9 Chicken Breeds You Should Know
Choose these types of hens to make your backyard coop really something to cluck about.
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From egg production (spoiler alert: No chicken lays eggs every day) to regal plumage, these nine types of chickens are among the most prized varieties of backyard hens. Whether you are looking for the friendliest chicken breed (hint...a Sussex can be trained to eat out of your hand!) or the best chicken breed for beginners (check out the cool, calm, and collected Plymouth Rock!), our chicken breeds chart breaks down the appearance, temperament, and average egg production (including shell color) of these top types of chickens. Can't make up your mind? Mixing different breeds in a single coop is no problem at all. In fact, like a well-appointed room, a "curated flock" is all the more alluring.
Now you're probably asking, "I've decided what type of chicken I want to raise, but where can I buy chicks?" “Buying chicks online is a safe way to bring hens home,” says chicken expert and author Kathy Shea Mormino of The Chicken Chick. But she advises purchasing only from a hatchery certified by the National Poultry Improvement Plan, such as mcmurrayhatchery.com. Local farm-supply stores, such as Tractor Supply Co., also often have chicks available seasonally, although usually with fewer breed varieties. Psst: Hens don’t start producing eggs until they are approximately 20 to 24 weeks old. If you don’t want to wait that long, consider a “started pullet,” which is a hen that’s 15 to 22 weeks old. Once accustomed to her new surroundings, she’ll begin laying eggs very soon.
Now you better get to tackling that coop. To get started, check out these inspiring and easy to build DIY chicken coops, or if you'd rather click and buy, shop these backyard chicken coops you can order today. If you are a first-time chicken keeper, also check out our handy guide to everything you need to know to start raising chickens.
Now go get clucking!
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