Perfect Chickens
(Page 2 of 6)
September/October 2007
Oscar H. Will III
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Ameraucanas are easy-keeping birds well known for their blue and blue-green eggs and are often confused with the blue-egg laying Araucana. The breeds may or may not be related, although they often are sold interchangeably by commercial hatcheries. The muffed and bearded Ameraucanas are good layers of medium-sized eggs.
The Andalusian’s preferred blue color results from crossing white birds with black. When blue Andalusians are mated, the resulting offspring exhibit a typical Mendelian single gene inheritance pattern of 1 black: 2 blue: 1 white (which is neither dominant nor recessive). These birds make an attractive addition to the home flock because hens are good layers and show little tendency to broodiness.
The black Australorp was developed in Australia using Black Orpington stock originally imported from England. An Australorp hen carries the dubious honor of world record egg layer. In 365 days, she laid 364 eggs. This medium heavy breed is an excellent homestead chicken because it makes a fine layer and has a compact but meaty frame.
Although often considered a meat breed, heavy-framed Brahma hens are also efficient egg layers, and the breed’s color patterns are also ornamental. The light coloration pattern consists of white base, with white and black feather accents on the hackles, feet and tail. The buff variety is similar with buff as the base color. Dark Brahma hens have a gray and black penciled base, while the rooster has a black base and white shoulders.
Evenly distributed black spangles give Buttercup hens their speckled appearance. Roosters, on the other hand, have red bodies with scattered black spangles, especially at the hackle’s base, and black tail feathers. In spite of their ornamental status, Buttercups are fairly good layers of small eggs, and because of their unusual coloration, they really shine in the show ring.
Campines are among the oldest breeds found in North America. The birds exhibit a black barred feather pattern with buff or gray bases. The hackles on both males and females are uniformly golden or silver. Hens are typically nonbroody, and all birds are described as alert, intelligent and excellent foragers.
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