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Оглавление3: The Ins and Outs of Chickens
With so many breeds and varieties of chickens to choose from—not to mention the ability to order online with a few clicks and have them in your hands weeks later, you’ll have some initial choices to make before bringing home the babes. Your choices will range from the 4 lb. (2 kg) game bantam to the 10 lb. (5 kg) Jersey Giant, and between those two extremes are birds with frizzled feathers, beards and muffs, and genes that allow them to lay green and blue eggs. Some breeds are silly and sociable, and some can be standoffish and aloof. Some are flighty, and some are bold. While the topic of chicken breeds could easily fill a whole book (and it has), this chapter will focus on the breeds that are best for the suburban backyard. These birds are primarily egg-laying champions and superfriendly birds. Most of them forage well or live in the smaller coops afforded to urban or suburban backyards, and they’re all really good looking to boot.
But before we get to the outs, let’s start with the ins. Large or small, there’s one thing that all of these breeds have in common: their anatomy. While knowing the ins and outs of chicken behavior will help you provide them with all they need to be comfortable and content, knowing the ins and outs of chicken anatomy will help you catch early signs of disease, symptoms of infestations, and will, overall, turn you into a better chicken keeper.
Chicken Anatomy 101
Chickens may seem like simple creatures to the naked eye, but nature has expertly crafted them to thrive with scarce food sources, find an appropriate mate, safely produce and protect their young, and so much more. Knowing what makes them tick is part of the joy of keeping chickens.
Our many varieties of chickens were cultivated and bred from a humble ground fowl native to Southeast Asia. It is thought that both the red jungle fowl and gray jungle fowl provided some genes to the domesticated chicken we know today, and as such, our various modern-day birds have a few things in common to all.
For starters, all domestic chickens have two legs, two wings, and feathers. (I know, tough stuff, here. Are you taking notes?) With the exception of the Araucana breed (see chapter 3 for more on them), all chickens have a tail. Most have four toes, but a few breeds have five. And regardless of gender, all chickens have a comb.
The Outs
The comb is a fleshy, featherless patch of skin on the top of a chicken’s head. Both male and female at all life stages have one, but an adult male’s comb is usually the most pronounced. Combs range in color from bright red to dark maroon and reach their deepest color around sexual maturity. The styles of combs include the single, rose, pea, buttercup, cushion, and strawberry, among others. The males’ large comb is helpful when attracting a mate, but the comb’s main function is to regulate the body’s temperature through blood circulation. Breeds suitable for warmer temperatures tend to sport a larger comb (to release more heat), and those bred for colder climes have a smaller, more compact comb.
The eyes and ears are located on the chicken’s head. Like most birds, chickens are sensitive to light and can distinguish colors. Exposure to light triggers hens to lay, and using a colored lightbulb (red is preferred) when brooding chicks can reduce pecking and fatigue.
To find a chicken’s ears, you’ll have to know where to look. The ear is a tiny opening on either side of the head surrounded by a fleshy earlobe distinguished by color. Generally, a hen with a red lobe will lay brown eggs, and a hen with a white lobe will lay white eggs, although there are a few exceptions.
The wattles are peculiar indeed. These two featherless flaps of skin hang from the bottom of the face and can range in color from red to blue to black. Like most parts of chicken anatomy, they are usually far more pronounced in roosters.
The body of a chicken is generally shaped like a horseshoe with a high head and tail. The breast is located below the head and neck, above the belly. The saddle is the area of feathers between the neck and the tail and is often quite colorful in males. Tails vary tremendously in color, arch, and size, especially between the genders. A rooster can often be distinguished by his brightly colored and high-arching tail feathers.
The legs and feet of a chicken may be bright to pale yellow, white, slate, olive, or black, all depending on breed, of course. The feet have either four or five toes (unless the bird was very unlucky indeed), and the legs are covered in overlapping slabs of skin called scales.
Spurs are sharp, bony protrusions on the back of the leg used for fighting and for defense by the valiant rooster. Contrary to popular belief, hens also have spurs, although they are usually quite small.
The skin of a chicken, which also varies in color depending on breed, is thin and tears easily. Don’t be fooled by feather color, since it does not necessarily indicate the bird’s skin color. Most have white or yellow skin, with the exception of the Silkie’s black skin. Like the yolk of a hen’s egg, a chicken’s skin will deepen in color if she is pasture raised and eats more bugs, greens, seeds, and grasses.
The feathers are an easy way to distinguish some of the breeds, but many chickens share similar colors and patterns. Feathers cover most of a chicken’s body, and in some breeds, such as the Brahma and the Faverolles, the birds have feathers on their legs or feet.
The variations in feather pattern are quite plentiful, too. In addition to a variety of earth-toned colors, feathers can have striping, penciling, wide or narrow lacing, barring, spangling, or stippling. Despite their alluring colors and styles, chickens lose their feathers each fall or winter in a process called molting.
Feathers don’t stop at the neck, either. Facial feathers include muffs, which are furnishings located on the side of the face, common in several breeds. A beard is a grouping of feathers below a chicken’s beak, and tufts are unique to the Araucana chicken, characterized by feathers growing from a small space near the ear lobe. Some breeds, such as the Polish, sport top knots: groupings of feathers in a pom-pom–like shape on the top of the head.
The key to feather health is allowing your birds to dust-bathe and preen as they see fit. (See chapter 8 for more on dust-bathing, preening, and molting.)
A chicken’s feathers are one way to identify her breed; they also indicate her overall health and vigor. A chicken’s feathers should be glossy, smooth, and bright.
The Ins
The digestive system begins with the beak. As a bird collects forage or feed in her beak, she adds some necessary digestive enzymes (contained in saliva) before the food, usually still whole, passes through her esophagus. Chickens do not have teeth, so the “chewing” process happens later (giving credence to the adage “as scarce as hen’s teeth”).
The crop, a flexible pouch located just below the chicken’s neck, is the next stop. When a bird is finding plentiful forage, the crop will swell considerably and house all of the bird’s food, from grasses to grubs. The more difficult to digest forage may remain in the crop upward of 12 hours. Consider the crop a holding area for the bulk of a bird’s sustenance.
Next, the food is moved to the bird’s true stomach, or proventriculus, where more digestive enzymes are added. The gizzard is next, where the grit you’ve provided your birds (or the pebbles they’ve picked up foraging) is put to use. Without any teeth, chickens rely on the teamwork of grit and the strong muscles of the gizzard to break down their food. After absorption of the nutrients by the intestinal walls, liquid and solid waste is released together through the bird’s cloaca, and digestion is complete. Droppings are a key indicator of health, so monitor them from time to time. The white crest on a normal, healthy dropping is the urine deposit; the rest should be light greenish brown or gray. It’s not pleasant, but don’t be too grossed out—that “waste” is compost gold, so put those nutrients to work a second time in your garden.
The reproductive system is the system most chicken keepers are concerned with; after all, eggs are the reason most people start keeping chickens. Knowing a bit more about what it takes to produce that egg will make you a better keeper.
The cock’s reproductive role is centered mostly on two testes, which unlike male mammals, are housed internally. In a flock of mixed genders, mating occurs continuously. For hens, reproduction begins in her ovary, where she develops small clusters of yolks. Through ovulation, yolks are released into the oviduct, a 25 in. (64 cm) long tube. If the hen has been mated, fertilization will happen there. (And if not, the process will still continue; you just won’t get a fertilized egg out of the deal.) The yolk moves through two parts of the oviduct, the infundibulum and the magnum; the latter is where the albumen (or egg white) is added. The third part of the oviduct, called the isthmus, is where the hen’s system adds the shell membranes. Finally, a large deposit of calcium carbonate (mostly pulled from the hen’s bones) produces the shell in the uterus (this is why it’s so important to provide added calcium to your laying hens in the form of oyster shells). Finally, after a 20-hour process, the internal chamber called the cloaca releases the fully formed egg through the vent, encased in bloom. Also called the cuticle, the bloom is a protective coating that safeguards the developing chick from bacteria that may penetrate the shell.
Pretty cool, right? Not only is the egg a perfect food, it’s a perfect structure to incubate the young bird. Most young female chickens, called pullets, reach sexual maturity between four and six months, depending on the breed and the individual bird’s lineage. When the days lengthen and the pullet is exposed to over 14 hours of daylight, her reproductive system kicks into high gear and starts egg production. Most high-production breeds will lay one egg per 24- to 26-hour cycle. If it takes longer to acquire those 14 hours of light, egg production will carry over into another day or two. Some chicken keepers choose to artificially light the coop to encourage their chickens to keep laying through the shorter days of winter. This is a widely accepted practice, but I think the winter months are a well-earned break for everyone. Considering that shortened daylight hours usually coincide with a molt, the fall and early winter are the perfect time to let the birds rejuvenate and rest. Plus, some breeds make great winter layers, no matter what you do.
Tales from the Coop
When my husband, daughter, and I moved into our home in North Carolina, we “inherited” a resident chicken—a single, sweet, skittish Delaware we named Hen Solo. She was the sole survivor of her flock, all of which had been picked off by predators over the years. By the time we started caring for her, she had been accustomed to roaming the homestead freely, eating only what she could forage (including water) and having the coop to herself.
We immediately put her on our flock’s diet of organic, soy-free feed, with grit and oyster shells as supplements. She had fresh water daily. She wasn’t laying eggs when we moved in, and she continued her dry spell through the winter and into the spring. When the days lengthened, she surprised us with one perfect beige egg. We were ecstatic. She was isolated from the rest of our flock at the time (for biosecurity reasons), so we knew the egg was hers. She was back in business.
Several weeks later, my husband came home from work one evening and collected eggs on his way in. He reported that there had been three eggs in Hen Solo’s nest box and wondered why I hadn’t collected eggs in a few days. I looked at the three perfect beige eggs in his hands in wonder: The truth was, I had collected eggs the night before. Everything I knew told me that it was impossible for a hen to lay more than one egg per day. But the proof was right in front of me. There was no doubt about it: Hen Solo had laid three eggs in one day!
Choosing the Right Breed
The breed or breeds you choose to raise will largely be determined by two factors: your region’s greater climate and the space you have available to devote to your flock. Once those two considerations are met, decide how important other factors are, such as egg production, personality, and temperament. The primary purpose of your flock will determine which breed(s) you’ll raise most successfully.
There are hundreds of chicken varieties, each with its own strengths. The descriptions that follow highlight some of the most popular American chicken breeds for the backyard flock. I’ll admit, I’m biased: Many of these are my favorite chickens, and I wouldn’t have a flock without them. Just keep in mind that while many generalizations can be made for a breed as a whole, individual birds may not always conform to their breed’s exact temperament, size, color, or other factors. Many of the following chickens are heritage breeds, dual-purpose (which means they can be used as both egg layers and meat birds), and some fall on The Livestock Conservancy’s (TLC) Conservation Priority List for endangered poultry (see below).
Lineage aside, what these breeds all have in common is that they’re easily handled, easy to find and purchase, friendly toward their keepers, and laying eggs is their strong suit, making them the absolute best birds for the suburbs.
The Livestock Conservancy
The Livestock Conservancy does research, education, outreach, marketing and promotion, and genetic rescues to help ensure the future of rare breed agriculture.
Each year, The Livestock Conservancy publishes its annual Conservation Priority List for endangered poultry. The breeds identified on the list generally conform to certain parameters, as identified below.
Critical. Fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2,000.
Threatened. Fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 5,000.
Watch. Fewer than 2,500 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 10,000. Also included are breeds that present genetic or numerical concerns or have a limited geographic distribution.
Recovering. Breeds that were once listed in another category and have exceeded “Watch” category numbers but are still in need of monitoring.
Study. Breeds that are of genetic interest but either lack definition or lack genetic or historical documentation.
Source: The Livestock Conservancy at www.livestockconservancy.org
The Best Egg-Producing Breeds
Ameraucana
Description: The Ameraucana is best known for its ability to lay eggs in various (and lovely) hues of blue. These eggs are a stunning addition to any egg basket or market table, and they make a great show-and-tell project for school. In the looks department, Ameraucanas themselves are pretty cute, too—they sport facial furnishings and are available in a wide variety of colors and feather patterns. They have winning personalities and are fun birds to have in any flock.
Productivity: Good to very good
Egg Color: Blue
Temperament: Calm, non-aggressive, friendly, easily handled
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: Black, blue, blue wheaten, brown-red, buff, silver, wheaten, white
Australorp
Description: Of all the heritage chicken breeds, the Australorp is widely considered the best for egg production. The Australorp has its origins in Australian-bred Orpington chickens, hence the name (Australia + Orpington = Australorp). The Australorp is a medium-sized bird, and hens are prolific layers of large, brown eggs. The breed’s one color, black, is a stunning display of subtlety, with hints of green and purple in the right light. They are really gorgeous birds. Overall, Australorps are friendly and personable in temperament, although some individuals may have the tendency to be the enforcers of hierarchy in the flock. They are very friendly and curious toward their keepers, though. If you’re looking for the best heritage breed layer, this is it.
Productivity: Excellent
Egg Color: Brown
Temperament: Docile, easily handled, quiet disposition; may dominate other birds
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: Black
Brahma
Description: The Brahma is a gentle giant. Quiet, calm, and even-tempered, this breed is exceptionally cold-hardy, and the hens are great winter layers. Because of their feathered legs and shanks, they’re not best for excessively wet or muddy regions (moisture can cling to the feathers, leading to frostbite on toes). Otherwise, the Brahma is a great addition to the backyard flock, especially in northern regions. Despite their large size, they handle confinement very well and are not quite as active as other breeds that prefer to forage; this makes them great for smaller spaces, too. The breed’s easy-going temperament makes it a perfect chicken for kids.
Productivity: Good
Egg Color: Brown
Temperament: Very calm, quiet, non-aggressive, easily handled, very gentle
Hardiness: Cold-hardy, not heat-tolerant
Varieties: Light, dark, buff
Buckeye
Description: The Buckeye chicken gets its name from its state of origin, the Buckeye State of Ohio, where Nettie Metcalf—the only woman to develop a recognized American breed of chickens (so far)—cultivated this deeply hued chestnut bird. Although the Buckeye and the Rhode Island Red originated around the same time and were recognized as breeds in the American Poultry Association’s (APA) Standard of Perfection in the same year, they should not be confused with one another; they are totally separate breeds. Robust and meaty, the Buckeye is active, preferring to forage for food and likes to have some room to roam but can adapt to confinement. Hens lay a medium-sized brown egg, and the breed is dual-purpose. The Buckeye is currently categorized as “Threatened” on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List.
Productivity: Good
Egg Color: Brown
Temperament: Very friendly, very active, great forager
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: Dark reddish brown only
Delaware
Description: This lovely bird is relatively new in the world of chicken breeds, developed in 1940 in the state that shares its name. The breed is a cross between the Barred Plymouth Rock and the New Hampshire, sporting a unique feather pattern, similar to the Columbian white coloring. Delawares are friendly birds that grow to maturity rather quickly for a heritage breed. Hens are reliable layers, and the breed bears confinement well. The Delaware is currently under “Threatened” status on The Livestock Conservancy’s Priority List.
Productivity: Very good
Egg Color: Brown
Temperament: Calm, docile, friendly
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: White (similar to Columbian coloring, but with barring where black feathers would be)
Dominique
Description: The Dominique gets the title of America’s oldest chicken breed. Easily (and often) confused with the Barred Plymouth Rock (with whom it has a bit of a shared history), the breed experienced 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
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
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 to light brown
Temperament: Curious, friendly, mellow, active; bears confinement well or actively forages
Hardiness: Very cold hardy
Varieties: Speckled, red, light
Welsumer
Description: The Welsumer is a beautiful breed. Hens sport a partridge feather pattern in a rainbow of browns and golds, and the Welsumer rooster isn’t too hard on the eyes either. He was made famous as Cornelius the rooster on the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box in the company’s 1950s ad campaign and is usually the bird that springs to mind when you think of a “rooster.” Temperamentally, the Welsumer is an intelligent, active, and friendly breed that forages extremely well, offering the chicken keeper an opportunity to save on feed costs. Hens also lay beautiful chocolate brown eggs that are sometimes speckled.
Productivity: Good to very good
Egg Color: Dark brown, sometimes speckled
Temperament: Active, friendly, docile; forages well
Hardiness: Cold-hardy and heat-tolerant
Varieties: Partridge
Wyandotte
Description: The Wyandotte’s name is derivative of the Wendat (or Wyandot) Native American tribe of the northeastern region of the United States, although the bird’s exact heritage is unknown. The Silver-Laced variety was the only color available when the bird was admitted to the APA’s Standard of Perfection in 1883 but is now bred in several striking colors. The Wyandotte is another dual-purpose bird, matures quickly (which means you get eggs sooner), is a reliable layer, and has a great personality to boot. On occasion, an individual may dominate submissive birds in a mixed flock, but they are very cold-hardy and adapt to confinement well. Their striking feather patterns are hard to miss.
Productivity: Very good
Egg Color: Light to brown
Temperament: Easily handled, docile, calm, friendly; may dominate others in a mixed flock
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: Silver-laced, golden-laced, partridge, silver-penciled, Columbian, white, buff
From the Strange to the Bizarre
Some chickens can be really funny-looking creatures. Below are descriptions of three of the strangest breeds.
The Naked Neck
This dual-purpose breed is known for its trademark look—a long neck bare of feathers. The bird’s lack of feathers is actually a boon for this old breed: The Naked Neck makes a great warm-weather bird, the carcass is easy to pluck clean (when being raised for meat), and the Naked Neck can very efficiently convert feed to meat and eggs because it uses less protein on feathers compared to other breeds. Naked Neck hens are great layers and excellent mothers, too. The Naked Neck is sometimes called a turken because it looks like a cross between a chicken and a turkey, but let’s set the record straight: Contrary to popular myth, the Naked Neck is not a cross between a turkey and a chicken; it’s just a funny-looking chicken breed through and through.
As his name implies, this Naked Neck rooster sports a long neck bare of feathers.
The Frizzle
The frizzle isn’t a breed unto itself but rather a feather variation available in some breeds (you may see the frizzle trait acknowledged after the breed name, as in Polish frizzle). The frizzling appearance is attributed to feathers that curl up and outward, rather than lying flat against the bird’s body. Frizzling is a dominant trait, so it’s fairly easy to introduce into your flock through mating and hatching your own birds. Like other ornamental birds with unique plumage, frizzled breeds tend to have less protection from the elements and aren’t able to fly (which is a plus if you’re trying to keep them fenced in). For these reasons, their keepers need to take additional security measures against cold and damp conditions and predatory animals. Even so, many fanciers feel they’re worth the effort: They’re quirky, eye-catching, and fun to raise.
Frizzling is a unique dominant trait that results in feathers curling up and out, rather than lying flat against the bird.
The Polish
The Polish is famous for its crest (also called a topknot), or the poof of feathers adorning its head. While amusing and ornamental, the bird’s crest isn’t all that practical; it tends to obscure its vision, making it highly susceptible to aerial predators and bullying from other birds in a mixed flock. The Polish recognizes this disadvantage and tends to be a bit skittish and flighty in temperament as a result. However, the hens can be excellent egg layers, and they rarely go broody, making it a great backyard breed. Indeed, a flock of Polish chickens is a sight to behold.
The Polish breed is known for its flashy, if rather inconvenient, crest of feathers.
The Silkie
Silkies are as sweet as they are silly looking. Their fluffy appearance is attributed to their unique feathers; the long feather barbs and thin feather shafts don’t “lock” to create a stiff feather like other chicken breeds. Instead, the feathers resemble (and feel much like) the down of a chick, or even fur. Fanciers and backyard keepers alike love the Silkie’s ornamental look. The breed is also unique in that it has black skin and bones and five toes instead of the typical four of other breeds. Hens are decent layers of cute, small, cream-colored eggs, frequently go broody, and are widely known for making excellent mothers.
Because of their feathers, the Silkie has a few special management considerations. First, they don’t fare well in cold, wet climates; in those regions, Silkies need reliably heated housing and protection from the elements. They’re also unable to fly, so they can’t perch or escape dangerous situations, making them very susceptible to predators. They’re on the small side, so even small dogs and housecats are predators to this breed.
For all of the challenges in keeping Silkies, there are many reasons they’re worth the effort. First, they’re heat tolerant and are great for warm climates where a lot of the heavier breeds would suffer. They are also very tame birds and are considered the “lap dogs” of the chicken world. Sometimes labeled the Silkie bantam, the breed has been developed specifically to be petite, so it is not a true bantam, but thanks to their demure size, great temperament, and unique appearance, they make a wonderful breed for kids.
Despite their demure size and unusual looks, Silkie females make wonderful broody hens and excellent mothers.
Cracking the Case of the Blue-Egg Layers
Ameraucana, Americana, Araucana, or Easter Egger? Which breed are you getting when you order from a hatchery or visit a breeder? What’s the difference? Will they all lay blue eggs?
For years, the distinction between the blue-egg–laying breeds has eluded backyard chicken keepers. Myths and misconceptions about the breeds have led to more confusion than ever, from the origin of the blue-egg layer to the cholesterol level in her eggs.
What do you say we finally put those questions to rest?
Blue Layer Origin
This is about to get a bit academic, so bear with me. The blue-egg layers we know today are descended from two varieties of chickens native to the coast of Chile. They were called the Collonca and the Quetro. Raised by the Araucana Indians of the region, the Collonca variety laid blue eggs, was rumpless, and had a small single comb. The Quetro variety had a tail, was tufted, and laid brown eggs.
The birds were popularized in 1921. A chicken expert in Chile, Dr. Ruben Bustos, bred the Collonca and the Quetro, developing a variety that was rumpless, had tufts, and laid blue eggs. He called them Collonca de Artes, meaning Collonca with earrings. At the first World Poultry Congress that same year, famed Spanish poultry expert Dr. Salvador Castello reported on his observations of Dr. Bustos’s birds, generating much excitement.
Within the decade, the blue-egg layer was imported to the United States from South America. The bird that arrived was not exactly the specimen of a refined breed, however. Better described as an assortment of several different breeds of native chickens, this stock laid the foundation for North American breeders to develop the two blue-egg–laying breeds that we know today: the Araucana (pronounced air-ah-CAW-nah) and the Ameraucana. Since gaining recognition by the American Poultry Association (APA), the organization that provides written descriptions of all the standard breeds of poultry in North America, each is now a breed in its own right. This shared heritage is what causes so much confusion between the breeds today.
Search for reputable breeders when shopping for true Ameraucana and Araucana eggs, chicks, or pullets to add to your flock.
Blue-Egg—Layer Breeds
There are three blue-egg–laying breeds, and it can be confusing to distinguish among them. Use the table below to learn some of the differences.
| Breed Characteristics | Name of Breed Araucana | Name of Breed Ameraucana | Name of Breed Easter Egger |
| Comb | Pea | Pea | Any |
| Muffs | No | Yes | Can |
| Tail | No (rumpless) | Yes | Yes |
| Tufts (ear) | Yes | No | Can |
| Beard | No | Yes | Can |
| Egg color | Blue or turquoise | Blue | Can carry dominant blue-egg gene, resulting in shades of blue, green, olive, and more |
| Color/feather variety As recognized by American Poultry Association (APA) | Black, black-breasted red, golden duckwing, silver duckwing, white | Black, blue, blue wheaten, brown-red, buff, silver, wheaten, white | Any |
| Color/feather variety As recognized by American Birding Association (APA) | Black, black-breasted red, blue, buff, silver, white | — | — |
| Standard or bantam | Both | Both | Both |
Differentiating the Breeds
For many years after the blue-egg–laying chicken’s arrival on North American shores, breeders took liberties with the traits they bred into and out of the bird. When the APA chose to create standards for the Araucana breed in 1976, some breeders chose to focus on traits that had been left out of that standard. It caused some upset among breeders who had taken alternate routes with the bird’s looks, such as breeding in tails to the otherwise rumpless breed. Those breeders decided to organize and had their breed officially recognized by the APA in 1984. Originally called the American Araucana, the name was eventually condensed to what it is today, the Ameraucana.
Araucana or Ameraucana?
Both breeds lay blue eggs, but to chicken enthusiasts and breeders, the two are otherwise very different. Because both Ameraucanas and Araucanas must conform to a set of standards to be named as one or the other, the qualifications can be dizzying to many hobbyist backyard chicken keepers (including this one).
For starters, Ameraucanas have full, flowing tails and muffs—facial furnishing similar to beards. Ameraucanas do not have tufts, which are often confused with muffs. Ameraucanas have shanks that are slate to black in color. Though shell color is still a work in progress for Ameraucana breeders, all true Ameraucanas should lay blue-shelled eggs.
Now let’s look at the Araucana.
Rumpless and tufted, Araucanas were bred from the imported North American stock to more closely resemble the original Chilean chicken bred by Dr. Bustos. Rumplessness is characterized by a lack of “tailhead,” or the long, flowing feathers of the tail common to most chicken breeds. Another unique characteristic of the Araucana is her tufts. While muffs, mentioned above, are common to other breeds of chickens (such as Silkies, Faverolles, and Houdans), the tuft feather feature, located near the ears, is unique to the Araucana alone.
Both Ameraucanas and Araucanas have pea combs and both lay blue eggs. Both breeds are bred and recognized in standard and bantam (miniature) sizes, and each breed has its own criteria of colors and varieties.
Are you thoroughly confused yet? No? Well, good!
So What’s an Easter Egger?
To make matters more complicated, there is a third blue-egg–laying chicken. Often mislabeled as an Araucana or Ameraucana (or misspellings thereof, such as Americana), the Easter Egger is not actually a breed. In fact Easter Egger is a catchall name for any mixed chicken that carries the dominant blue-egg–laying gene. Sold commercially, these birds may lay eggs in shades of green, blue, brown, and pink and have any number of characteristics, but they are not recognized by any club or organization.
There’s good news: This veritable “mutt” chicken makes a great pet. They won’t breed true, nor are they appropriate for showing, but they are readily available from most hatcheries, are very friendly, and can surprise you with beautiful eggs.
Ameraucanas and Araucanas lay beautiful sky blue eggs; Easter Eggers may lay a variety of colored eggs, including blue, green, olive, pink, and brown.
Egg Lore
Did you know that blue eggs are not lower in cholesterol than brown or white? This myth, propagated by hatcheries to sell more chicks, has been hard to shake for decades. Sure, they’re pretty on the outside, but blue eggs have the same nutrients and taste as brown or white ones, provided the birds were raised on the same feed. Diet, not shell color, dictates the nutritional value of eggs.
