| success or failure as a chicken-raiser depends a | | | | Children can better appreciate the Bantam, which |
| lot on your choice of breeds. | | | | makes good pet or show bird. This breed is small, |
| But even before you head to the nearest farm | | | | agile and fast and cannot be readily captured by a |
| to make the purchase, you should first determine | | | | predator. It lays tiny eggs that children would love |
| the purpose of your operation. Are you into | | | | to have for dinner. Because of its size, though, it's |
| chicken-raising as a hobby? Are you into it to | | | | not meant for meat and egg production. As a rule |
| produce chicken meat? Or is it the eggs you | | | | of thumb, birds that are prolific layers are not |
| want? Is it warm in your farm? Or is it cold? | | | | known as good meat producers. |
| The answers to these questions matter in your | | | | Most of the eggs and chicken meat available to |
| choice of chicken breed. There are many breeds | | | | American consumers today belong to a few |
| of chicken available in the market, but each of | | | | highly specialized breeds used by the commercial |
| them has distinctive differences in terms of egg | | | | poultry industry. This is a result of the |
| production, egg color, temperament, meat | | | | disappearance of family farms that used to house |
| production, broodiness, foraging habits, and | | | | thousands of flocks of chickens. While they can |
| survival skills. | | | | lay more eggs and produce more meat than the |
| Having said that, you need to go back to your list | | | | older farm breeds, commercial breeds have lost |
| to determine your needs. | | | | certain traits, like ability to forage, longevity, |
| If it's egg layer you want, then maybe the | | | | tolerance to extreme cold or heat, predator |
| leghorn will work for you. Leghorns are good at | | | | avoidance and broodiness or ability to set and |
| producing white eggs. They are good at foraging, | | | | hatch eggs. |
| so they make an ideal choice for free range | | | | So, finally, which breed should you choose? If it's |
| situations. However, they are not as broody as | | | | the healthier, free range layer you want to raise, |
| some of the other breeds, so they are not an | | | | then go for breeds known for their optimum egg |
| ideal choice if you want to raise chicks in your | | | | laying ability, like the leghorn. It you want to raise |
| farm. | | | | broilers for meat, then you should go for a Rhode |
| You also need to watch out for them if they are | | | | Island. Another consideration is the breed's natural |
| on free range. They are likely to be picked off by | | | | disposition. |
| birds of prey, like hawks, because of their white | | | | But even more importantly, you should consider a |
| color. Docile hens, like Buff Orpington, will also | | | | breed's tolerance to hot or cold climates. If your |
| cower in fear rather than scamper away to seek | | | | farm happens to be in a cold zone, then you'd |
| shelter when a predator stalks them. | | | | best go for a breed that can tolerate freezing |
| If it's an aggressive breed you want, then you | | | | temperatures and can lay eggs even in the cold |
| can go for a Dutch. The downside, however, is | | | | of winter. |
| that it chases after children. | | | | |