Poultry species: chickens

If we decide to raise some farm animals we must know what kind of species we are going to breed and if our climatic conditions allow it, what kind of food should be supplied, this should be of quality and balanced, as well as the quality of the drinking water they ingest in nurturing, vitamins, diseases. Therefore, a research project about the breed that best suits us should be designed. In which I will talk about a type of poultry known to all of us: chickens.

Although we do not believe it, there is a wide variety of chickens. Here is one of the main ones:

a. LEGHORN. The plumage is white, the legs and beak are yellow, the body moderately long. The crest is simple, medium, well stopped in the male, falls sideways in the female. Their eggs are of white color.
Characteristics of the hens: excellent layer all year round. Ideal breed as a laying hen.

Source

b. ORPINGTON. Of wide and deep body, the wide chest in all its extension. The head is small in relation to the body. The thighs and legs are thick, rather short and almost hidden by the feathers of the body. The Leonada variety has a uniform fawn plumage in all its sections, its beak and legs are pinkish white.
In the black variety, the plumage is glossy greenish black on all its surface. The color of the baby chicks in the variety leonado, is yellow and in the black variety it is of black color or black slate.
Varieties: Leonada, Negra.
Characteristics of the laying hen: good laying all year round.

Source

c. PLYMOUTH ROCK BARRADA. The plumage is of black and white bars that give it a grayish appearance. In the male, the black and white barred have the same width. In the female, the white bars must be half the width of the black ones. In both sexes the end of each pen is black. The color of the baby chicks is black slate, more pronounced on the back and lighter on the sides, and on the head you can find white down like spots. The bill, legs and fingers are yellow or dark slate. The soles of the feet are yellow. These birds produce brown shell eggs and are currently used as maternal breeds of black layers.
Varieties: Barred, white, tawny.
Characteristics of the hens: excellent layer spring and summer. Good layer in autumn and winter.

Source

d. RHODE ISLAND - Variety RED (COLORADA). They are long-bodied birds, broad back, deep chest and well rounded. The plumage is bright reddish brown in all its parts, except for the tail, which is greenish black, and the flight feathers, which have some black. In females, the lower feathers of the neck have a slight shade of that color. The legs are yellow or reddish horny. They should not have any feather or feather on their legs or fingers. The color of the baby chick is reddish brown. The beak, legs and fingers are yellow.
Varieties: simple crest and pink crest
Characteristics of the hens: excellent layer all year round.

Source

e. NEW HAMPSHIRE. The crest is simple, with five peaks, erect in the males, the feathers of the ruff and the caireles are bright reddish brown, the latter are darker than the former. The feathers of the back, the arch of the wing, the chest and the body must have a strong chestnut color. In the female, the feathers of the neck should be reddish brown of medium intensity, bordered each one of the feathers of a brilliant golden tone. The lower pens are touched in black. The color of the baby chick is brown or reddish or gold-red the beak, legs and fingers are yellow.
Varieties: derived from the red Rhode Island breed
Characteristics of laying hens: excellent layer spring and summer. Good layer in autumn and winter.

Source

f. SUSSEX. They are long, wide and deep body birds. Of wide and deep chest, its thighs and legs are strong. The plumage of the ermine variety is white with glossy greenish black lanceolate. The flight feathers also have some black. The color of baby chicks of the Armiñada variety is white. Peak, legs and fingers yellow or pink white
Varieties: Painted, red and Armiña.
Characteristics of the laying hen: good laying all year round.

Source

Once you know the type that best suits the project you have in mind you can proceed to locate the type of hen you are going to start raising.

Thanks for reading me.