Cute!!!!!!!!!!!

Adorable!

Sussex

 The Sussex have everything : They are great layers of tinted or light brown eggs -- and they lay right through the coolest weather. They are dual purpose birds, though: fat- bodied and not prone to flying when mature, so they are friendly and easily handled. Their curious nature means that they will often follow you around the yard if they think they can beg a treat from you. The"Speckled" variety has plumage that gives them some camouflage from predatores, too. Many tend to get more speckled after each molt, so they just get prettier with age. Seriously, what more could you ask for in a chicken.

(Suitability to Backyard Life)
Hardy In Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement: Bears Well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Confident, Curious and mellow

(Origins/History)
Class: English
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
Size: Heavy (7-8lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual
Recognized Varieties: Speckled, Red, Light

(Fancy Features)
Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number Of Toes: 4

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Very Good (4/wk)
Egg Color: Light Brown
Egg Size: Large

   

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Sussex-B106.aspx

A Wonderful Chicken Magazine

Backyard Poultry is a wonderful magazine!! It talk's about a lot of things to chicken health to chicken breeds. It is really fun and nice! Very informative! check it out!   http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/

Dorking

Dorking are very special and very endangered breed. They're one of the oldest known breeds of chicken domesticated for human use (reported having been developed during the Roman empire), as evidence by their 5 toes instead of the usual 4. They're also the only breed with a red earlobe to lay a white egg: compared to other breeds of chicken, Dorkings also have unusually short legs. Dorkings are exceptionally sweet birds and they need the support of small backyard flock owners to ensure their continued existence.

(Origins/History)
Class: English
Type: Large Fowl
Size: Heavy (7-8lbs)
Rarity: Rare
Purpose: Dual
Recognized Varieties: White (Rose Comb);
Silver-Gray, Colored

(Suitability to Backyard life)
Hardy In Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement: Bears Well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Gentle and shy

(Fancy Feature)
Comb Type: Depends on Variety
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 5

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Good (3/wk)
Egg Color: Cream or Tented
Egg Size: Medium



http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Dorking-B136.aspx

Cute!!!!

Just another fun pic I found!

Langshan

Langshans, a rare, endangered breed from China, lays a pretty brown egg. The (road line of Langshns once laid a dark brown egg, but this line is not available from hatcheries ( and is even rare to find from breeders). The Langshan is a graceful, nicely-proportioned bird with feathered legs. They are good layers, but some what slow to mature to their full size and begin laying. They are also quite active for such large birds! Today they're mainly kept by those conscientious folks who want to ensure this breed's continued survival.

(Origins/History)
Class: Asiatic
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
Size: Heavy (7-8lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual
Recognized Varieties: Black, White, Blue

(Suitability to Backyard Life)
Hardy in Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement: Bears Well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Calm and Self-possessed

(Fancy Features)
Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No
Feathered legs: Yes
Number of Toes: 4

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Good (3/wk)
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: Medium

 

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Langshan-B64.aspx

What goes on to the chick inside the egg

Dominique

Dominique are considered a "heritage" breed of chicken in that they''ve been around for hundreds of years and are now critically endangered. Some people can't tell the deference between a Dominique and a Barred Rock, but the trained eye will notice that Dominiques have a rose comb versus the Barred Rock's single comb. Dominques are a wonderfully cold-hardy dual-purpose bird, and hens make very caring, nurturing mothers.

(Origins/History)
Class: America
Type: Large Fowl& Bantam
Size: Medium (6-7 lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual
Recognized Varieties: Barred

(Suitability to Backyard Life)
Hardy In Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement: Bears Well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Calm and nurturing

(Fancy Features)
Comb Type: Rose Comb
Crested: No
Number of Toes: 4

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Good (8/wk)
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: Large



http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Dominique-B44.aspx

Cute!!

I love these fun pics!!

The Chicken Diet

Food chickens can eat!!!


Apples...........Raw and applesauce................Apple seeds contain cyanide, but not in sufficient to quantities to kill
Asparagus ............ Raw or cooked.................. okay to feed, but not a favorite.
Bananas ....................without the peel .................High in potassium, a good treat.
Beans............... well-cooked only, NEVER DRY................Also, green beans.
Beets...............Greens also.......................
Berries...............All kinds..............a treat, especially strawberries.
Breads...............All kinds-good use for stale bread or rolls...........Feed starches in moderation.
Broccoli & Cauliflower..........Tuck into a suet cage and they will pick at it all day.
Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts.........Whole head-............Hang a whole cabbage from their coop ceiling in winter so they have something to play with and greens to eat.
Carrots ..... Raw and cooked......They like carrot foliage too.
Cat food..... Wet and dry......Feed in moderation, perhaps only during moulting
Cereal.......Cheerios, ect..........Avoid highly sugared cereal such as Coco puffs, ect.
Cheese......Including cottage cheese......... Feeding in moderation, fatty but a good source of protein and calcium
Cooked Chicken ........... They may like it and it won't kill them, but it just seems so.... ummm... .. wrong.
Corn..... Om cob and canned, raw and cooked.
Crickets ( alive )........ Can be bought at bait or pet-supply stores.......Great treat - provides protein and it's fun to watch the chickens catch them.
Cucumbers...... Let mature for yummy seeds and fresh.
Eggs...... Hard cooked and scrambled are a good source of protein, and a favorite treat....... Feed cooked eggs only because you don't want your chickens to start eating their own raw eggs.
Eggplant ..............
Fish / Seafood.......... Cooked only.
Flowers..... Make sure they haven't been treated with pesticides, such as florist flowers might be.............Marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies, ect.
Fruit...... Pears, peaches, cherries, apples.
Grains..... Bulgar, flax, niger, wheat berries, ect.
Grapes..... Seedless only. For chicks, cutting them in half makes it easier for them to swallow. ....... Great fun- the cause of many entertaining " chicken keep away" games.
Grits.......Cooked
"Leftovers".......... Only feed your chickens that which is still considered edible by humans, don't feed anything spoiled, moldy, oily, salty or unidentifiable.
Lettuce / Kale............Any leafy greens, spinach collards, chickweed included......... A big treat, depending on how much other greenery they have access to.
Meal worms..... Available at pet supply stores or on the Internet , although shipping is expensive!............. A huge(!) favorite treat, probably the most foolproof treat on the books.
Meat scraps of any kind......... Not to fatty............In moderation, a good source of protein.
Melon.... Cantaloupe, etc........Both seeds and flesh are good chicken treats.
Oatmeal.....Raw or cooked....... Cooked is nutritionally better.
Pasta / Macaroni.......Cooked spaghetti, ect....... Cooked is nutritionally better.
Peas........ Peas and pea tendrils and flowers
Peppers (bell)......
Pomegranates.......Raw..........Seeds are a big treat.
Popcorn............ popped, no butter, no salt.
Potatoes/ sweet Potatoes / Yams......... Cooked only- avoid green parts of peels!......... Starchy, not much nutrition.
Pumpkins / Winter Squash...........Raw or cooked.........Both seeds and fresh are a nutritious treat.
Raisins......
Rice.... Cooked only........ Pilaf mixes are okay too, plain white rice has little nutrition.
Scratch............Scratch is cracked corn with grains ( such as wheat, oats and rye ) mixed in. ...........Scratch is a treat for cold weather, not a complete feed. Toss it on the ground and let them scratch for it for something to do.
Sprouts..... Wheat and oats sprouts are great!..... Good for greens in mid-winter.
Summer Squash......Yellow squash and zucchini.......Yellow squash not a huge favorite, but okay to feed.
Sunflower seed....Sunflower seeds with the shell still on is fine to feed, as well as with the shell off......... a good treat, helps hens lay eggs and grow healthy feathers.
Tomatoes........Raw and cooked........
Turnips.... Cooked...... Not huge favorite....
Watermelon....... Served cold, it can keep chickens cool and hydrated during hot summers.........Seeds and flesh are both okay to feed.
Yogurt..... Plain or flavored...... A big favorite and good for their digestive systems. Plain is better.

ALL Chickens like different stuff. Then other chickens do.

Food chickens can't eat!

Raw green potato peels....... Toxic substance called solanine.
Anything real salty........Can cause salt poisoning in small bodies such as chickens.
Citrus.............
Dried or undercooked Beans...... Raw, or dry beans, contains a poison called hemoglobin which is toxic to birds.
Avocado Skin and Pit.......Skin and pit have low levels of toxicity.
Raw eggs....... You don't want to introduce your chickens to the tastiness of eggs which many be waiting to be collected in the nest boxes.
Candy, Chocolate, Sugar........Their teeth will rot_ _ NO, It's just bad for their systems, chocolate can be poisonous to most pets.


http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

Where I got my list of Breeds

http://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

Egg Fiction & Fact 4

Fiction: Nutrient profiles of all eggs sold in the supermarket are the same.

Fact: Varying the diet of hens has produced a variety of nutrient-enhanced eggs. For example, some eggs on the market contain reduced levels of fat, lower cholesterol, and increased levels of vitamins and/ or Omega-3 fatty acids. These specialty eggs are found under various brand names, and, due to increased production costs, are usually sold at a higher retail price.

Fiction: Added hormones are used to increase egg production.

Fact: Added hormones are not fed to poultry in United States.

Fiction: An egg that floats in a glass of salt-water is not fresh.

Fact: This test has no relationship to the freshness of table eggs. While eggs do take in air as they age, the size of the air cell varies from egg to egg when they are laid. Consequently, a freshly-laid egg and an older egg might react very similarly.

Fiction: Egg freshness is difficult to determine.

Fact: The best way to judge freshness is to check the 3-number code on the small side of the carton. It's the Julian date with 001 representing January 1 and 365 standing for December 31. This is the day the eggs were packed, and they'll keep in your refrigerator at least 4 to 5 weeks after this date without significant quality loss. If you can't find a Julian date, plan to use eggs within about 3 weeks or so of purchase to allow for the possibility that the retailer may have temporarily stored them before you purchase them. However properly handled and stored, eggs rarely "spoil."

http://www.incredibleegg.org/

Cute!

I found this online and loved it!

Australorp

Australorp are next on my list of breeds.

Australorps are the Australian take on the Orpington breed. They are calm and friendly, and excellent layers o flight brown eggs. The Australorp's exceptionally soft, shiny black plumage has hints of green and purple in the sunlight. Peaceful and dignified, Australorps are an absolutely delightful bird whichwe highly recommend to anyone who wants a pet chicken that lays dependably.

(Origins/History)
Class: English
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
Size: Heavy (7-8lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual
Recognized Varieties:
Black

(Suitability to Backyard Life)
Hardy in Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement: Bears Well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Sweet and shy

(Fancy Features)
Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Excellent (5/wk)
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: Large


http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Australorp-B14.aspx

Eggs Fiction & Fact 3

Fiction: Thick, rope-like strands of egg whites should be removed.

Fact: These natural, entirely edible parts of the egg called chalazae anchor the yolk in the center of the thick white. They are neither imperfection nor beginning embryos. They do not interfere with the cooking or beating of the white and need not be removed. In fact, the more prominent they are, the fresher the egg.

Fiction: If a hard-cooked egg is hard to peel, it must be old.

Fact: On the contrary, the fresher the egg, the more tightly the shell membrane clings to the shell. As an egg ages, it loses carbon dioxide and water and takes in air, causing the shell membranes to shrink away from the shell. If you hard cook eggs that are at least 1 week old, they'll be easier to peel after cooking.

Fiction: Brown-shelled eggs are more nutritious than white.

Fact: Shell color is determined by the breed of the hen and does not affect quality, nutrients, flavor, or cooking characteristics. However, since brown-egg layers are slightly larger birds and require more food, their eggs are usually more expensive than white.


http://www.incredibleegg.org/

Silkie Bantam

Silkie Bantams are my dream breed!

Silkie Bantam of all the ornamental chicken breeds, the Silkie Bantam is one of the most popular and be loved, and certainly one of the most entertaining to watch. Can't you tell why? They're the lap kitty of the chicken world, complete with hair-like plumage and an incredibly sweet temperament. We have heard it said that Silkies are like "flock" of kittens... but unlike your other pets you chickens can actually provide your breakfast! Silkies or ignited in the far East, where they are still kept ( and eaten ) today. They have black skin and bones and 5 toes instead of the normal 4. In addition, Silkie hens make wonderful brooders and mothers, and are even known to adopt baby ducks if given the chance!

(Origins/History)
Class: Feathered legged Bantam
Type: Bantam
Size: Bantam
Rarity: Common Purpose
Recognized Varieties: Bearded &
Non-Bearded Black Wight, Partridge, Buff,
Gray and Blue

(Suitability to Backyard Life)
Hardy in Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement: Bears Well
Especially Docile: Yes
Personality: Sweet, tame, mothering.

(Fancy Features)
Comb Type: Walnut
Crested: Yes
Feathered Legs: Yes
Number of Toes: 5

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Good (3/wk)
Egg Color: Cream or Tinted
Egg Size: Tiny


http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Silkie-Bantam-B100.aspx

Eggs Fiction & Fact 2

Fiction: Eggs should be stored in the slots on the refrigerator door.

Fact: The best place to keep eggs is in the original carton on an inside shelf. Not only does the temperature on the door fluctuate when the door is opened, but slamming the door can cause breakage. Furthermore, the carton actually helps prevent eggs from picking up odors from other foods and helps prevent the loss of carbon dioxide and water from the eggs.

Fiction: All high-quality protein is expensive.

Fact: If a food supplies high-quality protein, that food contains all nine essential acids that the body needs to support growth. It is therefore considered a "complete" protein. Complete proteins are found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, chicken, ground beef, pork chop or beef round roast (www.ers.usda.gov/Data/MeatPriceSpreads)

Fiction: An egg with a blood spot is "bad."

Fact: Not at all. These eggs are still entirely fit to eat, and the blood spot can be removed with the tip of a knife ( if desired ). Blood spots are caused by the rapture of a blood vessel on the yolk surfaces during formation of the egg, or by a similar accident in the wall of the hen's oviduct. Less than 1% of all eggs produced have blood spots, and most of these are detected by electronic spotters before they ever reach the market.


http://www.incredibleegg.org/

Rhode Island Red

I also own this breed Rhode Island Reds here is some info on them.

Rhode Island Reds are held in such high esteem that they're the official Rhode Island state bird. They were once hugely popular in America, though they declined right along with the small farmer. Today they're making a comeback due to small flock owners. They're the do everything bird! They lay excptionally well, they're valued for their meat, they're extremely cold hardy, and hardy in general. In fact, if you're not certain what type of bird to raise in your climate, chances are, the Rhode Island Reds will do well. Sadly, white Rhode Islands don't enjoy nearly the same popularity despite all their redeeming characteristics.

(Suitability to Backyard Life)
Hardy In Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement : Bears well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: No
Personality: Generally easygoing

(Origins History)
Class: American
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
Size: Heavy (7-8 lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual
Recognized Varieties: Red, white

(Fancy Features)
Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Excellent (5/wk)
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: X-Large

where I got my info
http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Rhode-Island-B97.aspx 

Eggs Facts & Fiction 1

Fiction: Consumption of dietary cholesterol is a leading risk factor for hearts disease.

Fact: Dietary cholesterol is not a primary contributor to hart disease; saturated fat is a leading dietary factor. Eggs do not appear to contribute to heart disease in most people. A wealth of studies over the last 30 years have demonstrated this, including a study from Harvard School of Public Health in 1999 which found that daily egg intake did not contribute to heart disease risk in nearly 120,000 men and women. More recently, in 2007, a study done at the University of Madicine annd Dentistry of New Jersey found no link between frequent egg consumption and heart disease.

Fiction: The latest research shows that eggs should be limited in the diet in order to prevent heart disease.

Fact: Many years of misunderstanding the effect of dietary cholesterol intake on blood cholesterol levels have led to past restrictions on egg intake. The America Heart Association no longer recommends a specific limit on egg consumption provided you limit your total dietary cholesterol intake to an average of 300 mg daily, which can include an egg every day.

Fiction: Egg yolks are high in fat and contribute little else to the diet.

Fact: Egg yolks contain 45% of the egg's protean, numerous minerals, and the majority of the egg's vitamins. And they provided all of this for 59 calories ( a whole egg has 75 calories ) and 4.5 grams of total fat, 1.5 grams of which are saturated fat. So, unless your doctor has prescribed a special egg-free diet for you, you can continue to enjoy nutrient-dense eggs.

http://www.incredibleegg.org/

Wyandotte

Wyandotte is the breed of chicken I own here is some info on them.

Wyandottes are a favorite amongst backyard flock owners for their dependable egg laying, easygoing nature, hardiness, and the great variety of beautiful feather patterns such as. Silver Penciled, Golden Laced, Blue, Columbian and white Wyandottes are all rather rare.

(Origins/History)                                                                                                                                      
Class: American                                                                      
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam                                    
Size: Heavy ( 7-8 lbs )
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual
Recognized Varieties: Silver Laced, Gold Laced,
White, Black, Buff, Partridge, Silver Penciled,
Columbian, Blue, Red, Barred & Others.

(Suitability to Backyard Life)
Hardy in Winter: Yes
Bears Confinement: Bears Well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Generally easygoing
with a tendency toward domination

(Fancy Features)
Comb Type: Rose Comb
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

(Egg Facts)
Egg Laying: Very Good ( 4/wk )
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: Large

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Wyandotte-B6.aspx

What my blog is about.

Ok well as you can see my blog is nothing but chickens. I have done and still researching stuff about chickens. This blog is where I am going to go crazy with chicken info! I will post on a lot of chicken topics such as: various breeds, coops, easy care, waterers, feeders. This is going to be my place to be flat out chicken nerdy. I will be glad to take requests or questions. When I give you info I will always put the site where I got it from on the bottom of that page. I will also tell about some experiences with my chickens. I am basically going to put all my research on here. I hope you enjoy!!!!!

meet my chickens

hello

Hello I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Rachael. I have a lot of animals such as: 1 cat, 3 dogs, a some amazing chickens. I am mostly going to blog about chickens if you didn't get that from the name of the blog. I am a homeschooler and I love it! I wish I lived in the country. I have done rodeo in the past and even won the goat tieing buckle. My true enjoyment is horses, but I live in the city so instead I get to have chickens. I really do enjoy chickens I have done a lot of research on various breeds. I am going to shear a little of my research. Yes, I am a nerd. I also do a lot of things besides chickens like robotics and I have done soccer. I hang out alot with my friends as well. I hope you enjoy my blog!