Chicken Breeds

Rhode Island Red

American; 2 varieties: single and double comb hardy; can produce eggs without proper food or housing dual purpose, dark red

Plymouth Rock

American; brown eggs broad back, full chest females are used as commercial broilers popular varieties include barred and white Plymouth rocks

New Hampshire

American; medium sized meat chicken average layers; aggressive, making them good mothers medium to light red, brown eyes, red eyes and earlobes

Brahmas

Asiatic; brown eggs 3 varieties; light, dark, and buff large and gentle w/intricate color patterns

What are the Asiatic breeds?

Brahmas, Cochin

What are the English breeds?

Cornish chickens, Australorp

Cornish chickens

English "ultimate meat birds" development of muscle gives good carcass shape 4 common varieties; dark, white, white laced red, buff don't do well in cold broad bodies, wide legs; move around to develop muscle; brown eggs

What are the four classes of chicken?

English, Mediterranean, Asiatic, and American

Australorp

English-best all purpose breed good layers and crossbreeders tinted eggs, black w/dark eyes

What are the Mediterranean breeds?

Leghorn, Minorca

What is the most popular class of chicken?

Mediterranean

Minorca

Mediterranean; largest breed in the class long tails w/large wide feathers brown eyes, white eggs Black minorcas are popular because of their beauty narrow body; not used for meat

Leghorn

Mediterranean; most popular breed of chicken commonly used for egg laying good foragers, like to wander white eggs; known for ability to take flight white leghorns are more popular than brown

What are the American breeds?

Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire, Rhode Island Red

Heavy breeds...

lay brown eggs

Red or brown chickens...

lay brown eggs

Light breeds...

lay white eggs

White chickens...

lay white eggs