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Selecting the Right Chicken Breed Jacquie Jacob and Tony Pescatore, Animal and Food Sciences

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Selecting the Right Chicken Breed Jacquie Jacob and Tony Pescatore, Animal and Food Sciences COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, LEXINGTON, KY, 40546 ASC-190 Selecting the Right Chicken Breed Jacquie Jacob and Tony Pescatore, Animal and Food Sciences any factors should be considered In Europe, a large market exists for Sex-linked Chickens before selecting a chicken breed slower-growing meat-type chickens. M Specific breeds or strains of chickens for your flock, whether you are planning Some of these breeds have been imported can be developed where it is possible to start a new flock or to add to an exist- into the United States and have recently to tell male and female chickens apart ing one. You might be looking for a meat become available for purchase. They are based on their physical appearance, breed, an egg breed, or perhaps a breed typically raised for 11-12 weeks and are often plumage color. that performs reasonably well at both therefore closer to sexual maturity than For the matings to work, the physical (referred to as a dual-purpose breed). commercial broilers. Because they are characteristic must be carried on one of Perhaps you just want a pet or chickens slower growing than the typical com- the sex chromosomes—thus the term to show at exhibitions. mercial broiler chickens, they are said to “sex-linked”—and the correct male and female breeds selected. For example, a While all breeds of chickens are have more flavor. Delaware hen mated to a New Hamp- descendants from the red jungle fowl of Dark-feathered, slower-growing shire or Rhode Island Red rooster is a Southeast Asia, generations of genetic breeds are popular in Asian cuisine. Al- sex-link cross where the male offspring selection have developed breeds special- though the Australorp was developed as will have the Delaware feather pattern izing in specific characteristics. an egg-producing breed in Australia, it is and female offspring will have a solid- red feather pattern. However, if you The mature weight of the jungle fowl grown in many parts of the United States mate a Delaware rooster with a New is about 2 pounds, and a sexually ma- as a meat bird for sale in live-bird markets. Hampshire or Rhode Island Red hen, ture hen will lay 10-12 eggs during the An additional chicken breed popular in all the offspring will have the same breeding season. Through generations Asian cuisine is the silkie chicken. Silkie Delaware feather pattern. of genetic selection, chicken breeds have chickens, regardless of feather color, have It is important to remember the off- been developed specifically for meat black skin, black meat, and black bones. spring are hybrids and will not breed production, and they can reach a mar- Chicken soup made from a silkie chicken true. ket weight of 6.6 pounds in eight weeks. is believed by some to have medicinal Similarly, chicken breeds have been de- properties. veloped specifically for egg production, her feathers with a non-barred rooster. and the hens from these breeds lay year Egg Production The male offspring typically have barred round and can produce more than 300 The single-comb White Leghorn is plumage like their mother while the eggs in a year. For those interested in the breed (Leghorn) and variety (single- female offspring are a solid color, typi- exhibition poultry, chicken breeds now comb white) of chicken used in the com- cally black. Black sex-links are typically come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. mercial production of table eggs in most produced by crossing a barred Plymouth of the United States. They are prolific Rock hen with a Rhode Island Red or Breed Characteristics and highly efficient producers of a white- New Hampshire rooster. At hatch, both Meat Production shelled egg. In the northeastern United sexes have black down, but the male States, however, brown-shelled eggs are chicks can be identified by the white dot If you are looking for a meat-pro- preferred. Breeding companies have on their heads. ducing breed, the fast-growing Cornish developed commercial egg-producing Red sex-link. The red sex-link (also cross—a “broiler” breed—is probably strains specifically to meet this market. known as Golden Comet, Gold Star, your best bet. They were developed by Commercial breeds tend to be flighty and or Cinnamon Queen depending on crossing the large-breasted Cornish and high strung and are not the best breeds the specific cross used) is produced by the white Plymouth Rock breeds. They for small flocks. a number of different crosses. White can reach 4-5 pounds in six weeks and Most hatcheries in the United States Plymouth Rock hens with the silver fac- 6-10 pounds in 12 weeks, depending on have a sex-link cross available for chicken tor (a gene on the sex chromosome that the management conditions—especially egg production purposes. inhibits red pigmentation of feathers) are housing and nutrition. Black sex-link. The black sex-link (also crossed with a New Hampshire rooster known as Rock Reds) is produced by crossing a hen with a barred pattern in Agriculture and Natural Resources • Family and Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development • Community and Economic Development EXTENSION to produce the Gold Comet. A silver- Typically hens of breeds with white Can you tell a barred Plymouth Rock laced Wyandotte hen is crossed with a earlobes lay white-shelled eggs and those from a Dominique? New Hampshire rooster to produce the with red ear lobes lay brown-shelled eggs. Chickens of both breeds have barred Cinnamon Queen. Additional possible But every rule has an exception. For feathers. The barring in the Dominique red sex-link cross combinations are the example, hens of the Dorking and Red is thinner than that of the Barred Rock, Rhode Island White hen and a Rhode Caps breeds have red ear lobes but lay but the feature that easily distinguishes Island Red rooster or a Delaware hen white-shelled eggs. Notable exceptions between the two breeds is the comb. with a Rhode Island Red rooster. Male are the Arauncana and Ameraucana Barred Rocks have a single comb while chicks hatch white and can feather out to breeds. The Araucana is a breed from the Dominique has a rose comb. pure white or with some black feathering, South America that lays a blue egg. Ge- depending on the cross. Female chicks netically, the blue egg color is a dominant white-shelled eggs and the Australorp, hatch buff or red, depending on the cross, trait and when the Araucana is crossed Plymouth Rock, Dominique, Rhode Is- and they feather out buff or red. with other breeds the result is a chicken land Red, or New Hampshire for brown- California White. The most popular that lays a colored egg. If the coloring of shelled eggs. sex-linked crosses produced for small the chicken meets the American Poultry Tables 1 and 2 give an indication of flocks lay brown-shelled eggs. The Cali- Association Standard of Perfection, it the color of the eggs laid by a variety of fornia White is one sex-linked cross that is referred to as an Ameraucana. If not, breeds of chickens. Some egg producers produces white-shelled eggs. It is the the chicken is typically referred to as the like to keep a variety of chicken breeds cross between a White Leghorn hen and “Easter Egger.” The color of the eggshell so they will get a wide selection of egg a California Gray rooster. It is basically produced by Ameraucana and “Easter colors—adding a unique characteristic to a commercial Leghorn bred to handle Egger” hens varies from pink to green. the eggs they sell in the farmers market. the conditions of small flocks, including Additional options for egg production those in areas with colder temperatures. include the Minorca and Ancona for Table 1. Egg Color of Good Egg-Producing Breeds. Table 2. Egg Color of Dual-Purpose Breeds. Chicken breed Egg color Chicken breed Egg color Yellow- Anconas White Yellow- Brahmas Light to dark brown skinned Barnevelders Dark brown skinned Buckeyes Brown breeds* Leghorns White breeds* Chanteclers Brown Sicilian Buttercup White Cochins Brown Sumatras, Black White or lightly tinted Delawares Brown Welsummers Dark brown Dominiques Brown White- Andalusians, Blue Chalk white Hollands White skinned Campines White Javas Brown breeds Hamburgs White Jersey Giants Brown to dark brown Lakenvelders White (sometimes tinted) Lamonas White Minorcas Chalk white New Hampshires Brown Naked Necks Brown Plymouth Rocks Very light to dark brown White Faced Spanish Chalk white Wyandottes Very light to rich brown * Useful in evaluating hens for past production levels. For more informa- White- Araucana/Ameraucana Blue to light green tion, see Evaluating Egg-Laying Hens (4AJ-07P0). skinned Australorps Brown breeds Catalanas, Buff White or very light tint Crevecoeurs White Dorkings White How can you tell an Araucana and an Ameraucana apart? Faverolles Light brown The Araucana chicken has no tail (a condition referred to as Houdans White "rumpless") and tufts of feathers protruding from its face. The LaFleche White Ameraucana has a tail and, instead of tufts, has muffs and a beard, terms used to describe fluffy collections of feathers Langshans Very dark brown on the face and neck. The terms “Easter egger” or “Easter egg Orpingtons Light to dark brown chicken” are used for any chicken that carries the blue egg- Redcaps White color gene but does not meet the breed standards for the Rhode Island Reds Brown to dark brown Ameraucana as listed in the American Poultry Associations Rhode Island Whites Brown to dark brown Standard of Perfection. Sussex Brown * Useful in evaluating hens for past production levels.
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