Reviews by Kristin Brown

I was given a Red Pyle Old English Game rooster from a boy that used the chick in a school project. Being as it was a rooster, the family was not able to keep him in their community. We have since named him "Whoop-***" because he is the boss of the flock! His hens are all standard size so it is amusing to watch him flaunt around. He even protects his ladies from our Dark Brahma rooster! He can fly far distances I've noticed which could be beneficial to escape predators.

I have an Ameraucana hen that lays large green eggs, although I have heard the best bloodlines will lay blue eggs. My family, friends and neighbors love seeing the occasional green egg in their carton! In my most recent assortment order of chicks, a neighbor bought all my Ameraucana chicks from me. Would like to keep the next ones that come along for myself.

I get a medium white egg from my Silver Laced Polish hen on the daily bases. She is a petite chicken compared to other breeds of my flock. However I am pleased with how beautiful she is! I think most would agree that the Polish breed are great conversation starters. My guests are always shocked - even friends of mine that have experience with chickens. Everyone loves the crest. The only con I would point out is that the crest creates limited eyesight which can be dangerous for a free ranging chicken.

My chicken is a bit muddy in this picture!

I received a Lakenvelder pullet in my order of the Ornamental Layers Collection from Murray McMurray Hatchery. Beautiful breed in my opinion. Disappointed I sold her so soon! Would definitely like more in the future to keep for my flock.

My Minorca hen, Pensacola, is by far the best chicken I have ever had. She is one of the few that have been blessed with a name! I first noticed how social she was at about 4 weeks old. She frequently would plow through the other chicks to jump onto my hand during feeding time. I wondered if this was just a temporary thing... Now that she is grown she jumps up onto my lap, shoulders, whatever! Pensacola loves being cuddled, she'll even fall asleep in my arms. I like to believe she is intelligent because she has never poo'd on me unlike other chickens.

Minorcas are excellent layers of small-medium white eggs. Their bodies are petite in size and generally they do not gain as much weight as average breeds. Hens have large smooth combs.

"Pensacola" as a baby chick:



Here she is at about 8 weeks:



At mature age:

My first flock was mostly Leghorns that I got from a family farm in Hudson, Colorado. They are an inexpensive breed which are great for beginners! Hens laid large white eggs daily. They foraged well while free ranging.

I have both a hen and a rooster of the Dark Brahma breed. The hen first went broody at 9 months old. She sat on an empty nest for 4 weeks. I tried giving her eggs but she repeatedly rejected them. The rooster is MASSIVE (at least twice the size of the hen)! He is the biggest rooster I have ever had in my flock.

This year I had 5 Egyptian Fayoumis. This breed is petite in size however not as small as bantams. My hens laid small white eggs daily. I noticed the hens were particularly flighty - often they escaped over the 6ft chain link fencing. The hens are very noisy with their squawking in the yard! Rooster was typical of most males with his crowing however, he was gentle with the hens which I appreciated.

I received two Mottled Houdans in my Ornamental Layers Collection from Murray McMurray Hatchery. My first impression of the breed as I watched them grow was how interesting their appearance is! Their feathers are not stiff like most chickens, I noticed they are more soft to the touch. I had so many chickens running around I didn't notice that this breed had extra toes until about 2 months of age. You can imagine my surprise! I was not impressed that one hen had only an extra toe on one foot - that seemed like an odd mutation. The other had five toes on both feet, apparently natural for this breed. They certainly added personality to my flock and I regret selling them!

This summer I was given two Ancona hens which was a breed I had been wanting for sometime. Their feathers shine beautifully and their patterns are so unique between each bird. The combs are large even with the hens. I was shocked to see how well this breed can fly! My hens easily jump in one swift motion onto the roof of their coop - about 7ft high. They also perch on the 6ft chain link fence of their enclosure each morning before escaping to the other side!

I've had Barred Rock chickens before including a rooster. The hens were productive brown egg layers, which laid a medium size egg daily. The rooster was docile towards me, however aggressive towards other humans and wildlife in the area. On a positive note, he saved my flock from coyotes because of his protective behavior. Their color pattern isn't a favorite of mine but that is only opinion!

"Ace" the Barred Rock rooster:



A few Barred Rock hens:

Last year I was gifted two Speckled Sussex hens. I was astonished how beautiful and especially unique that this breed is. The color pattern is different between each individual bird! Their legs are a pale white almost. Hens lay brown eggs with dark speckles.

I have a Golden Laced Wyandotte hen that everyone always shows immediate interest in. She has a beautiful color pattern on her feathers, is naturally calm and curious. Her egg production is steady, not ever has she gone broody.

I ordered the Ornamental Layers Collection from Murray McMurray Hatchery which included a variety of breeds. I received multiple Black and White Cochins. A particular Black Cochin goes broody often. She is an attentive mother hen - does not leave her nest for long and protects her eggs vigorously. Although I keep chickens for egg production, I was happy to have a breed that would give me baby chicks!