys, liver and reproductive system
- You can have more hens to compensate
CLICK ON THE POULTRYKEEPER.COM FOR INFORMATION ON EACH BREED
- size
- eggs per week
- personality
Things To Consider
- Noiser/Quieter Breeds
- Egg shell colour
- Egg size
- Size of the chicken
- Active in the garden or Docile
- Happy on their own or Very social
- Similar to a hybrid or very different
- Feathered feet or Clean legs
- Housing size and room in yard
- Cute or productive (yes, you can have both)
- Can cope with hot/cold weather
- REMEMBER there are many colour variations throughout the breeds to brighten up your backyard!
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