When it comes to selecting chickens for your flock, there are several important characteristics to consider. Whether you’re a seasoned poultry keeper or a novice enthusiast, understanding these traits can help you make informed decisions and build a flock that meets your specific needs and preferences. Here are some key characteristics that people commonly look for in chickens:
Availability
One of the first things to consider is the availability of different chicken breeds in your area. While some breeds may be readily available from local farm supply stores, hatcheries or breeders, others may be more challenging to find and might require special ordering.
The availability to order chicks online from hatcheries has greatly increased the availability of different chicken breeds, but not everyone wants to order their chicks online. For one, ordering them online means the chicks will have to be mailed which can be quite stressful on them. It can also be expensive to order online due to shipping costs and minimum chick requirements.
Broodiness
Broodiness refers to a hen’s natural instinct to sit on and hatch eggs. While broody hens can be valuable for hatching chicks naturally, excessive broodiness can interfere with egg production and can even be detrimental to your chickens’ health if it persists for long periods of time.
Consider whether you want a breed that is prone to broodiness or one that is more likely to continue laying eggs consistently.
Chicken breeds known for their broodiness include: Bantam breeds, Brahma, Cochin, Orpington, and Silkie.
Dual Purpose
While some chicken owners may favor chickens that can produce a lot of eggs, others may favor ones that make good meat birds. Or… You can have both with a dual purpose breed!
These breeds tend to be larger/heavier bodied while still laying a decent amount of eggs each year. While these birds won’t be as meaty as the cross breeds that are used for meat found in grocery stores they still offer a good source of food for those wanting food sustainability in their life.
Some dual purpose breeds include Barred Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire Red, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, and Wyandottes.
Economic Considerations
Factors such as feed efficiency, growth rate, and overall cost of maintenance may influence breed selection, especially for commercial poultry operations or those with limited resources.
Breeds that excel at foraging and are allowed to roam a large property will require less feed.
Cornish Crosses and other meat birds grow to maturity quickly which can cut down on feed costs while providing your family with meat within 3-4 months.
Bantam breeds, Polish, Silkies, and Brahma’s have certain characteristics which may require more work and time on your part.
Egg Colors
Chicken eggs come in a relatively wide variety of colors – not just the white and brown eggs found in grocery stores.
Many chicken breeds lay a brown or tan-colored egg, but even these can range widely in shade from very light tan to dark brown and even pink. Chicken breeds like Marans will lay a dark chocolatey brown egg.
There are also several chicken breeds that lay green and blue color eggs such as Ameraucana and Easter Eggers. Some hatcheries have their own special cross-breed varieties that also offer various shades of blue or green.
Egg Production
One of the primary reasons people raise chickens is for their eggs. If egg production is your primary goal, you’ll want to choose breeds known for their prolific laying abilities. Look for breeds such as Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns, ISA Browns, or Australorps, which are renowned for their consistent egg production.
Egg Size
Another factor relating to eggs to consider is size of egg. Most store bought eggs are Large, Extra Large, or Jumbo but a lot of chicken breeds produce small & medium-sized eggs.
Egg size is determined by weight. Large eggs are typically 2.0 – 2.24 oz. while extra large eggs are 2.25 – 2.49 oz.
Most recipes that require exact amounts will call for large eggs. If you have chickens that lay smaller eggs you may have to add an extra egg or so, weigh the total egg amount you get, and take out any excess before adding in to your other ingredients.
This said, to be honest I don’t usually worry about this myself. If a recipe calls for 1 large egg, and I have medium eggs, I’ll just put in 2 medium eggs. Extra eggs will make baked goods richer and more cake-like.
Most breeds are going to lay a range in their egg sizes. For example, bantam breeds are typically going to lay between peewee-sized and small eggs. While most regular-sized chickens will lay medium to extra-large eggs.
All larger chicken breeds are capable of laying a jumbo egg from time to time, but more often than not it’s from a larger-bodied breed such as a Jersey Giant. Heavy egg producers such as Leghorns, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rocks, Australorps, and Orpingtons are also more likely to lay extra large and jumbo eggs.
Feather Coloration & Patterns
Chickens come in a wide range of feather colors and patterns, from solid colors like white or black to intricate patterns like laced or barred feathers. If aesthetics are important to you, consider choosing breeds with feathers that appeal to your personal taste and preference.
Foraging Ability
Some chicken keepers prioritize breeds with strong foraging instincts, as they are better able to supplement their diet with insects, vegetation, and other natural resources found in the environment. Breeds like the Sussex and the Welsummer are known for their excellent foraging abilities.
Hen or Roo?
Of course there’s also the decision of whether or not you want hens or roosters. Whether or not you get a rooster or several or if you get all hens will be entirely up to what you’re wanting to achieve for your flock.
If you live in a city neighborhood then roosters might be banned – so all hens it is.
You may want to get 1 rooster to help protect your flock as well as fertilize eggs if you’re wanting to hatch more chicks.
Or, if you’re wanting to grow your farm and raise specific breeds, you may want to get a rooster and several hens of each breed and have your own breeding groups.
Temperament
Chickens vary widely in their temperament, with some breeds being more docile and friendly than others. If you plan to handle your chickens frequently or have children who will be interacting with them, it’s essential to choose breeds known for their calm and gentle disposition, such as Silkies or Orpingtons.
Noise Level
Some chicken breeds are more vocal than others, with roosters being particularly notorious for their crowing. If you live in an urban or suburban area with noise restrictions, you may want to choose quieter breeds or consider keeping only hens.
Meat
If getting a source of meat is what you’re wanting, then you’ll want to look at breeds that are either bred specifically for meat, aka meat birds, or look for a larger, bodied breeds or dual purpose breeds like what was mentioned earlier in this article.
Meat Birds – Many hatcheries have their own secret recipes for creating their meat chickens and cross breeds. Often these methods can’t be duplicated by the regular chicken owner. But this meat chickens can be bought fairly affordably from the various online hatcheries and delivered right to you.
They differ from normal chicken breeds in that they grow much quicker and are “harvest-able” at around 4 months of age. These chickens typically won’t be kept as pets since when left to live instead of being butchered, they often develop health issues due to complications caused by their size and weight.
Unique Physical Features
While not (always) a primary consideration for all chicken keepers, the appearance of the birds can be an important factor for those interested in exhibition poultry or simply enjoying the aesthetic beauty of their flock. Breeds with striking plumage patterns or unique physical features, such as the Polish or the Frizzle, are sought after for their visual appeal.
Weather & Temperature Resilience
Certain breeds are better suited to specific climates, whether they excel in hot, humid conditions or tolerate cold temperatures with ease. Selecting breeds adapted to the local climate can help ensure the health and comfort of the flock.
Breeds with large combs are typically better for warmer climates. The size of their combs allows for better moisture wicking. In contrast, chicken breeds with smaller pea combs are suited to clod climates since the smaller combs are less likely to get frost bitten.
Some things to keep in mind…
All chickens are different and have different personalities. They might look a bit or act different from what’s considered typical for their breed. If you get a chicken that’s known for being docile and quiet, and it instead screams it’s chicken head off all times of the day and bosses the other chickens around, then just consider yourself lucky for getting such a unique hen.
