Overview – Breeds We Keep

The Australorp

 Australorps are frequently overlooked by many poultry keepers but it has so many good things going for it! It is a hardy bird that is happy free ranging, is docile and good with children (even if a little heavy to lift up) and is a good egg-layer as well as being a reasonable size white skinned meat bird.  Being fast growers, they reach point of lay at about 24 to 26 weeks of age. Australorps will generally not fly very high, making fencing easier.  Click for more details

Light Sussex

Light Sussex chickens are up right alert, and usually docile. The Sussex Chicken has a wide, flat back, a deep breast, 45 degree tail and broad shoulders. They have a single comb and red ear lobes and comb. They are good foragers and a delight to see in the paddock. Light Sussex are often used to create hybrids chicks, as when crossed with “gold” cockerells, they will produce sex-linked chicks. They may go broody and will moult each year.  Click for more details

Barred Rock

Plymouth Rocks are large, long-lived chickens and are good layers. They possess a long, broad back; a moderately deep, full breast; and yellow skin and legs. The hens have a deep, full abdomen, which is a sign of a good layer. The face of a Plymouth Rock is red with red ear lobes, a bright yellow beak, bay-colored eyes, and a single comb of moderate size.  They are friendly and curious. This breed was developed in America as a dual purpose bird being good layers and good table birds. They are docile and because of their size do not fly well and therefore make great backyard birds. Click for more details

Hyline Brown

Hy-line or Isa browns are an incredibly popular chicken choice and that is mainly because they are the producers of the big brown eggs found on supermarket shelves. We think that Isa Browns have a place in a backyard flock, as they should give you eggs year round, while your pure breeds are molting or going broody. Click for more details

Black Hybrid Australorp

The black hybrid Australorp is an Australorp cross which has produced a very good layer. These birds are distinguished from the pure Australorps by their medium size, some red feathering around the neck and a red (not black) eye. Click for more details

Leghorn Hybrids

The leghorn hybrid hen is developed from the White Leghorn pure breed hen. While the pure breed variety is already a great layer, the hybrid variety is a truly exceptional egg layer.

Leghorn Hybrid chickens are excellent layers of white eggs (around 300 + per year) with a superior feed-to egg conversion ratio and excellent livability.   Click for more details