Episode 15 - Chicken Breeds and Coloured Eggs

Whether you're a seasoned poultry pro or just dipping your toes into the feathered world of backyard flocks, one thing's for sure – chickens come in a dazzling array of breeds, each with their own unique personality and charm.    In this egg-citing blog post, we'll take a look at some of the popular chicken breeds here in Australia and from around the world, and even delve into the intriguing world of eggs that come in a kaleidoscope of colours. Classification of Chicken Breeds Let's start by understanding the classification of chicken breeds. Heritage breeds, hybrid breeds, and bantam breeds each bring their own flair to the coop.  Heritage Hybrid Mature slowly and live 6-12 years Fast maturing and only live 3-4 years Depending on breed lay 3-6 eggs a week Lay an egg a day but only for about 2 years Will go broody depending on breed and make great mothers Rarely go broody Self-sufficient, can thrive with foraging Not great forages Retains natural behaviors and instincts Selectively bred for specific production traits Long-established history and lineage, greater genetic diversity Result of crossing different breeds so narrowing genetic pool Wide range of appearances, sizes, and colors More standardized appearance Valued for historical significance and preservation Bred for optimized production purposes Well-suited for a variety of purposes Specialized for specific production traits May have longer lifespans and natural reproductive abilites Primarily bred for commercial production, less likely to be used for natural breeding     Bantams Some large chicken breeds have a bantam counterpart, sometimes referred to as a miniature. Miniatures are usually one-fifth to one-quarter the size of the standard breed, but they are expected to exhibit all of the standard breed's characteristics. A true bantam has no large counterpart, and is naturally small. There are only a few true bantams, with the Seabright being one. Popular Chicken Breeds First up, let's talk about some true-blue Aussie favorites. The Australorp, renowned for its exceptional egg-laying abilities, hails from Australia. These hardworking ladies can lay up to 300 brown eggs per year, making them a staple in many Aussie backyards. Their shiny black feathers shimmer like the night sky, and their friendly nature makes them a delight to have around.   Other beloved and well-known chicken breeds include the Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Leghorn, Sussex, Orpington, and Wyandotte All these breeds are stars of the backyard chicken-keeping scene. In my Webinar I go into a lot more detail exploring their size, temperament, and egg production to help you make an informed choice for your flock. Specialty Chicken Breeds Prepare to be dazzled by the unique and lesser-known chicken breeds. Silkies, Polish, Frizzles, Seramas, and Cochins boast distinctive physical features that set them apart. From fluffy feathering to extravagant crests, these breeds are sure to add charm and character to any coop.    Some of these speciality breeds are especially well suited to a backyard environment due to their small size. Dual-Purpose Breeds Many of our heritage favourties fall into the dual purpose category, which is great for those seeking versatility, egg-laying and meat production. While some homesteaders are not interested in dispatching their own animals for meat, I have found those who are trying to homestead full-time or for an income, are very keen to become completely self-sufficient. Meat birds are a simple way to do this even with only a small amount of land.   Our favourites in the dual purpose world are the Australorp, Jersey Giant, and New Hampshire breeds, which excel in both meat and egg production. The benefit of raising dual purpose is you will always have meat and eggs!    I have raised both hybrid meat and heritage meat, each having pro’s and con’s. Hybrid grow out within 8 weeks making them super cheap and efficient, however they seem prone to dying if you keep them past the 8 week mark. Heritage meat birds take longer to grow out but I find they are hardy healthwise and bigger, and I think, better quality meat. Chicken Breeds that Lay Different Colored Eggs I have a soft spot for my Easter Eggers, I think its so cool that nature has given us these amazing coloured eggs.   Breeds that lay unusual eggs are Aracuana, Ameraucana, Cream Legbar, Maran, Barnevelder, Welsummer, Olive Eggers and Easter Eggers. Olive and Easter eggers arent actual breeds but the result of crossing brown egg layers with the blue egg layers, given a genetic difference to the offspring.    The colours you can get vary from very dark browns to blue, green and even a pink tone. Hybrid Layers Hybrid or sex-link chicken breeds are next on our list, bringing with them impressive egg production and efficiency. The ISA Brown, Golden Comet, and Red Star are renowned for their ability to deliver a consistent supply of delicious eggs. They are essentially laying machines, hence why they are the bird of choice for commercial egg producers.    While I love all our girls I find these don’t have the same personality traits as our heritage breeds. There egg production will drop off after about 18 months and most commercial produces will remove them at that age as they are no longer feed to egg ratio efficient. Rare and Exotic Breeds Some breeds are much harder to obtain in either Australia or the USA and these include Ayam Cemani, Crèvecœur, Dragon Chickens, Phoenix, and Appenzeller Spitzhauben. Some of these birds are keep and bred for showing purposes due to their unique appearances.    Groups like the Rare Breeds Trust are making conservation efforts to ensure the breed continues but you would likely find it hard to obtain these breeds. Breed Selection Considerations Before choosing a chicken breed, it's crucial to consider various factors and I go into detail in my Webinar on Chicken Breeds. The main considerations are forage abilities, climate suitability, egg-production, space requirements, noise levels, and breed availability. Choosing carefully can mean you have a flock that fits into your family and circumstances beautifully, ensuring a harmonious and thriving flock in your backyard. Personal Preference I have no problem in saying that personal preference plays a part in your choice, and so it should. When you choose to add a dog or cat into your home you would pick a breed that you prefer. Even if choosing a dog or cat from a shelter, personal preference will still be a factor.    So don’t feel bad that you have a preference over chicken breeds! While I would like to have all the chickens, its not practical, so you need to narrow it down.   No matter which breed you choose, owning chickens is as varied as a dog or cat ownership.    Each of our girls has their own special personalities and we love them all. Some are chatty, some will follow you around, some have beautiful or funny feathers and some lay coloured eggs.