FREE Guide for Selecting the Best Backyard Chicken Breed

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FREE Copy of our Guide to Selecting the Best Backyard Chicken Breed E-Book – Get your copy here

There are many different breeds of chickens to choose from so we have put together a members only summary guide for selecting the best backyard chicken breed to help you narrow down the options.

 

Free Chicken Selection Guide

There are a range of things that you need to consider when deciding on the best types of chickens for your purpose and area in which you live. 

Our free e-book provides an easy to use guide for selecting the best breed based on the climate in which you live, whether you are raising backyard chickens for eggs or meat production, their temperament, foraging capability, predator awareness, and broodiness.

Not interested in getting the e-book then perhaps your will be interested in our posts on selecting the best backyard chicken breed or our top 5 best egg laying chickens.

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Top 3 reasons Americans are flocking to raise backyard chickens

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This is the second post discussing the results of a recently released study by the University of California Davis that has for the first time given us insights into America’s backyard chicken coops.

In the largest study of its type into backyard chicken ownership in America, The University of California research has obtained insights into backyard chicken owners perceived flock health and welfare issues, the most favoured breed of chicken to keep in backyard flocks, backyard chicken husbandry practices, why people raise backyard chickens, what resources are necessary to help improve backyard chicken flock care and management, as well as demographic information about backyard chicken owners and their attitudes to chickens and chicken derived products.

In this post we are going to delve in to the top reasons why Americans raise backyard chickens.

America’s top 3 reasons for raising backyard chickens revealed

Food for home use

backyard chicken zone - chicken eggs in nesting boxNot surprisingly the number one reason for keeping backyard chickens was food for home use including eggs and meat.  95.2 percent of respondents in the study indicated that they raised backyard chickens to produce their own food with only 3 percent in urban areas using the chicken products for income.  Although I expect there are lots if eggs going to the neighbours of backyard chicken owners.

The study didn’t specifically look at how many people raised backyard chickens for eggs compared to meat but the most favoured breeds of chicken were dominated by egg laying breeds so the researchers concluded that egg laying was likely the main reason for most urban backyard chicken keepers.

Gardening partners

Coming in at number 2 with 62.8 percent of respondents indicating that they kept backyard chickens as gardening partners to provide two legged services of pest control, provide manure, and fertiliser for the garden. 

Click here to get your members only "Guide to Selecting the Best Backyard Chicken Breed"

Free Chicken Selection Guide

Whilst there is a range of high tech garden technologies available to urban gardeners, one chicken can do an amazing amount of work around the garden.  As can be seen from the infographic one chicken can de-bug 120 sqft a week, convert 10lbs of food scraps into eggs, fertilise a 50 sqft garden in a month, level a pile of mulch in 2 days, help do a quarter of the work turning a compost pile, produce enough manure in a month to make 1 cubic yard of compost from leaves, till 50 sqft of sod in 4-6 weeks, and one chicken can break the life cycle of pests and disease on one fruit tree within an hour.

Power of one chicken

Pets

backyard chicken zone - boy feeding chickenComing in a close third with 57.4 percent of participants in the study indicating that they kept chickens as pets.  Anyone who has ever owned chickens know that they can be great pets with loads of personality.

Tell us about why you keep chickens by posting a comment.

Keep an eye out for future posts where we will reveal other insights from the study including how many backyard chickens people keep in their flock, where they get their chickens and much more. (Remember to subscribe to our newsletter and we will send you the posts straight to your inbox).

If you want to read the whole research paper you can read it here.

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One final note.  Whilst raising chickens is a sustainable way to produce your own food – why stop there. At backyard chicken zone we believe that going green does not mean sacrificing your lifestyle and that green tech and eco friendly products can give you the lifestyle you desire whilst moving towards a more sustainable future.  Our partners at GoGetEco.com have the latest in cool eco friendly gadgets, future gadgets, future tech, the latest in green technology, eco friendly products and cool green tech inventions.  Why not check them out.

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Top 5 Best Egg Laying Chickens

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One of the great things about having your own flock of backyard chickens is fresh eggs. When it comes to egg laying not all chickens were made equal. In fact some breeds have been selectively bred for decades to be the egg laying Olympians of the chicken world.

For beginner backyard chicken keepers you need to balance the egg laying ability of the chicken breed with ease of raising the breed.

If you have decided that your main purpose for keeping backyard chickens is for eggs there are a number of great breeds suitable for beginners that we would recommend based on the advice of some of the leading experts (now not all of these chicken breeds are necessarily the most prolific layers but for beginners it is a balance between egg laying and ease of care).

 

Free Chicken Selection Guide

 

The Backyard Chicken Zone top 5 egg laying chicken breed recommendations for beginners:

1. Rhode Island Red

backyard chicken zone - rhode island redComing in at number 1 on our top 5 egg laying chickens is the Rhode Island Red. This is our favourite layer with an above average laying rate of medium size Brown eggs. They are a versatile backyard chicken suitable for most climates and very easy to care for. They can be a little temperamental and aggressive to other breeds so be careful what other breeds to put with them. The Rhode Island Red is a good all rounder that is also suitable for meat production so if you are not sure what breed will be best for you the Rhode Island red is a good starter.

2. Leghorn

backyard chicken zone - leghorn breedComing in a close second is the Leghorn. These chickens are egg laying machines, producing over 300 large white eggs a year. They can be a little flighty which makes them a little more difficult to manage but if it is eggs you are after this breed will certainly deliver. They are also a useful dual purpose chicken (although a little on the scrawny side) and can be used for organic meat once their egg production declines.

 

3. Buff Orpington

Backyard chicken zone Orpington ChickenThis breed is one our favourite beginner chickens with an above average production of large brown eggs. Orpingtons are good brooders so an excellent choice if you plan to raise chicks. They are also an excellent choice for a pet chicken due to their docile nature and ease of care. If you live in a cooler climate the Orpington is a must have for your backyard chicken flock.

 

 

 

4. Black Star

backyard chicken zone - black starComing in at number four in our top 5 egg laying chickens is the Black Star. Black stars are a hybrid breed (cross between Barred Rock hens and Rhode Island Red roosters) and lay an above average amount of large brown eggs. They are very easy to raise and also very hardy making them an excellent beginner breed. They have a calm nature also making them suitable for families and as a pet chicken.

 

5. Ameraucana

backyard chicken zone - Ameraucana breedRounding out our top 5 egg laying chickens is the Ameraucana. This breed is known as the “Easter Eggers” because they produce eggs in a variety of colours including blue, blue-green, green, and cream (our kids love collecting the colourful eggs). They lay medium sized eggs with an above average laying rate. They have a calm temperament and make a excellent family or pet chicken.

 

 

For a family of four, a flock of three or four hens will usually produce sufficient eggs so try a few different breeds when you start out and work out which breeds work best for you.

 

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Whilst our top 5 egg laying breeds will produce regular eggs for you, remember that the quality and nutritional value of those eggs will be controlled by the chickens diet including the health benefits, richness and colour of the yoke, as well as the chickens overall health. What you put in is what you get out so check out our tips on what to feed chickens to ensure a happy, healthy flock, and the most deliciousness and nutritious organic eggs for your family.

If you are looking for some more ideas check out our guide to selecting the best backyard chicken breed.

One final note.  Whilst raising chickens for eggs is a sustainable way to produce your own food – why stop there. At backyard chicken zone we believe that going green does not mean sacrificing your lifestyle and that green tech and eco friendly products can give you the lifestyle you desire whilst moving towards a more sustainable future.  Our partners at GoGetEco.com have the latest in cool eco friendly gadgets, future gadgets, future tech, the latest in green technology, eco friendly products and cool green tech inventions.  Why not check them out.

 

 

TOP 5 EGG LAYING Chicken Breeds

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