Pick-a-Chick

The Buff Orpington breed is a great choice for a backyard chicken - beautiful with a nice personality and winter hardiness.

The breed originated in Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom in the late 1800's. Their temperament is calm and friendly, as opposed to flighty, skittish or aggressive.

*In a flock containing different breeds of chickens, Buff Orpingtons can be "picked on" because of their relative docile nature.

*They are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production (a "dual purpose" breed).

The Cuckoo Maran breed is well known for its distinctive dark brown eggs. As with the Orpington Buffs, the Marans are also a docile breed. The Marans tend to be more active than the Buffs. The Marans originated in Western France and were transported to England in the 1930's where their popularity began to increase.

*In a flock containing different breeds of chickens, Cuckoo Marans can be "picked on" because of their relative docile nature.

*They are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production (a "dual purpose" breed).

The Turken Naked Neck breed received its name due to the mistaken assumption that they were a hybrid of a chicken and a turkey. This breed is typically calm and placid. The Turkens originated in Transylvania but were more commonly raised in Germany. Despite their look they are an extremely well rounded bird. They are hardy, and more than capable of surviving cold temperatures. They are more suited to hotter climates due to the lack of feathers. The lack of feathers means they have a distinct lack of flying ability and are desirable meat chickens as there is less to pluck.

*They are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production (a "dual purpose" breed).

The Barred Plymouth Rock breed originated in the United States in the 19th Century. They are very calm and will get along with people and other animals.

In 1849 in New England, USA, the Plymouth Rock breed was first seen. This breed was the most popular chicken in the United States through World War II due to its longevity (making it a fantastic egg producer) and large size (making it popular for it's meat)

*They are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production (a "dual purpose" breed).

Sussex chickens are one of the most productive breeds available. They are very alert, but docile birds. They are also extremely adaptable making them a perfect backyard chicken.

The Sussex breed dates back to the Roman invasion of England in approx. AD 43. Originally bred for the purpose of meat, they have become one of the most popular chickens for their egg producing qualities.

*They are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production (a "dual purpose" breed).

The Wyandottes are general purpose chickens. They are docile and the hens make excellent mothers to their own and others offspring. They are suited to colder environments due to the amount of feathers they have. The Wyandotte breed are originally from the United States and first appeared in the 1870s. The Wyandotte breed is able to handle smaller foraging areas when compared to it's counterparts (perfect for a backyard). They produce a good quantity of eggs but less than some of the other breeds.

*They are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production (a "dual purpose" breed).