Chickens - Backyard Eggs
Disclaimer: These pictures are not mine, sadly I do not have any chickens of my own as I do not yet own a home. Links for the websites these pictures came from are at the bottom of the page, listed by breed. I will add my own pictures as soon as I can.
Chickens Selected for Egg Laying Ability and Temperament
As a general rule different breeds can be mixed in your flock - just make sure you have at least two of any odd type, or only one of each breed. Chickens form a pecking order within the flock and will bully a bird if it looks different than all of the others. However, if they all look different or all have a matching bird then the flock does not have one "weird" individual, this can decrease any bullying. The Plymouth Rock breed is shown first because it is a very nice breed that offers a variety of colors. If you want a multicolor egg laying flock, but only one breed, this is an excellent choice.
Plymouth Rock
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Ameraucana
 
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Australorp
 
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Brahma
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Buckeye
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Delaware
 
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Faverolles
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Wyandotte
 
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White Leghorn
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Leghorn
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Star
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Sussex
 
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Chickens Selected for Cuteness and Temperament
Bantam chickens are small birds; on average they are 1/2 to 1/4 the size of other chickens. Some are a "dwarf" version of a large breed and others are a true breed on their own. These birds are all very cute; but different breeds have different temperaments, just like regular sized chickens. If you are only interested in good egg layers do not get bantams; tiny birds equal tiny eggs. If you want social birds that will interact pleasantly with you and your family, then bantams can be a great addition to your flock. As a general rule they can be mixed with full size breeds - just make sure you have at least two of them so the flock does not have one "weird" individual, same as with mixing any chicken breeds.
Bantam - Silver Sebright
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Bantam - Golden Sebright
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Bantam - Mottled Cochin
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Bantam - Silkie
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Supplies for Your Chickens
Nesting Box
There are several types of nesting boxes: wood, plastic, metal, single, and multi-unit. The ones pictured are my favorite because plastic is easier to clean than wood, and warmer than metal, and their design means that they can be arranged in any configuration on 16" on center studs. It is also easy to add or remove individual boxes as your flock size changes, or if one becomes damaged.
"Little Giant Single Nesting Box is made of high-density, impact-resistant polyethylene that will not rust, rot, or corrode. Amply sized, hen-friendly design features an entrance perch and ventilation holes for fresh air. The box floor is lower than the entrance, which helps prevent loss of bedding. Sloped roof prevents roosting. Mounts securely on wall with slide-type screw holes."
Nesting Box Blend
This blend of herbs can be sprinkled in your nest boxes to help keep them bug free. Proper and frequent cleaning is still important.
"Using Nesting Box Blends is easy: sprinkle approximately 1/4 cup into each nesting box atop the nesting material of your choice. Known Blend Benefits: Anti-parasitic and antimicrobial Excellent pest repellent and anti-mite preventative Anti fungal and antibacterial Anti-inflammatory, soothing and healing Antiseptic and widely used against stress and anxiety Mild decongestant (which can also kill air-borne germs in winter) Safe to compost " http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Treats/Nesting-Box-Blend-p916.aspx# |
Waterer
Just like every animal, chickens need access to clean water. I picked this one from the options I looked at because it will not rust and is easy to clean.
"This easy-fill, easy-clean 1 gallon Harris Farms Poultry Drinker is molded from long-life plastic with durable fountain, and features a twist-lock system and a hanger/carry handle."
Feeder
In addition to water, chickens need access to clean food. I picked this one from the options I looked at because it will not rust and is easy to clean.
"Harris Farms Hanging Feeder for 5-15 Birds is made from long-life plastic, this open-top 7lb. capacity feeder is designed for fast filling, easy cleaning and minimal waste of feed thanks to the no-scratch-out twist lock base."
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Egg Oddities
I bought some organic eggs, and had several with Double Yolks.
This Youtube video shows a GIANT egg, think you can guess what is inside? I did :-) |
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Pet Information - Chickens: Backyard Eggs by Caitlin Kempski is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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