Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
colors and were originally bred in Chile. These are medium to large-sized chickens, weigh-
ing in at around 5 pounds for standard sized birds and 1.4 pounds for bantam birds. These,
like the Ameraucana chickens, lay blue eggs and are known for being quiet and docile
birds. An important fact to note about the Aracauna chicken is that the gene that causes
those silly little tufts of feathers by the side of their head is a lethal one. Breeding two
chickens with tufts will result in approximately 50% of the nest having tufts, 25% dying in
the shell, and 25% lacking tufts. While these birds may be eaten, they're generally seen as
having meat that's a bit tougher; if chicken soup is something you're looking for, this bird
would work; however, if you're more interested in chicken strips, I'd go with one of the
other types discussed above.
Australorp chickens are next in line, going in alphabetical order. These are big chickens,
and that's no understatement. While these particular chickens are super soft and very fluffy,
they've got a good bit of weight behind them. Bred in Australia in the early 1900s, they
were made to be hardy, and they've certainly accomplished that. The large Australorp
rooster will be between 8.6 and 10.4 pounds, and the hen will be between 8.2 and 9.9
pounds; bigger than most cats and most small dogs! The bantam version will be between
4-5 pounds for the rooster and 3.7-4.8 pounds for the hen. They're quiet chickens, bred for
containment, and easily handled. The hens lay, on average, 250 brown eggs per year; this
is determined by how stressed the chickens are, however. These chickens are also known
for their tasty eating, due in part to the large amount of meat on their frames but also due
to their early maturity and their white meat.
Barred Plymouth Rock chickens, so called for the most predominant color although Ply-
mouth Rock chickens come in seven other colors as well, originated in the Plymouth Rock
area of the United States in the mid-1800s. The rooster tops out at about 9.5 pounds, while
the hens get up to 7.5 pounds. While they are generally docile birds, they have been known
to get occasionally aggressive; they do adapt well to confinement, however, and are typic-
ally easy to handle. These birds thrive best in the colder environments, such as those found
in New England, and they have been bred out into two different strains. The first strain was
bred for their meat, while the second strain was bred for egg production. The egg produ-
cing strain of this particular kind of chicken will produce about 200 eggs per year! These
birds produce light and medium brown eggs.
Brahma chickens are some of the largest types of chickens, with roosters weighing in at
around 11 pounds and hens at around 8.5 pounds. Their distinguishing factor, outside of
their size, is that their feathers extend down their legs and onto their toes. Originating in
India, they are quiet chickens known for their docility and their friendly nature. They are
average in their egg production, slow to mature, and are not great for eating, but they do
well in both cold and hot conditions, making them an overall average bird who doesn't ex-
cel in any one area but just works well in general.
