THE ADVICE CENTRE

Choosing a Breed

Criteria
Having decided to keep poultry we hope, and strongly recommend, that you will choose a pure breed - that is one which has been bred by a reputable breeder who puts together a pen of pure bred birds to produce offspring which conform to the British Poultry Standards. As with all types of livestock the breed has to be recognisable from just a cursory inspection. Do not go out and take the first breed which is offered to you but try to find a Poultry Show which has many breeds and then see if the Show Committee can find someone to talk about the breeds you favour. If any members of the relevant Breed Clubs are at the Show they will help with background information. If you cannot find a show or anyone to help, contact the Poultry Club for assistance.

Popular Breeds
Whilst it is difficult to generalise as so much depends on the condition, health, and welfare of the birds, when choosing a breed remember that those designated Light Breeds are often more nervous and probably more flighty than Heavy Breeds, but they will generally consume less food for the eggs they produce. Eggs are generally the primary concern of beginners to poultry keeping with beauty coming second, and table qualities may not be entering the equation at all to begin with. Generally, Heavy Breeds are quieter, eat more, and lay less but will in most cases go 'broody' (i.e. try to incubate their own eggs). Famous Heavy Breeds include Light Sussex, Rhode Island Red, and Plymouth Rock, while the Leghorn is the most famous Light Breed.

Heavy Breeds
Dark Brown eggs are the favourite of many, and the two breeds which lay these are the Marans (two-tone grey banding across the feathers) and the Welsummer (typical orange and black farmyard storybook cockerel colour). The egg of the Welsummer is slightly redder, more of a flower-pot colour than that of the Marans which is dark brown. a light brown egg is laid by the Barnevelder, the plumage being mahogany with double black lacing on each feather.

Of the British breeds, one of the most popular is the Buff Orpington, as were owned by Her Majesty the Queen Mother. There are several other colours, but none are noted for their egg production. The Sussex is a good egg layer, the most popular colour being Light (white with black points)Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Plymouth Rock, and Wyandotte, are also good layers of tinted eggs. The Croad Langshan lays a plum-coloured egg. The heavier breeds include the Dorking (with five toes) and the Indian Game which is very broad and heavy indeed. The remaining type of heavy breeds are those with feathered legs such as the Cochin, Brahma, and Faverolles.

Light Breeds
There is great variation colours and types with many being imports. Virtually all of these lay white or light coloured eggs. The White Leghorn still out-produces most breeds, but there are several other colours. Other Mediterranean breeds are the Ancona (white spots on black), Minorca and Andalusian (blue laced). British breeds include the Derbyshire Redcap, Old English Pheasant Fowl, Hamburg (pencilled or spangled), Scots Dumpy (short legs) and Scots Grey, all of which should have good utility attributes. Within the Light Breeds are the Crested Breeds including the Poland, the Appenzeller, the Araucana (blue/green eggs) and that most fluffy of birds, the Silkie. The Frizzle looks strange with its backward-curling feathers but is a decent layer. Old English Game and the reachy Modern Game are particularly hardy and colourful.

Large Fowl, Bantams, and True Bantams
There are miniatures of certain Large Fowl which should be one quarter the size of the large, usually referred to as Bantams. True Bantams do not have a Large Fowl counterpart and are primarily for ornamental and aesthetic purposes, but are excellent for young children and those without much space available for poultry.

Ducks, Geese and Turkeys

Breed Clubs
All of the above breeds have their own specialist Breed Clubs and the secretaries can provide further information. Breeds without a specialist club are covered by the Rare Poultry Society whilst the Turkey Club UK, British Waterfowl Association and the Domestic Waterfowl Club can provide further details about Turkeys, Ducks and Geese respectively. The addresses of the Breed Clubs are in the Poultry Club Yearbook or can be obtained from the Poultry Club Secretary, as can the latest edition of the British Poultry Standards.

YOU CAN OBTAIN FURTHER BREED DETAILS
AND ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE BREED GALLERY SECTION

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