[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Here are some of the breeds I like to keep. The Following is curtousy of [/FONT][FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart[/FONT][FONT=comic sans ms,sand].[/FONT]
I prefer to keep half my personal stock as breeds that lay in the winter. My family can eat up to 3 dozen eggs a week! Keeping egg production going in the winter keeps everyone happy.
For more information on different breeds please visit http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html.
Black, Blue, Blue-wheaten, Brown-red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten, & White Easter Eggers are common. Standard Ameraucanas are rare. 88%/8% (EEs/pure) 5.5 lb/2.5 kg | APA (1984): Large: All Other Bantam: All Other Clean Legged PC: Not recognized Layer Fancy: Muffed, Bearded | South American. May or may not be genetically related to the Araucana. In pre-Columbian Chile, there are several different blue egg-laying chicken "breeds," none called Araucana. Standardized & accepted into APA in 1984. Most hatcheries, however, sell Easter Egg chickens with mixed breeding that may lay blue, green (or other colored) eggs, but do not conform to standard. |
| pea white with slate colored shanks red | good brooder very cold hardy moderately early maturing | well adaptable to confinement or free range; mostly calm, non-aggressive [personality of mongrel Easter Eggers is widely varied: some aloof; others very friendly & easily handled.] | |||
The chipmunky blue-egger. | medium |
Black, only (standard); also blue & white Common 88% Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 2 lb/0.9 kg | APA (1929): Large: English Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose | Developed in 20th century in Australia, primarily from the Orpington. Gained notoriety when one hen in the 1920s laid a record 364 eggs in 365 days. That performance has never been matched by subsequent Australorps. |
| medium single white skin, dark shanks red | good brooder; good mother very hardy; very cold hardy early maturing | well adaptable to confinement or free range; quiet, docile, easily handled |
Light, Dark, Buff Less common. 48%/20% (light/all other) Standard: 9 lb/4.1 kg Bantam: 2.6 lb/1.2 kg | APA (1874): Large:Asiatic Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft feather Heavy 
Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] Fancy: Feather Footed, outside only | Introduced from China in mid-19th century. The largest breed at the time. Before the name Brahma was settled on, they were also called Chittagongs, Shanghais (as were the Cochins), and Brahmapootras. |
| pea yellow skin & shanks red | good brooder robust; very hardy in heat & cold slow to mature | adaptable to confinement or free range; mostly gentle; can be easied handled, but also standoffish; has a tendency toward fatness | |||
Large and regal. | medium |
Buff, White, Black, & Partridge Still popular as a show bird. 64% Standard: 8.5 lb/3.8 kg Bantam (aka Pekin): 1.3 lb/.6 kg | APA (1874): Large: Asiatic Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft feather Heavy Fancy: Feather Footed, fully | Introduced from China in early 19th century. Originally known as the Shanghai (a name also used for the Brahma). The breed that launched interest in poultry shows. Pekins are recognized as a separate bantam breed in some countries, rather than as bantam Cochins. |
| small single yellow skin & shanks red | excellent brooder; good mother; excellent foster mother robust, cold hardy slow to mature | well adaptable to confinement or free range; peaceful, friendly, easily handled | |||
Big ball of fluff and feathers. | small |
Barred only Rare, but now has new interest. 52% 5 lb/2.2 kg | APA (1874): Large: American Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy, Rare
Dual Purpose | Developed in New England in early 19th century. Not distinguished from the Barred Rock until APA Standards were developed. Most modern Dominques may be traced to stock developed by A. Q. Carter after 1900. |
| rose yellow skin & shanks red | good brooder; good mother robust; cold hardy early maturing | well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm mostly, but more flighty than other dual purpose breeds | ||||
Claimant to title "America's first breed." | medium |
Black, White Uncommon. Was in decline, but now seems to be holding its own. 56%/28% (black/all other) 10 lb/4.6 kg | APA (1922): Large: American Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Heavy, Rare Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] | Developed in New Jersey in 1870s. Never commercially popular, but bird of choice for capons |
| small single yellow skin, dark shanks red | good brooder; protective mother robust; very cold hardy very slow to mature | because of size, not an economical eater; adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, gentle, easily handled | ||||
The chicken world's largest breed. | medium to large |
Dark Brown, Light Brown, White, Buff, Black, Silver, Red, Black-Tailed Red, Columbian Common. 84%/80%/32% white/brown/all other Standard: 4.5 lb/2 kg Bantam: 1.75 lb/0.8 kg | APA (1874): Large: Mediterranean Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Light
Layer | Ancient, but greatly developed in 19th & 20th centuries. Honored by the Romans, and the white variety was reportedly developed for use in ceremony and foretelling the future. One of the most popular birds around the globe. | 
pearl white (non-white feathered varieties are less prolific.) | large single; also rose yellow skin & shanks white | non-setter hardy; heat tolerant (esc. white variety); combs subject to frostbite very early maturing | economical eater; better adaptable to confinement then some Mediterranean; enjoys free range; flyer; flighty; spritely, noisy, nervous, usually avoids human contact | |
The ultimate egg machine. | medium to large [commercial whites' are especially large] |
Light brownish red, only Fairly common 72% Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 1.9 lb/0.85 kg | APA (1935): Large: American Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Heavy, Rare
Dual Purpose | Developed in New Hamphire from the Rhode Island Red in early 20th century. |
| large single yellow skin & shanks red | good brooder & mother robust; hardy in heat & cold; combs subject to frostbite very early maturing | well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, can be friendly or aggressive | ||||
New Hampshire's answer to Rhode Island. | large |
Buff, Black, Blue, White Only buffs are still popular. 88%/8% (buff/all other) Standard: 8 lb/3.6 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg | APA (1902): Large: English Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] | Originally developed by William Cook in Orpington (County Kent) the 1880s. Some varieties developed by his daughter. |
| single white skin & white or dark shanks red | good brooder; excellent mother hardy; very cold hardy moderately early maturing | adaptable to free range; very adaptable to confinement; docile; affectionate, easily handled; can be bullied | ||||
Big friendly bird. | medium to large |
Barred, White, Buff, Silver Penciled, Partridge, Columbian, Blue Popular 96%/84%/52%/32% (barred/white/prtg/all other) Standard: 7.5 lb/3.4 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg | APA (1874): Large: American Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy
Dual Purpose | Developed in New England in 19th century. Once common on the homestead, still popular in the backyard. |
| small single yellow skin & shanks red | broods, but infrequently; good mother robust; very cold hardy somewhat early maturing | well adaptable to confinement or free range; docile, friendly, easily handled | ||||
Once upon a time America's favorite breed. | large |
Bearded & Beardless; Black, White, Golden, Silver, Buff Laced Popular as a show bird. 56% 4-4.5 lb/1.8-2 kg | APA (1874): Large: Continental Bantam: All Other Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Light Fancy: Crested | Originated in Europe, but probably not Poland, before the 16th century. Once known for good egg production, now almost strictly ornamental. |
| small V white skin, blue shanks white | non-setter some subject to health problems; because of fancy feathering, not suited for foul weather; | may have problems with freezing crest feathers; special care may be needed since plumage blocks vision | bears confinement well; mixed reports of being calm, quiet; obstructed vision can hinder some activities; can be bullied | |||||
Perhaps the oldest of the crested breeds. | small |
Rhode Island Red & Rhode Island White (two separate breeds) Popular, but purebreds are uncommon. 68%/44%/28% (production/red/white) Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 2 lb/0.9 kg | APA (1904/1922): Large: American Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose | Developed in New England in 19th century. |
| large single; also rose yellow skin & shanks red | broods infrequently; can be dutiful mother robust; hardy in heat & cold; combs subject to frostbite moderately early maturing | well adaptable to confinement or free range; active, calm & fairly docile, can be aggressive (cocks are especially notorious) | ||||
Best of breeds for producing brown eggs. | large |
Silver Laced, Golden Laced, White, Buff, Partridge, Silvered Penciled, Columbian Popular. 92%/64%/24% (slver/gold/all other) Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg | APA (1883): Large: American Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy
Dual Purpose | Developed in New York State & Wisconsin in late 19th century. |
| rose yellow skin & shanks red | broods, but infrequently; excellent mother robust; very cold hardy moderately early maturing | well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, industrious, usually docile, but can be aggressive; some are aloof, others friendly | ||||
The "bird of curves." | large |
I prefer to keep half my personal stock as breeds that lay in the winter. My family can eat up to 3 dozen eggs a week! Keeping egg production going in the winter keeps everyone happy.
For more information on different breeds please visit http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html.
