Black Australorp

Australorps were originally bred in Australia and were introduced into the US in 1929. They are calm and friendly.

ALBC Status: Recovering (The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy works to protect poultry and other livestock breeds from extinction.)

Australorps are excellent layers of large light brown or tinted eggs. One hen was documented as having laid 364 eggs in 365 days under official Australian testing. This record has since been overtaken by the commercial Leghorn breed.

The Australorp's exceptionally soft, shiny black plumage has hints of green and purple in the sunlight. Traditionally black in color, white and blue laced variations do occur. They have single combs, dark eyes, and black legs.

Chicks are black with a good deal of white in the underparts and small white patches around the head and wings.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 6 1/2 pounds.

My notes. These girls are quite broody. One so much I culled her. Their feathers are the softest and most beautiful of all the hens. They molt very fast and got back to laying in about 2 months.

Light Brahma

The Brahmas are a very old breed from Asia, and the name Brahma comes from the river Brahmaputra in India. They were brought to this country about 1850 by Yankee sailors on their return from trading in Far Eastern ports. Brahmas are one of the largest breeds of chicken and have fully feathered legs and because of their mature weight, they do not fly. They are exceptionally quiet, gentle, and easy to handle.

ALBC Status: Watch

Brahmas are good layers of medium sized brown eggs.

Feather color is white with contrasting neck, and tail plumage which are black. Besides the light variety, Brahmas are dark or buff--both with contrasting black at neck and tail. They have pea combs, prominent dark redish eyes, and fully feathered yellow legs.

Baby chicks are creamy white, but some have shades of gray on the back.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 9 1/2 pounds.

My notes. Not broody. What a talker! Very friendly. They molt very fast and got back to laying in about 2 months.

Easter Egger

Sometimes mistakenly called Araucana or Ameraucana (2 recognized breeds only available through breeders), the Easter Egger is a mutt that lays tinted (blue or green) eggs.

Any breeding where one chicken lays tinted eggs will result in offspring that lay blue or green eggs--it is a dominant trait. So there can be lots of differences in appearance and size of individual Easter Eggers.

ALBC Status: NA since the breed is not recognized by the American Poultry Association.

Easter Eggers are very good layers of extra large blue, green and sometimes pink tinted eggs.

They exhibit a wonderful combination of colors and color patterns. They have pea combs no wattles, reddish brown eyes, and slate gray legs. The closer their breeding to the real Araucana or Ameraucana, the more cheek tufts and beards they will have.

I have documented several sets of chicks as they feather out to see what color they will be:

Easter Egger Colors

Chicks vary in color, as do the adults.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 6 pounds.

My notes. Not broody. All molted slowly the first winter (9 months old). They were not producting during cold months, but make up for it the rest of the year. Some are very friendly while others are very timid.

Cuckoo Marans

Cuckoo Marans (always with the 's' whether one bird or many) look a lot like a Barred Rock. Their claim to fame is their extremely dark brown eggs and they are often called 'Chocolate Eggers'. It was developed in France in the town of Marans in the mid 1800s.

ALBC Status: NA since the Marans is not recognized by the American Poultry Association, although it is considered rare.

Cuckoo Marans are good layers of large extremely dark brown eggs.

Feathers crossed throughout with irregular dark and light slate bars and the difference between the black and white bars is not as distinct as the Barred Rock. Besides the Cuckoo (barred) color, Marans can be Black Copper, Silver, Golden Cuckoo, White, Wheaten, Birchen, Blue, and others. They have single combs, orange brown eyes, and white to light slate legs.

Chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on head and body.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 6 1/2 pounds.

My notes: From all description, this girl is probably a Barred Rock and not a Marans. Yellow legs is a trait of the Rocks. Her egg is slightly darker than others, but not dramatically so. Even her feathers look the same as a Barred Rock.

Buff Orpington

Orpingtons originated in England and the Queen Mother was reportedly a keeper of this bird. They were brought to the US in the late 1800's. They're big, friendly, calm and patient. Because they are loosely feathered, they appear to be heavier than their true weights. Buff Orpingtons are sometimes called "Big Buffs."

ALBC Status: Recovering

Orpingtons are good layers of extra large pinkish brown eggs.

Feather color is golden buff. Besides the most popular color, Buff, Orpingtons are Black, Blue or White. They have single combs, reddish brown eyes, and white legs.

Chicks are a soft light buff color.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 8 pounds.

My notes: Broody girls--some extremely. Good layers. Will squat for anyone!

Barred Plymouth Rock

The Barred Rock, a variety of the Plymouth Rock breed, is one of the all time popular favorites in this country. Developed in New England in the early 1800's, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken. They are friendly birds which are easy to tame.

ALBC Status: Recovering

Rocks are prolific layers of large cream colored eggs.

Feathers are striped with contrasting black and white 'bars'. Besides the Barred, they can also be White, Buff, Silver Penciled, Partridge, Columbian, Blue, and Black. They have single combs, brown eyes, and yellow legs.

Chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on head and body.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 7 1/2 pounds.

My notes. Not broody. Very consistent layers. One is the pack leader. Another is a talker. All are very friendly. These hens molt very fast and got back to laying in about 2 months. If I could have only one breed, this would be it.

The bossy girl dropped in pecking order after the Sex Links and another Rhodie joined the flock.

Rhode Island Red

This is one of the most famous and all time popular breeds of truly American chickens. Developed in the early part of this century in the state of the same name, and is the state bird of Rhode Island. They are docile and easy going.

ALBC Status: Recovering

No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs. Reds lay extra large brown eggs.

Mature birds are a variety of shades of mahogany red They have single combs, red eyes, and yellow legs.

Chicks are a rusty red color.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 6 1/2 pounds.

My notes. Two of three have been broody. One of the first two still hasn't molted--she is 2 years old at this writing and looks pretty tattered. Very bossy.

Gold Sex Link

What's in a name? A lot with this breed. It's not really a breed at all but a cross bred specifically so that males and females are different colors when they hatch. A match resulting in a hen somewhat like the one on the left starts with a red rooster (either a Rhode Island Red or a New Hampshire).

Depending on the combination, the name changes. I think I'm getting Golden Comets. Here are the possibilities:

White Plymouth Rock and a New Hampshire = Golden Comet.

A Silver Laced Wyandotte and a New Hampshire = Cinnamon Queen

Rhode Island White and Red = Red Sex Link

Delaware and Production Red = Gold Sex Link

And then some hatcheries call them Red Stars. Whew! Anyway you don't get more sex link chickens by breeding them together. To make more, you need to cross 2 different breeds from the list above.

ALBC Status: NA since the breed is not recognized by the American Poultry Association.

These chickens are prolific layers of large brown eggs. In fact, most of the brown eggs sold in the grocery market come from these hens.

Feather color is golden to red with white feathers peaking through in the neck and tail. They have single combs, reddish brown eyes, and yellow legs.

Male chicks are a soft light yellow while females are reddish in color.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh between 4 and 6 pounds depending on breeding.

My notes: One has been broody. These birds are very friendly and reliable winter layers. Very bossy with their flockmates and one occasionally challenges me!

Columbian Wyandotte

Wyandottes are an all American breed that began in the late 1800's. They are easy going, hardy, and are available in a great variety of beautiful feather patterns. The Wyandotte breed name derived from a once numerous tribe of North American Indians (the Wyandots).

Columbian Wyandottes where first exhibited at the Columbian Exposition/World’s Fair in 1893 thus giving them the name they are now known by. They were admitted to the A.P.A. standard in 1905.

ALBC Status: Recovering

Wyandottes are very good layers of large light to rich brown eggs.

They have a particularly rounded appearance. Columbian Wyandottes are white with contrasting neck, and tail plumage which are black with silvery white edging. Besides the Silver Laced variety shown below, they can also be Golden Laced, White, Black, Buff, Partridge, Silver Penciled, Blue, Blue Laced, Red, Barred and more. They have rose combs, reddish brown eyes, and yellow legs.

Chicks are a creamy white and some have dark gray shading on the back.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 6 1/2 pounds.

My notes. This lady could be a show bird. A little timid but just beautiful. On the negative side, she is very broody, molted at 9 months under lights and lays a very small egg.

Silver Laced Wyandotte

Same breed description as the Columbian, above.

The Silver Laced variety was the first color pattern developed of this breed and were reported as early as 1860. The lustrous greenish black feathers have silvery-white centers. They have rose combs, reddish brown eyes, and yellow legs.

Chicks vary from almost black to light silvery gray and many have contrasting light and dark stripes on the back.

Considered a heavy breed, mature hens weigh about 6 1/2 pounds.

My notes. My SLW is not a beauty like her Columbian sister, but she is a consistent layer of large eggs. Not broody. She is quite timid. This girl still hasn't molted--she is 2 years old at this writing and looks pretty tattered. Update: This girl finally molted in her 2nd winter.

SLW #2 has a lot more white--practically looks like a different breed!