The Different Breeds of Chickens
The number of chickens in the world way outnumbers other birds by a big majority, and can usually be found spread out around the entire world. Some of these chickens boast names from specific villages or towns such as the D’Uccle chicken, named after a town in Brussels, Belgium or the Pekin chicken named originating from China and named according to their culture. Because there are so many breeds, it is almost impossible to acknowledge all of them, but as to determining their worth or value, there are mainly three types of chickens, and their breeds are dependant on what they are good at.
If you are looking for good chickens to use for egg layers, these are most often referred to as laying hens. The breeds vary, but the top breeds that show above average success in egg production are the Leghorn breed which lay good white eggs or the Rhode Island Reds which are known for their spectacular brown eggs. Although there is no difference between white or brown eggs except the color, some people like the brown eggs over the white ones. Choosing one or more from each category would give your coop’s egg production some variety. A rooster is not necessary for your laying hens to lay their eggs. They will keep up good egg production without a rooster on site.
Chickens being raised mainly for food, or for meat are referred to as fryers or broilers and usually require a different type of diet as well. To ensure the best quality of meat from your flock, it is necessary to determine in the raising process, what type of feed is best and what extra supplements they will require to produce the meat you prefer. The age of the broilers and fryers does not usually affect the quality of the meat or whether it will be used as stew meat or otherwise. Keeping your eye on the market demand for different ages of chickens is necessary to determine the best selling time for your coop inhabitants and when to purchase new ones. Some of the best breeds for production of meat are the Ross, Peterson, and the Arbor Acres chickens.
Perhaps you are wanting to raise chickens for both purposes, to lay eggs and as food consumption. There are some specific breeds that are the best choices for this type of bird. The Wyandottes, New Hampshires, and the Plymouth Rocks are the best in both classes for producing good eggs and excellent meat consumption. Keeping chickens healthy is as simple as making them stay in their coop. A healthy diet with focus on nutrition is needed, but for the most part the rest simply falls into place.
Knowing the market for buying and selling fowl is a must when you endeavor to begin raising them for whatever purpose you have in mind. Knowing and understanding the supply and demand issues in your local area is easier to begin with and as time passes, you will understand the breeds you have chosen, better, and will be able to handle them more expertly each time around.
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