Broody Hen Care
How to care for a broody hen raising chicks. Tips for rearing chicks with a broody hen and providing broody hen care.
Goldline Chickens
Cross: Multiple but Rhode Island Red would have been used. Eggs: 300+ Brown Eggs. Useful to Know: Bovans Goldline is the name of a commercial strain of hybrid hen produced by Joice & Hill Poultry Ltd. The Bovans Goldline was produced after many years of genetic research and is used on farms in the UK […]
Poultry Plumage: How it Begins…
Anyone writing an article on the subject of poultry plumage has to begin with the 2 pigments that account for all the beautiful colours and patterns seen today. These pigments are black and red. They are best observed in the wild Red Jungle Fowl – the original form of chicken – and the one with […]
Feeding Domestic Ducks
This article provides information about feeding ducks: specifically domestic ducks. That is, pet ducks kept in gardens or smallholdings.
Royal Bath & West Championship Show 2015
More than 550 birds competed for the prestigious Poultry Club Royal Championship Show at the Royal Bath & West Show last week, with a chocolate and white Muscovy duck taking the honours.
Northampton Egg Show 2015
The Clubs 2015 Egg Show was held at Crick Village Hall on Saturday the 25th of April. The show was kindly judged by Mrs Linda Rupniak who joined us for the evening. The show followed what’s become our standard ‘Egg Show’ format: the visiting Judge gives a short talk explaining about how eggs are judged […]
Norfolk Grey Chickens
No. of Eggs 3.1/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Dual Purpose Utility / Rare Breed.Origin: Norwich, UK. Eggs: 150 – 220 Tinted.Weight: Cock: 3.2 – 3.6 Kg. Hen: 2.25 – 2.7Kg.Bantam Cock: 900g Hen: 680g.Colours: Black with Silver White hackles.Useful to Know: An active forager and good egg layer. Cockerels have the ability […]
Rhodebar Chickens
No. of Eggs 2.8/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Utility – eggs and meat. Origin: UK. Eggs: 180 to 200. Weight: Cock: 3.85 Kg. Hen: 2.9 Kg. Bantam: Cock: 1020 g. Hen: 790 Kg. Colour: Red with fine buff barring. Useful to Know: The Rhodebar is a rare utility bird and if bred correctly, a good strain should be capable of producing up to […]
Sebright Bantams
No. of Eggs 1.1/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Exhibition / Ornamental.Origin: England. Eggs: 50 – 80 white.Weight: Cock: 620 g. Hen: 510 g.Colours: Gold, Silver. (Standardised UK).Useful to Know: A true Bantam, one of the oldest British varieties. Difficult to raise and are highly susceptible to Marek’s disease. Some strains suffer with low fertility. All feathers are required to have black lacing, […]
Serama Bantams
No. of Eggs 2.2/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Exhibition / Ornamental / Pet. Origin: Malaysia. Eggs: 80 – 160 brown to white. Weight: Bantam Cock: Up to 500g, Hen: Up to 500g. Colours: Any colour or combination of colours. Useful to Know: A true bantam. Any colour or combination is allowed according […]
Thüringian Chickens
No. of Eggs 2.5/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Exhibition and Rare Breed Conservation. Origin: Germany. Eggs: 140 -180 White per year. Weight: Cock: 2 – 2.5 Kg. Hen: 1.5 – 2 Kg. Bantam Cock: 700 g. Hen: 600 g. Colours: Black, Chamois Spangled, Gold Spangled, Silver Spangled (Standardised UK) Buff, Blue, Cuckoo […]
Vorwerk Chickens
No. of Eggs 2.6/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Attractive, economical utility birds. Origin: Hamburg, Germany. Eggs: 160 – 190 cream / tinted. Weight: Cock: 2.5 – 3.2 Kg.Hen: 2.0 – 2.5 Kg. Bantam Cock: 910 g. Hen: 680 g. Colour: Black head, hackles and tail. Buff body and wings. Useful to Know: […]
Welsummer Chickens
No. of Eggs 3.5/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Dual purpose utility – meat and eggs.Origin: Welsum, Holland. Eggs: 200 – 250 red-brown.Weight: Cock: 3.2 Kg.Hen: 2.7 Kg.Bantam Cock: 1.02 Kg, Hen: 790 g.Colours: Red-Partridge, Silver Duckwing (Standardised UK), Silver, Golden (both rare and only exist in Germany).Useful to Know: UK Standard has […]
Yamato Gunkei Chickens
No. of Eggs 0.3/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Originally Cock Fighting, now exhibition. Eggs: 5-20 white or tinted. Origin: Japan. Weight: Cock: 1.8 – 2.7Kg, Hen: 1.35 – 2.25Kg. Bantam Cock: 1130g Hen: 910g. Colours: Black, Black-red (with wheaten / partridge females), Duckwing, Blue, Ginger, Splash, Spangle, Cuckoo, White. Useful to Know: Not a beginners bird. Yamato Gunkei do not […]
Yokohama Chickens
No. of Eggs 1.4/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Exhibition / Ornamental / Rare breed. Origin: Japan. Eggs: 80 – 100 white / tinted. Weight: Cock: 1.8 – 2.7 Kg.Hen: 1.1 – 1.8 Kg. Bantam Cock: 570 – 680 g Hen: 450 – 570 g. Colours: Black, Black-Red, Silver Duckwing, Gold Duckwing, White (Standardised UK). Useful to Know: Not great layers but do […]
Carlisle Old English Game
Uses: Exhibition / Ornamental Origin: Great Britain. Eggs: 50-80 Tinted. Weight: Cock: Up to 2.94 Kg. Hen: Up to 2.5 Kg. Colours: spangled, black-red (partridge bred), black-red (wheaten bred), brown-red, blue-red, blue-tailed wheaten, birchen grey, black-breasted grey, golden duckwing, silver duckwing, blue duckwing, crele, cuckoo, pile, brassy-backed, furness, blue furness, brassy-backed blue, salmon-breasted blue, crow […]
Rhode Island Red Chickens
No. of Eggs 3.5/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Utility – eggs. Sex-linked hybridsOrigin: Rhode Island State, USA. Eggs: 250+ light brown eggs per year in good utility strains.Weight: Cock: 3.85 Kg. Hen: 2.95 Kg.Bantam Cock: 790 – 910 g. Hen: 680 – 790g.Colours: Dark Red almost Mahogany. A Rhode Island White does exist but is not well-known.Useful to Know: Rhode Island Reds are a […]
New Hampshire Red Chickens
No. of Eggs 3.3/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Utility – eggs & meat. Exhibition. Origin: New Hampshire, U.S. Eggs: 160 – 240 tinted / brown. Weight: Cock: 3.85Kg.Hen: 2.95Kg. Bantam Cock: 980g. Hen: 737g. Colours: Red (Standardised UK) Blue Tailed, White (Non-Standardised). Useful to Know: Fast to mature, a good size and […]
Old English Game Bantams
No. of Eggs 2.2/5 Easy to Keep? 3.5/5 Uses: Exhibition.Origin: Great Britain. Eggs: 100-160 Tinted.Bantam Cock: 620-740g, Hen: 510-620g.Colours: Black-Red (partridge bred), Black-Red (Wheaten bred), Blue-Red, Blue-Tailed (Wheaten hen), Brown-Red, Crele, Cuckoo, Furness, Blue-Furness, Spangle, Silver Duckwing, Golden Duckwing, Blue Duckwing, Lemon Blue, Pile, Brassy-Backed Black, Brassy Backed Blue, Splashed, Ginger-Red, Blue-Grey, Self White, Self Black, Self Blue, Muffs and […]
Lincolnshire Buff Chickens
With its dual purpose qualities, good egg-laying, pleasant appearance, calm temperament and ability to brood its own chicks, Lincolnshire Buff Chickens make an ideal choice for the small-scale poultry keeper.