Availability Updated on June 15, 2009
2009 Chickens
Hatch Weeks: March 10, 24; April 7, 21; May 5, 19; June 2, 16, 30; July 14, 28; August 11, 25.
Order limits: The number in parenthesis after a breed is the maximum number of that breed that is available from any one hatch. you may order fewer than that number if you would like. if you would like more than that number of that particular breed, you must order enough birds for two (or more) separate shipments from two (or more) separate hatch dates.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL DAY-OLD POULTRY IS SOLD AS STRAIGHT RUN ONLY. WE DO NOT SEX ANY OF THE DAY-OLDS. Since we do not sell sexed chicks, we have no control over what you receive as far as a male-female ratio. Ideally, it is supposed to be a 50-50 split, but anyone who has been in poultry knows it can vary from that.
PLEASE NOTE MINIMUM NUMBER OF BIRDS REQUIREMENT BEFORE ORDERING!
You MUST order the equivalent of 25 chicks per order. This is required because the chicks will not stay warm enough to arrive alive at your Post Office if there are too few chicks in the box. There are some hatcheries, etc. who are shipping as few as three chicks in a box. We do not know how they are doing this or if it works. The only option that we have to keep the chicks warm enough to ship is by the body heat of the chicks. Please do not ask us to ship less than this minimum requirement.
Assortments
Assorted Chickens: This assortment may be made up from any of the breeds of large fowl chicks listed in our catalog. You may receive anything from the most common to the rarest, depending upon what is left after specific breed orders have been filled. An order for 25 chicks will usually include 4 or 5 different breeds. Chicks $1.10 each. (100 per hatch)
Assorted Heavy Chickens: No guarantee as to what will be included, but it will be from the following list. We will try to include at least 3 breeds, never will it be just 1 breed: Ameraucanas, Australorps, Barred Hollands, Buckeyes, Chanteclers, Cochins, Cuckoo Marans, Delawares, Dominiques, Dorkings, Faverolles, Giants, Iowa Blues, Javas, New Hampshires, Orpingtons, Partridge Rocks, Red Naked Necks, Rhode Island Reds, Rhode Island Whites, Shamos, Spangled Russian Orloffs, Sussex, Welsummers, or Wyandottes. Most heavy breed chickens lay brown eggs. Chicks $1.50 each. (50 per hatch)
Assorted Light Chickens: This will be from the following breeds. No guarantees, but will not be all of one breed. Anconas, Blue Andalusians, Buff Catalanas, Buttercups, Campines, Crevecouers, Cubalayas, Egyptian Fayoumis, Hamburgs, Kraienkoppes, La Fleche, Lakenvelders, Leghorns, Norwegian Jaerhons, Minorcas, Polish, or Sumatras. Most light breed chickens lay white eggs. Chicks $1.25 each. (50 per hatch)
Assorted Dorkings: Chicks $5.00 each (15) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Assorted Leghorns: Chicks $2.50 each (50)
Assorted Crested: Chicks $2.50 each (25)
Assorted Orientals: Chicks $4.00 each (25)
Miscellaneous Breeds (in alphabetical order)
The APA class codes used below are as follows:(AMB) is American Breeds; (ASB) is Asiatic Breeds; (EB) is English Breeds; (MB) is Mediterranean Breeds; (CB) is Continental Breeds; (OB) is Oriental Breeds; (MISC) is All Other Standard Breeds (Miscellaneous). Any breed not designated with a class code is not listed in the APA Standard of Perfection. Please see general breed descriptions for each of these classifications at the bottom of this page.
Ancona (MB): Nicely spotted white on black. We are selecting for a heavy production bird. White egg layers. Anconas were developed in a city in Italy from which they take their name. They have yellow skin and a single comb with five points. Introduced into the APA Standard in 1898. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Barnevelder (CB): I first saw a black and white photo of these in 1975, then spent the next 15 years looking for them. The first ones that I found were picture perfect to the APA Standard, but layed a very pale, almost not brown egg (a serious defect in this breed). Should be a dark chocolate brown egg. The second flock I located looked good but didn't lay well and didn't lay a very dark egg. The next flock layed a dark egg, but layed very few eggs and had no resistance to any pests or disease. I have found other flocks and strains and have tried to improve both egg color and vigor as well as trying to improve disease tolerance. After 15 years of work crossing all of these strains, I have some nice, dark egg layers that lay fairly well. The males, for the most part, look up to APA standards. The hens still do not. Please only request these if you are interested in working toward perfecting this breed and you are not interested in showing them at this point as they are not up to show quality yet. This breed, as it stands now, is for the person who wants a calm chicken that lays a deep brown egg. Chicks $4.00 each (15) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Barred Holland (AMB): A barred, medium-sized breed, not as big as Barred Rocks, and good layers of a white egg. They have a single comb with six well-defined points. These were developed in 1934 from White Leghorns, Barred Rocks, Australorps and Brown Leghorns. Chicks $3.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Black Australorp (EB): Faster growing than the Black Orpington but slightly smaller in size. We are selecting for rapid growth, good size and heavy egg production. Lay brown egg and have a medium large single comb with five points. Chicks $3.00 each (20) (Sold out through 6/2/09.)
Black Breasted Red Cubalaya (OB): Developed in Cuba from original stock imported from the Phillipines. They have a small pea comb, off-white eggs. Males are typical Black Breasted Red pattern. Hens are cinnamon color. Chicks $5.00 each (5)
Black Breasted Red Kraienkoppes: Unique, old, Dutch type game fowl, males are the Brown Leghorn color pattern, the hens are a cinnamon color. They have a small walnut comb and are fairly small sized, but lay extremely well and, for the most part, have a nice temperament, off-white eggs. Select your breeders to have uniform walnut combs. They are excellent foragers and mothers. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Black Breasted Red Shamo (OB): Tall in size, gentle around people, but can be very fierce fighters around other fowl. They do not lay an abundance of pale brown eggs, as they are one of the more primitive types. They have a small pea comb and are hard feathered like a Cornish. The hens in are not the color of Brown Leghorns, but are a cinnamon color. Chickks $6.00 each (5)
Black Cochin (ASB): One of the oldest varieties of Cochins. Very bulky. Coal black in color. Lay brown eggs and have a medium size single comb with five points. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Black Frizzle Sumatra: Same as the Black Sumatra, but with the frizzle gene. (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Frizzled Gene" explanation.) Very attractive version which we obtained from Ed Hart. They have a small pea comb. This breed is not as yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $5.00 each (10)
Black Langshan (ASB): Glossy black with bright red combs. Seem to always look groomed. Tall stature with a few feathers on the legs and toes. Lay brown eggs and have a medium size single comb with five points. Chicks $4.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Black Penedescenca: Black Minorca-like chicken with an unusual comb - single at the front with multiple lobes at the rear. They lay a dark, dark brown egg. Their behavior is very flighty and is similar to a Leghorn. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. (SOLD OUT FOR ENTIRE 2009 SEASON)
Black Shamo (OB): Pure black in color, pale brown eggs. Occasional off-colored feather can be seen. They have a small pea comb. Chicks $6.00 each (5)
Black Sumatra (OB): Native to Sumatra. Rich greenish black in color. Multiple spurs are common in males. They have a small pea comb. Chicks $4.00 each (20)
Blue Andalusian (MB): Large sized beautiful blue color. Excellent layers of white eggs. They have a single comb with five points. Large combs of male make winter hardiness a challenge. (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Blue Genetics" explanation.) Admitted to the APA Standard in 1874, a graceful, hardy breed from Andalusia, Spain. Chicks $3.00 each (20) (Sold out through 4/21/09.)
Blue Cochin (ASB): Solid blue, (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Blue Genetics" explanation.) Lay brown eggs and have a medium size single comb with five points. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Brown Red Cubalaya: They lay a tinted egg. Females are black with golden neck feathers. Males are black with golden, fiery red neck and hackle feathers and fiery red/gold patch on wings. Chicks $5.00 each (20)
Buckeye (AMB): Large sized, dark rich red color, small to medium sized pea comb, gentle temperament. Lay a nice brown egg. These originated in Ohio in the early 1900's. Chicks $4.00 each (25) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Buff Catalana (MB): Originally from Catalana, Spain. Now much more common in Latin America, but very rare in the USA. We are still trying to work with them to refine color and conformation. The birds are deep, rich buff with black tails. They lay large white eggs and have a single comb with six points. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
Buff Cochin (ASB): Large size, gentle, soft buff color. Lay brown eggs and have a medium size single comb with five points. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Cuckoo Maran: Both French (feather-legged) and English (clean-legged) strains are kept together. Selection is for the darkest color in the eggs. During their first year of laying they are superb layers, from the second year on they love to become broody and egg production drops off. Of the dark egg laying breeds, these are the tops. They have a single comb with five or more points. This breed is not currently in the APA Standard. Chicks $4.00 each (25) (Sold out through 4/7/09.)
Dark Shamo (OB): Good Shamo type, but the color of a Dark Cornish, pale brown eggs. They have a small pea comb. Occasional off-types can be seen. Chicks $6.00 each (5)
Delaware (AMB): They are a fast grower, lay huge brown eggs, have moderately large single comb with five well-defined points, white with gray/black cuckoo neck, tail and wing feathers. These were developed in 1940 from off-colored sports between Barred Rock male and New Hampshire female. They are an excellent choice for free-range broilers. Over the years, I've attempted to select for large-sized eggs. There appears to be a number of "Delawares" available from other sources that do not anywhere match the traits that we have found to be true for this breed. A "true" Delaware should not be a light weight, flighty bird. We are trying to select for the fastest growing and most productive hens, but with reasonable egg size. Chicks $3.50 each (25) (Sold Out For the Entire 2009 Season)
Dominique (AMB): "America's Chicken", barred pattern, small to medium rose comb. Very early American breed. They are brown egg layers. They are a medium sized breed. Chicks $3.00 each (25) (Sold out through 6/16/09.)
Egyptian Fayoumis: Truly a unique breed as they mature very quickly. They are flighty and prefer to range over a large area. They have a moderately large single comb. Color is similar to a Campine only the barring is not as distinct and they are a silver color. Pale brown eggs. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $2.50 each (25)
Flame Jaerhon: The genetics of the Norwegian Jaerhon produces some off-types. This darker version, considered not proper for Norwegian Jaerhons, is a beautiful and hardy selection. Females are a Cuckoo pattern with gold in the neck and hackles. The males are a Cuckoo pattern with brilliant flame orange-red hackles, neck and wing patches. Much hardier than the regular Norwegian Jaerhons. Not perfected and not in the APA Standard. Strictly for the person wishing a colorful layer. Chicks $2.00 each (20) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Golden Campine (CB): Deep rich golden neck feathers. Striking appearance, originating in Belgium. They have a single comb with five points. White eggs, vigorous foragers. These were admitted to the APA Standard in 1914. Chicks $4.00 each (20)
Golden Lakenvelder: Same as Lakenvelder except a rich gold replaces the white, white eggs. They are truly beautiful and have a single comb with five points. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $5.00 each (10)
Golden Spangled Hamburg (CB): Reddish orange spangled specimens, white eggs. These have a rose comb covered with small points. Beautiful, but hard to raise where you have predators as they love to roost in the trees. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Iowa Blue: Gray penciled pattern, pale brown eggs, medium to moderately large single comb with six points. Please note that these are not a blue chicken. Developed near Decorah, Iowa in the early 1900's. The breed was in desperate need of new blood and I have been working for the past few years to introduce new blood. There is still a slight possibility of an off-type bird. Chick color will range from a warm cocoa brown to black to an occasional mottled one. This breed is a somewhat seasonal layer. They go in spurts. When not broody, we get lots of chicks and then all of a sudden they go broody and we get nothing. These are not recognized by the APA Standard. They do not have yellow legs. They make a nice breed for someone who wants a good forager which will set on eggs. Chicks $4.00 each (15) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
La Fleche (CB): A rare old French breed with a unique v-shaped comb that looks much like 2 points going straight up (like two horns). Birds are pure black and lay a white egg. The head is such a unique shape the chicks can easily be picked out. Chicks $3.00 each (25) (Sold out through 5/5/09.)
Lakenvelder (CB): A white chicken with black neck, tail and wing feathers. They are medium sized, lay a white egg and are excellent foragers. They have a single comb with five points. These are an established German breed from at least 1860. Chicks $4.00 each (15)
Light Sussex (EB): A typical Columbian pattern with black neck, tail and wing feathers and white elsewhere. We are very grateful to Ron Dinger for obtaining and sharing with us two diverse lines and for his work to improve this beautiful breed. Lay tinted egg (off-white) and have a medium sized single comb with five points. Chicks $5.00 each (10) (Sold Out For the Entire 2009 Season.)
Long Crower (Tomaru): Basically an all black bird with occasional golden neck and hackle feathers. Hens are fairly calm and respectable layers. Males are known for their very long crow. Constant selection for the longest crowing males has to be made. Egg color is tinted and they have a single comb. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $6.00 each (10) (Sold out through 6/16/09.)
Mahogany Faverolle: A colorful Faverolle where the males are a partridge color and the hens are a rich mahogany brown color, pale brown eggs. They have a medium size single comb. These came to me a few years back as a selection from a hatchery which is now out of business. They are thrifty and productive, but do not have an ancient history. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $4.00 each (15) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Manx Rumpies: Rumpless, variable color and comb. A very rare breed that lays colorful eggs and are difficult to breed. They have various comb types but small single combs are the most common. The absence of the tail makes it a challenge to get fertile eggs. They are superb layers, but fertility rate can be very low at times. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $6.00 each (5) (Sold out through 6/16/09.)
Mottled Java (AMB): One of the older breeds of poultry admitted to the Standard in 1883. Brown eggs, rather small single combs. The breed is an excellent forager, but grows very slowly. Only order this breed if you have the patience to watch them develop. Color pattern is black with white spotting. Chicks $5.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Mixed Frizzle: Feathers are curled in the reverse direction. (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Frizzled Gene" explanation.) These are full sized chickens which lay brown eggs and have a single comb. We set up our breeder pens to allow for good frizzled chicks, but there will be a percentage that are not frizzled. These are not feather legged. These are multiple colors and types and are for the person who wants frizzle feathered birds. This breed is not listed in the APA Standard and are for fun, not necessarily for show. Chicks $3.00 each (15) (Sold out through 4/21/09.)
Muffed Old English Game: A colorful mix of muffed (bearded) Old English Game Fowl. Their history is very old. They are excellent foragers, good setters and mothers. They have a small single comb with five points and lay a tinted egg. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
New Hampshire (AMB): A nice sized pale red orange bird which is a good dual purpose fowl that lays a nice big brown egg. They have a medium sized single comb eith five points. We have selected for production first, and show type second. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
Norwegian Jaerhon: Colorful, almost a creme bar pattern. Small in size, very active foragers. Lay white eggs. Developed in Norway. They have a small single comb. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $3.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Partridge Rock (AMB): Colorful breed where the hens are an off-shade of brown with pencilling. Males are somewhat tri-toned with red, brown and black. Birds are vigorous and thrifty and lay a brown egg. They have a medium sized single comb with five points. Chicks $3.00 each (10) (SOLD OUT FOR ENTIRE 2009 SEASON)
Red Naked Neck (MISC): A large bird with no feathers found on the neck, giving them a sunburned appearance. Deep red with a medium size single comb with five points. Good meat and egg birds. Brown eggs. This breed is listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Red Pyle Cubalaya (OB): A colorful small sized chicken with a small pea comb. The breed dates back many years. Males are white with red-orange neck and hackle feathers and red patches on the wings. They are very attractive. Females are somewhat variable with light orange-yellow neck and some orange feathers. Females can be basically white except for head and neck. Not all chicks hatch out the Red Pyle pattern. Chicks $5.00 each (25)
Red Sussex (EB): We've been working with two (2) strains of this rare English breed for some time. We've been hesitant to offer them as they still show some variability. We find them to be vigorous and thrifty but still show color variations. Lay tinted egg (off-white) and have a medium sized single comb with five points. Chicks $4.00 each (15)
Redcaps (EB): Unique old British breed, spangled red/brown black color. We are selecting for large size - something that is lost in most commercial strains. Egg color is tinted creamy white. They have a unique rose comb covered with large round points. Chicks $4.00 each (5) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Rhode Island Red (AMB): Deep red in color with rich yellow legs. They lay a brown egg and have a single comb. These are not the commercial variety called "Production Reds" but are the "true" Rhode Island Reds. Chicks $3.00 each (25) (Sold out through 6/2/09.)
Rose Comb Rhode Island Red (AMB): Deep red in color with rich yellow legs. They lay a brown egg. They have a nice, true rose comb. Admitted to the APA Standard in 1905. Chicks $4.00 each (20) (Sold out through 6/16/09.)
Rose Comb Rhode Island White (AMB): Admitted to the APA Standard in 1922. Ours are rose comb, true to type as indicated in the APA Standard. They lat a brown egg. Chicks $5.00 each (10)
Salmon Faverolle (CB): Originated from crosses of Houdans, Dorkings and Asiatics in Faverolle, France. The lay tinted colored eggs. Calm, elegant birds with a medium size single comb. Males are greenish black with silver white neck and hackle feathers. Hens are a soft creamy tan. Both have muffs, five toes and feathered legs. Chicks $4.00 each (25) (Sold out through 5/19/09.)
Sicilian Buttercup (MB): Originated in Sicily. Male is orange red with some black spangles. Hen is buff with parallel rows of black spangles. They have a unique buttercup shaped comb, something like moose antlers. White eggs. First came to America in 1835. These are not large chickens. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Silver Campine (CB): Single comb, deep rich silver neck feathers, always sharp and striking looking. They have a single comb with five point and lay white eggs. Chicks $4.00 each (25)
Silver Kraienkoppe: Color pattern like a Silver Grey Dorking, off-white eggs. They have a small walnut comb. See Black Breasted Red Kraienkoppe for breed history. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $5.00 each (5)
Silver Laced Cochins (ASB): Silver laced pattern similar to Silver Laced Wyandottes and Silver Polish. Lay brown eggs and have a medium size single comb with five points. Chicks $4.00 each (5)
Silver Penciled Hamburg (CB): Very old Dutch breed that was admitted to the APA Standard in 1874. Males are a silver-gray with slight barring. Females are neatly penciled. They have a rose comb covered with small points. Chicks $6.00 each (10)
Silver Spitzhauben (CB): Silver spangled pattern with unique tuft of feathers on the head (not really a crest). They have a v-shaped comb. While they lay well, they never hatch in great numbers. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Spangled Russian Orloff: A truly beautiful, gentle bird. Tall in size, similar to a Shamo, with muffs and a unique head. Colored similar to a Speckled Sussex. Good setters and mothers. They lay pale brown eggs and have a small walnut comb. Orloffs are fantastic layers their first year, but egg production drops off drastically in their second and each of their subsequent years. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $4.00 each (15) (Sold out through 6/16/09.)
Speckled Sussex (EB): White spots on a chestnut brown background. White skin and legs. Egg color is a very pale tan. They have white skin and white legs with a pinkish streak. Adult birds grow to a nice, large size. Chicks $3.00 each (20) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Welsummer (CB): Named after the village of Welsum in Holland. Most famous for the deep, dark brown eggs. Medium sized bird with yellow skin and a single comb with five points. Color pattern of chicks and adults is similar to Brown Leghorns. Chicks $4.00 each (20) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
White Cochin (ASB): Pure white and excellent size. Lay brown eggs and have a medium size single comb with five points. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
White Cubalaya: They lay a tinted egg, pure white with an occasional colored feather. Still working on perfecting this color. Chicks $5.00 each (5)
White Faced White Spanish (MB): This is another one of Ron Nelson's projects that he has passed on to us. They lay white eggs and have a single comb with five points. They are an old breed. It is surprising how impressive a chalk white face is on a white bird. Chicks $6.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
White Houdan (CB): An old breed imported into England from France in 1850. Resembles the Dorking in body and the presence of the fifth toe. They have a v-shaped comb. The White variety was admitted to the APA Standard in 1914. Chicks $5.00 each (10) (Sold out through 6/2/09.)
White Kraienkoppe: They lay a tinted egg, white version of the Black Breasted Red Kraienkoppe. Still working on perfecting the color, comb, and type on this breed. Chicks $5.00 each (5)
Ameraucanas
Breed notes: Ameraucanas are sometimes called the "Easter Egg Chicken" because they lay green, blue or olive eggs as well as brown. Many places list "Araucanas" but they are really "Ameraucanas." Araucanas are rumpless and have ear tufts (tufts of feathers that grow from the ear). Ameraucanas, however, have a tail and a beard or muff (which is a group of feathers located under the chin). Our Ameraucanas that are mixed colors are not of APA Standard quality. They lay an assortment of colors of eggs though only eggs of "greenish" shades are incubated. Our Black Ameraucanas and White Ameraucanas are both selected for the APA Standard. While the APA Standard calls for a blue egg, I've yet to ever see in anyone's Ameraucana flock what I would call a "blue" egg. Most I've seen are shades of "greenish blue". This is why we list ours as laying a greenish blue egg. Ameraucanas have a pea comb.
Ameraucana A mixture of types and colors. These are not exhibition stock, but are very good sized and make a hardy dual purpose fowl. While we select for all breeders to have beards (muff of feathers under the chin), occasionally, some chicks will not. Egg color will vary between pale green, olive green, occasionally brown, or olive green with brown spots. Chicks $3.00 each (20) (Sold out through 6/30/09.)
Black Ameraucana (MISC) We were fortunate to obtain two different blood lines from show quality stock. These are pure black birds with beards and they lay greenish blue eggs. Chicks $5.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
White Ameraucana (MISC) Pure white in color, bearded. Good layers of greenish blue eggs. Leg color can vary in this breed. Mixing of two show strains has resuletd in some interesting variation. We do not recommend showing these as some may not be what the APA Standard requires. Chicks $5.00 (5) (Sold out through 6/2/09.)
Chantecler
Breed notes: The first Canadian breed originating in Quebec in 1918. They are a dual purpose fowl - yellow skin, brown eggs, unique comb that makes them easily adapted to cold climates. These are very popular and book up fast.
Buff Chantecler: A buff colored version of Chantecler. Very attractive stocky built birds. They lay a very pale brown egg. These have not yet been admitted to the APA Standard. Chicks $5.00 each (20) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Partridge Chantecler (AMB): Still working on improvement of comb type. Body type is good. Colorful breed where the hens are an off-shade of brown with pencilling. Males are somewhat tri-toned with red, brown and black. Chicks $5.00 each (20) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
White Chantecler (AMB): They have a massive structure and are a calm breed with a very tight to the head comb and virtually no wattles. They lay a very pale brown egg. Chicks $5.00 each (15) (SOLD OUT FOR THE ENTIRE 2009 SEASON)
Crested
Breed notes: Crested fowl are mentioned in historical writings from the 1500's. The following lay medium to large sized white eggs. They all have a v-shaped comb.
Black Crested Blue Polish: A selection that is solid blue with a darker blue/black crest. Many of the crests will be a deeper shade of blue, but not necessarily black. This breed is not currently in the APA Standard. (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Blue Genetics" explanation.) Chicks $3.50 each (10)
Black Crested White Polish (CB): Black crests and white bodies, white eggs. While these are in the APA Standard, they are a breeder's challenge as it is very difficult to maintain the black cest and the white body. Baby chicks do not start out with a black crest on a white body. Despite the descriptive name of the breed, they are not the reverse of White Crested Black Polish. (SOLD OUT FOR ENTIRE 2009 SEASON)
Black Polish: A selection that is pure black with no beard. They are larger than the White Crested Blacks and lay a white egg. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Buff Laced Polish (CB): Bearded, crested, soft buff color, huge crests, white eggs. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
Crevecoeurs (CB): Solid black in color, crested, with a beard, lays white eggs. Very old French breed. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Golden Polish (CB): Bearded, white eggs, golden laced pattern, orange and black. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Silver Polish (CB): Silver laced pattern, bearded, striking color pattern, white eggs. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
White Crested Black Polish (CB): Black body with white crests, thrifty and excellent layers of medium sized white eggs. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
White Crested Blue Polish: A soft, blue color with a white crest, lays white eggs. Some chicks will come out in the typical blue genetics pattern. (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Blue Genetics" explanation.) Chicks $3.00 each (20)
Dorkings
Breed notes: An ancient breed having been described by Julius Caesar. Slow growing, but constant and thrifty foragers. All Dorkings make wonderful dual purpose birds for eggs and meat. The egg color is a tinted white. Skin and leg color are white. They all possess a fifth toe. They like to go broody which makes chicks scarce at times. Please be patient. They are notorious for laying during the shorter day-length time of the year so egg production from these can be quite good during the cold Winter days. Living here in Iowa, I have seen them lay quite well in -25°F weather. Once the warmer Spring weather arrives all the members of a particular pen can turn broody within a day or two. They are stubborn and persistent and many times, during the prime Spring hatching season, we are left with few eggs. When ordering this breed, you must understand this trait and not expect your chicks at a specific time.
Colored Dorking (EB): Slightly variable in color. Males tend to have straw colored neck and saddle feathers. The remaining feathers are basically black with light straw lacing. Females are similar with less straw coloring. Color variations occur within this variety. They have a single comb with six points. Chicks $6.00 each (5) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Light Grey Dorking: They still need some improvement as to color, but we are continuing to select for the Columbian pattern of white with black neck, tail and wing feathers. They lay off-white eggs and have a single comb with six points. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $6.00 each (5) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Red Dorking (EB): Excellent quality. Adults resemble chunky, low to the ground Brown Leghorns. They have a single comb with six points. Good Winter layers, hardy and disease tolerant. They have a very old history. Chicks $6.00 each (5) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Rose Comb Colored Dorking: The rose comb version of a very old type that is very hardy and lays well. Males are a color similar to a Silver Grey only with golden straw colored neck and saddle feathers. Hens are mostly black with lighter breasts and straw colored lines on the feather shafts. Some slight variations of this due to the genetics involved can be expected. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $6.00 each (5) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Rose Comb Red Dorking: Rose comb version of Red Dorking. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $6.00 each (5)(Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Silver Grey Dorking (EB): Ancient breed, males are a silvery white with black, females are a silvery grey with salmon colored breast feathers. They have a single comb with six points. Chicks $6.00 each (5) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
White Dorking (EB): White, large, pale tan eggs. The APA standard calls for a Rose comb bird however,we keep rose comb and single comb birds in order to maintain vigor and productivity. Chicks $6.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Jersey Giants
Breed notes: Jersey Giants originated in the 1880's from crossing Black Javas, Dark Brahmas and Black Langshans. The key to Giants is their slow growth. They have a massive bone structure that they put on first before body mass. Our birds are from Mrs. Golda Miller's flock. She did such a super job over the years keeping their size up and their beauty. Please remember these grow very slowly. Jersey Giants have a large single comb with six points.
Black Jersey Giant (AMB): A super large chicken that lays a nice large brown egg. Chicks $5.00 each (25) (Sold out through 5/5/09.)
Blue Jersey Giant: Same as the Black Jersey Giant except a nice blue color. Brown eggs. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Blue Genetics" explanation) Chicks $5.00 each (25) (Sold out through 7/14/09.)
White Jersey Giant (AMB): White version of the magnificent black birds. Lay brown eggs. All of our stock came from Golda Miller. We are noticing some interesting things occurring - one of which is the occassional, almost lilac gray adult bird. Chicks $5.00 each (10) (Sold out through 6/30/09.)
Leghorns
Breed notes: The original breed came from Italy, but most of the color variations were developed in either England, Denmark, or the United States. All of ours have single combs with five points.
Black Leghorn (MB): Solid black leghorn with excellent egg-laying ability. White eggs. Occasional off-color feather shows up. Birds are very thrifty and grow fast. They forage well. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
Buff Leghorn (MB): Bright, buff-yellow color. Good layers of white eggs. Chicks $3.00 each (20)
Exchequer Leghorn: Beautiful mottled pattern distinctive from Ancona in the large amounts of white. Rare in this country. Superb layers of large white eggs. Maintaining yellow legs is the biggest challenge. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
Mille Fleur Leghorn: Our dear friend, Ron Nelson, shared these with us. Colored similar to a Mille Fleur D'uccle bantam. These are rather mild mannered for a Leghorn. They lay an off-white egg. This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard. Chicks $3.50 each (25) (Sold out through 5/5/09.)
Red Leghorn (MB): Deep red color, nice temperament for the breed, medium, off-white eggs. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Single Comb Light Brown Leghorn (MB): Medium sized chicken, very good layers of large to jumbo size white eggs. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
White Leghorn (MB): From an exhibition strain yet very productive. Chicks $3.00 each (15)
Minorcas
Breed notes: Largest of the Mediterraneans. Long, strong bodies, large combs and wattles which can make winter hardiness a challenge. They are excellent layers of large, white eggs. All of ours are single comb with six points.
Black Minorca (MB): Pure black. They were admitted to the APA Standard in 1888. They are excellent layers of large, white eggs. Ours are from a superb show strain noted for heavy production of large eggs. We do have egg eating problems with these. They would do much better in a free range situation. These are very large birds (do not confuse them with common, smaller, commercial types). Chicks $3.50 each (15)
Buff Minorca (MB): We have combined 3 commercial strains. These are not as large as the blacks. They do grow fast and dress out beautifully clean. They are excellent layers of white eggs and are thrifty and great foragers. Chicks $3.00 each (25)
White Minorca (MB): When ALBC did a survey of important breeds in our country's development, I realized I hadn't seen one since I was a child. In those days there were large flocks, but now I doubt there are 100 in the whole United States. Ron Nelson, shared some nice birds with us. This breed is another example of where we need to wake up before it is too late. Chicks $4.00 each (15) (Sold out through 5/5/09.)
Orpingtons
Breed notes: A general purpose fowl for eggs and meat. Hens are good setters and mothers. Orpingtons originated in the 1880's in England. Skin color is white. They all have a single comb with five points and all lay pale brown eggs.
Black Orpington (EB): Large, true Orpington type, solid black in color. Common at one time, now very difficult to find. Chicks $5.00 each (10) (Sold out through 6/16/09.)
Blue Orpington (EB): Nice, rich, slate blue colored birds. Gentle and calm. (See Glossary on Poultry Catalog Page for "Blue Genetics" explanation.) Chicks $5.00 each (20) (Sold Out For the Entire 2009 Season.)
Buff Orpington (EB): Large, golden buff color, white skin, white legs. We keep birds that are selected from a cross of a large exhibition strain and a high production strain. Chicks $3.00 each (25) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
White Orpington (EB): White skin, feathers and legs. Chicks $5.00 each (5)
Wyandottes
Breed notes: The breed originated in the 1880's in New York and Wisconsin. Medium weight, dual purpose fowl with yellow skin and eggs in shades of brown. They all have a rose comb.
Black Wyandotte (AMB): Deep black in color. Chicks $4.00 each (10) (Sold Out For The Entire 2009 Season)
Buff Wyandotte (AMB): A solid buff color, yellow legs. Chicks $4.00 each (15)
Columbian Wyandotte (AMB): Stocky built birds, white with black neck & tail feathers. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Golden Laced Wyandotte (AMB): Golden laced pattern, orange and black, used to be called Winnebagos. They are one of the oldest of the Wyandotte breeds. Chicks $3.00 each (25) (Sold out through 6/2/09.)
Silver Laced Wyandotte (AMB): The oldest Wyandotte. First admitted to the APA Standard in 1883. Chicks $4.00 each (10) (Sold out through 6/16/09.)
Silver Penciled Wyandotte (AMB): Males are silvery necked with black breasts. Females are silvery penciled gray. Chicks $4.00 each (10)
Reference: APA class codes
AMB = American Breeds: This is an APA group based upon the principle that they were all developed and perfected here in North America. As a general rule these birds all have yellow skin and legs.
ASB = Asiatic Breeds: Asiatic is an APA classification which includes most of the feather-footed breeds of poultry. Most of these breeds originated on the continent of Asia. On all Asiatics we select for the largest size that is still naturally mating. We are firmly committed to creating large sized birds that are naturally mating. All of these breeds lay brown eggs.
CB = Continental Breeds: A group of breeds classified together based upon their European origins. With the exception of Barnevelders, Welsummers and Marans, all of them lay a white egg.
EB = English Breeds: All members of this classification group were developed in Great Britain and have the characteristic white skin and usually white legs with a pinkish streak. Most of them tend to lay what would be considered a tinted egg (off-white).
MB = Mediterranean Breeds: A large group of breeds that all originated in the Mediterranean region of the world. They all lay white eggs (except the Black Penedescenca). This group of birds is better suited for hot weather climates because of their large combs. In our colder climate and unheated buildings, these breeds get frost-bitten combs most every Winter. While the birds usually recover from this, it leaves them less "beautiful looking" and usually means chick supply is limited early in the season while the birds are recovering from the frostbite.
OB = Oriental Breeds: A broad grouping of birds that tended to have been developed (or selected for) in the Orient. All Oriental breeds lay a very pale brown egg.
MISC = All Other Standard Breeds (Miscellaneous): This is a group that doesn't fit into any other APA category, but each breed with this designation has been admitted into the APA Standard of Perfection.
Return to Breed Types (in alphabetical order)