Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Their homes should be tall and large coops as they are flighty birds like Leghorns. They are
easy to care for as they are independent and are good foragers. They make great pets, lay al-
most an egg a day, and are good for meat, too. They are a great value.
Friesian
This ancient breed of chicken originated in the Friesian Islands. Their unique and dazzling
markings make this a great ornamental bird, as well as a good layer. The Friesian's feathers
come in chamois penciled, silver penciled, and gold penciled coloring. Although this breed
has been around for more than 1,000 years, it is relatively new to the United States and was
introduced in the 1980s.
Friesians are not only known for their beauty. They lay about 230 white eggs per year. They
are a small breed with roosters weighing 6 pounds, hens weighing 5 pounds, and bantams
weighing between 2 ½ and 3 pounds.
The temperament of this breed is extremely nervous. These birds are flighty and not easily
kept in a confined space. If you have lots of room for these chickens to forage and want an
egg layer, this may be a good bird for you to own. They are beautiful and serve many pur-
poses.
Australorp
These chickens have white skin and black and blue feathers with a beetle-green sheen that
sunlight enhances. Their combs are single and bright red. The eyes, beak, and earlobes are
dark. Their legs are clean and are slate blue, except for the toes and soles of the feet, which
are white.
The Australorp weighs up to 10 pounds for a rooster and up to 8 pounds for a hen. The ban-
tams weigh between 28 and 36 ounces. Their temperament is quiet and gentle, which makes
them perfect for children to handle, and the neighbors will not even know they are there. They
produce brown eggs, and owners should expect about 200 eggs during the laying season,
which ends when the weather gets cold. Australorps do not fly and tend to stay grounded be-
cause they are heavy. Their home and run do not have to be especially secure to keep them in,
just secure enough to keep predators out.
Catalana
