The Suburban Chicken. Kristina Mercedes Urquhart

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The Suburban Chicken - Kristina Mercedes Urquhart


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a rise and fall in popularity since its establishment in the APA’s Standard of Perfection in 1874. Following World War II, the breed nearly went extinct, and only four flocks remained by 1970. Through concerted effort, the breed was revived and now boasts “Watch” status on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List. If you’re interested in raising a fun backyard bird and want to support its ailing numbers, the Dominique is a great choice. They are calm, docile, and the hens are rather nurturing as mothers.

      Productivity: Good

      Egg Color: Brown

      Temperament: Docile, generally calm but can be flighty; hens make excellent mothers

      Hardiness:Cold-hardy and heat-tolerant

      Varieties: Black-and-white barred only (also known as cuckoo pattern)

      Easter Egger

      Description: Yes, it’s true: The Easter Egger is not officially a breed. So how do they make it to the best breeds list? For starters, they are easy to come by from nearly any hatchery, making them quite accessible to chicken keepers in any region. They are really fun to hatch and raise (they don’t breed true, so hatching is always a surprise), and like any good mutt, they’re superfriendly and full of personality. The Easter Egger trademark is that they are crossed with birds with the blue- and green-egg laying gene, and they lay beautiful eggs in nearly every color. But be warned: Not all Easter Eggers lay blue or green eggs—that’s part of the surprise. (See “So What’s an Easter Egger?” for more on this fun chicken.)

      Productivity: Good to very good

      Egg Color: Various shades of blue, green, olive, brown, cream, and pink

      Temperament: Varies; usually very friendly, docile, easily handled

      Hardiness: Cold-hardy

      Varieties: Varies

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      Jersey Giant

      Description: The Jersey Giant is indeed from New Jersey and indeed giant. Developed with the intention to replace the turkey as a table bird, this dual-purpose chicken takes about eight to nine months to reach maturity (compare that with other meat birds’ six weeks of growing time). As their name implies, they are the largest chicken breed—roosters weigh in at around 10 lb. (5 kg) and hens around 8 lb. (4 kg). Due to their size, they’re not the most economical layer in terms of feed conversion, but they lay better than most large breeds and do bear confinement well, a perk for small backyard coops and spaces. The Giant’s easy-going disposition is another reason it makes a great small-flock bird. Black was the original color for Jersey Giants, but they are now recognized in White and Blue as well. This heritage breed is under “Watch” status on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List.

      Productivity: Good to very good

      Egg Color: Brown

      Temperament: Gentle, mellow, good-natured, easily handled; bears confinement well

      Hardiness: Cold-hardy

      Varieties: Black, white, blue

      New Hampshire

      Description: Introduced in 1935, the New Hampshire chicken is a relatively new American breed as well. Deviated from the Rhode Island Red and named for its state of origin (It’s just “New Hampshire”; “New Hampshire Red” is actually a misnomer), the New Hampshire is a dual-purpose medium-sized bird with a single comb. Its plumage is a coppery red with more gold than Rhode Island Reds. Hens are fairly good layers of medium-sized brown eggs, are prone to go broody, and make excellent mothers. New Hampshires have a “Watch” designation on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List.

      Productivity: Good to very good

      Egg Color: Light brown to medium brown

      Temperament: Calm, docile, easily handled

      Hardiness: Cold-hardy

      Varieties: Light brownish red

      Orpington

      Description: This English dual-purpose breed hails from the town of Orpington in Kent, from which it gets its name. The Orpington is an excellent dual-purpose bird; the hens are first-rate layers of a light brown egg, and both sexes are incredibly cold-hardy thanks to their fluffy, loose feathers (those loose feathers also make the bird look heftier than she actually is). The Orpington breed is recognized in several color varieties, with Buff, a beautiful golden-yellow color, being the most popular. Like the Australorp, this breed has “Recovering” status on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List. They are a favorite of family flocks and a perfect breed for children to care for due to their gentle nature.

      Productivity: Very good to excellent

      Egg Color: Very light brown

      Temperament: Very calm, docile, sweet, gentle, easily handled

      Hardiness: Cold-hardy

      Varieties: Buff, black, blue, white

      Plymouth Rock

      Description: As far as American heritage breeds go, the Plymouth Rock has it all: She is hardy but docile, fares well in colder weather, produces an excellent number of brown eggs, and has a winning personality. Named for the location where the Pilgrims supposedly made landfall, this dual-purpose bird was once the most popular chicken in America. If you’re thinking of a bird to set and hatch a clutch of eggs, the Plymouth Rock makes an excellent broody hen and mother. While many colors are accepted for the breed standard, the Barred variety was the original and remains the most recognizable for the breed today. The Plymouth Rock is “Recovering” on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List.

      Productivity: Very good to excellent

      Egg Color: Light, with a pink tint, to medium brown

      Temperament: Friendly, docile, curious

      Hardiness: Cold-hardy

      Varieties: Barred, white, buff, silver-penciled, partridge, Columbian, blue

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      Rhode Island Red

      Description: The Rhode Island Red is a classic. Perhaps the most popular American chicken and the most well-known domesticated fowl around the world, the Rhode Island Red is an egg-laying rock star. The breed was developed in its namesake state of Rhode Island and is now the official state bird as well. Hens lay a medium-brown egg and are incredibly curious, friendly, and personable. Roosters can become aggressive, however, and are not recommended around children. The common Rhode Island Red available today through most hatcheries is a lighter brownish red than the older, non-production strain, which has “Recovering” status on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List. Either strain you end up with, this bird is a classic addition to the backyard flock.

      Productivity: Excellent

      Egg Color: Brown

      Temperament: Friendly, curious, sometimes flighty; males can be aggressive

      Hardiness: Cold-hardy

      Varieties: Red only (Rhode Island white a separate breed)

      Sussex

      Description: The Sussex is a nearly perfect homesteading chicken. While they are dual-purpose (many heritage breeds are, as you’re learning), Sussex hens are reliable layers and have a reputation for laying dependably through winter. As far as housing goes, they’re flexible; they bear confinement well (and don’t eat as much as some other breeds); or, if left to pasture, they will actively forage for their dinner. They’re friendly and very curious by nature. The Speckled variety has a unique feather pattern that effectively camouflages the bird from most predators—a boon when free-ranging. On The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List, the Sussex is also categorized as “Recovering.”

      Productivity: Good to very good

      Egg Color: Cream


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