Chicken Breed Homework

Brahma

About the Brahma

The Brahma is an American breed of chicken. It was developed in the United States from birds imported from the Chinese port of Shanghai, and was the principal American meat breed from the 1850s until about 1930. The birds are very large. Watch the video to see how large they can get.

The Brahma
Size Large – Extra-Large
Origin US
Rarity Rare
Purpose Dual-purpose
Colors

White with black detailing on the hackles, feet and tailfeathers, white lacing on black feathers on covert feathers.

 Buff (caramel) with black detailing on hackles, feet and tailfeathers.
Hens: Grey with black penciling
Buff Brahma chicks have varying buff colors and have feathered feet

Dark Brahma chicks are light to dark brown, with darker markings on their head and back and feathered feet.

 Roosters: White heads and backs with black bellies, foot feathering and tailfeathers.

Other color varieties you may find Black, blue-columbian, buff-columbian, dark, gold, light or white
Great with Kids Yes
Egg Laying 150 – 200 annually
Egg Color Brown
Egg Size Large – Extra-Large
Cold Hardiness Yes
Heat Tolerance Fair
Personality Inquisitive and friendly
Temperament Calm and docile
   
Lifespan (Life Expectancy) 5 – 8 years
   

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island Red Chicken is a domestic chicken developed in the late 19th century in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. They were bred for a dual purpose. They are used for both eggs and meat. They are bigger than other chickens. They are able to live comfortably in any weather.

The Rhode Island Red
SizeLarge
OriginUS- Rhode Island and Massachusetts
RarityCommon
PurposeDual-purpose-Eggs and Meat
Colors

Hens-

Roosters-darker mahogany red/brown plumage with dark green tail feathers. 

Chicks-The chicks of this breed are a soft rust color with two dark lines running down their backs. 

Other color varieties you may findNone
Great with KidsYes
Egg Laying300 annually
Egg ColorBrown
Egg SizeLarge
Cold HardinessYes
Heat ToleranceYes
PersonalityInquisitive and friendly
TemperamentDocile but can be aggressive towards other chickens
  
Lifespan (Life Expectancy)7 – 8 years
  

Ayam Cemani

Ayam Cemani

Ayam Cemani

SizeMedium
OriginIndonesia
  
RarityRare
PurposeDual-purpose-Eggs and Meat
Colors

Hens-black

Roosters-Black

Chicks-Black

Other color varieties you may findNone
Great with KidsYes
Egg Laying80
Egg ColorCream color
Egg SizeVaries Medium and Large
Cold HardinessYes
Heat ToleranceYes
PersonalityInquisitive and friendly
TemperamentDocile but standoffish
  
Lifespan (Life Expectancy)6 – 8 years
  

 80

Frizzle Chicken Breed

Frizzle

The Frizzle is a breed of chicken with characteristic curled or frizzled plumage. The Frizzle gene can show up in a number of breeds. Frizzle is recognized as a distinct breed in a number of European countries and Australia. It is not considered a breed in the United States but a characteristic of certain breeds. 

SizeMedium
OriginUnknown-Maybe China
RarityRare
PurposeExhibition
Colors

Blue, white and black

Other color varieties you may findNone
Great with KidsYes
Egg Laying120-150
Egg ColorCream color
Egg SizeVaries Medium and Large
Cold HardinessYes
Heat ToleranceYes
PersonalityInquisitive and friendly
TemperamentDocile
  
Lifespan (Life Expectancy)6 – 8 years
  

Wyandotte

Wyandotte

The Wyandotte is one of Americas’ favorite hens. Created in the North-Eastern US it is a firm favorite of many homesteaders for its reliability in producing eggs and meat.

It has the distinction of being the first American breed specifically bred to be dual purpose.

It is a beautifully marked heritage bird. Sadly, it fell out of favor with the advent of industrial farms, but homesteaders and backyard chicken enthusiasts have brought this bird back from the brink of obscurity.

SizeLarge
Origin Northeastern United States, NY and WI
RarityCommon
PurposeDual Purpose
Colors

barred, black, blue, blue laced, blue partridge, buff, buff laced, Colombian, gold-laced, partridge, red, silver laced, silver penciled, and white

Other color varieties you may findNone
Great with KidsYes
Egg Laying200 
Egg Colorbrown
Egg SizeVaries Medium and Large
Cold HardinessYes
Heat ToleranceYes
PersonalityInquisitive and friendly
TemperamentDocile and Friendly
  
Lifespan (Life Expectancy)6 – 12 years
  

Leghorn Chicken infographics

Leghorn

Although the exact origins of the Leghorn breed are not known, they likely were developed from one of the small landrace chickens in the Tuscan region of northern Italy. These Livornese (“from Livorno”) chickens were small but laid very many eggs and did not need much food.

The name Leghorn is an Anglicization of Livorno, the Italian port city from which these birds were first exported to America around 1828, and again in 1830-31. The white variety was originally called “Italian Fowls” or “White Spanish”, and were described in the “Poultry Bulletin” in 1881 as being “…white with disproportionately large combs and as precocious layers.” Brown Leghorns were imported by Mr. N.P. Ward around 1835. He bred some and gave some to fellow fanciers, but these birds seem to have disappeared before the next importation.

SizeLarge
OriginTuscany, Italy
RarityCommon
PurposeEgg Layer
Colors

White

Chicks-yellow

Other color varieties you may findThere are but are not common in the US
Great with KidsNo
Egg Laying280-320 
Egg ColorWhite
Egg SizeVaries Medium and Large
Cold HardinessYes (combs can suffer from frost bite)
Heat ToleranceYes
PersonalityInquisitive and friendly
TemperamentSkittish, Not aggressive
  
Lifespan (Life Expectancy)5-9 years