Do you have your heart set on a particular breed of chicks for your flock? Consult one of these sources to help you find what you want.
The Welsummer, a breed that originated in the Netherlands, has been a breakfast-cereal mascot and is known for its earth-tone eggs.
The Sebastopol is known for its beautiful feather pattern. It's a slightly smaller breed that's more friendly than some others.
A very old and attractive breed, the Brabanter displays a full beard in addition to a small, upright crest and muffs.
Are you considering trying something new on the farm? What about preserving an endangered livestock species of cattle, pig or sheep?
The Lamona, created in the early 20th century, is a high-quality, dual-purpose chicken breed. Lamona hens typically lay more than 200 eggs a year.
The Shamo is an ornamental chicken breed that produces a good amount of meat; however, the meat has been described as tough and isn’t favorable to every palate. Hens make good mothers, but fare poorly as layers.
The ornamental Sumatra chicken breed was originally used for fighting. Indonesian Island residents would catch Sumatra cocks during breeding season, use them in combat and release them once their seasonal aggression declined.
The delicate White-faced Black Spanish chicken breed has a unique white face, making it popular as an ornamental. Hens are non-broody and prolific layers of large, pure-white eggs.
Dutch Bantam hens will lay small eggs in spring, summer and fall and will become broody in winter. Nowadays, the breed is used mainly for exhibition.
This hardy and vigorous Ancona chicken is a year-round layer of white eggs.
The dual-purpose Redcap chicken breed is a former favorite of the farmer’s wife. Hens lay 120 to 180 white (slightly tinted) eggs yearly and it has a long history of being a great provider of meat.
