Egg Layers  

  Barred Rock 

	The Barred Rock is one of the all time popular favorites in this country.  Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken.  Prolific layers of brown eggs, the hens are not discouraged by cold weather.  Their solid plumpness and yellow skin make a beautiful heavy roasting fowl.   These chickens are sometimes called Plymouth Rocks, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety.
	Baby chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on their head and body.
	Mature Weight:  5.5-6 lbs.

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    Black Sex Link

	The Sex Link Hybrid is the result of crossing Rhode Island over a Barred Rock.  Mature females will be black with some red feathering around the neck and breast. The males are black with white barring.  Sex Links are extremely rugged brown egg layers and weigh a little over 5 lbs. The cockereels make good fryers.
	Baby Chicks are color sexed- males barred, pullets are black.
	Mature weight:  5.5 lbs.

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      Black Australorps

		This breed originated in Australia developed from Black Orpingtons imported from England; and the emphasis of the breeding program was on egg production without sacrificing too much in size and meat quality. Some sensational results were made in the Australian program, and one hen set a laying record of 364 eggs in 365 days. Introduced into this country in the 1920's, they have become useful and popular and are certainly one of the best layers of light brown eggs of all the heavy breeds. A flock of Black Australorps with their glossy black plumage which has a greenish-purple sheen and their larger than average bright red combs make an unusually handsome sight. . They have a pinkish white skin and plump bodies which dress out nicely once the birds have their final plumage. Pullets mature early and many will be in production between 5 and 6 months of age. They are quiet, gentle, and stand confinement well.
		Baby chicks are black with a good deal of white in the underparts and small white patches around the head and wings.
		Mature weight:  They are big birds, cockerels weighing 6 to 8 pounds at maturity and pullets 5 to 7 lbs

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  Buff Orpingtons

		Buff Orpingtons were introduced from England in the late 1800's.  They are pure gold in color, symbolic of great value and high quality.   These large, stately birds of quiet disposition are a back-yard favorite.  Easy to dress for the table, they are white skinned, plump and juicy, a beautiful eating bird.  Their heavy, full plumage makes them excellent winter layers of brown eggs even through cold weather.  They also make excellent setters and mothers.
		Baby chicks are a soft light buff color.
		Mature weight:  6.0 lbs.

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  Cornish Super Giants

		Bred for the efficient production of broiler meat, you can expect to have fresh, yellow skin-fryers in 6-7 weeks. Females fed a high-energy, high-protein ration may be dressed at 5-6 weeks as Cornish Rock Hens.  They lay brown eggs but are only fair layers as they are bred for meat production.  These chickens do not have longevity and usually about 6 months of age will begin to drop dead of heart attacks.  They grow so big, so fast that their hearts literally explode.
		Mature weight:  7 lbs.

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  Golden Comet

		These hens will mature with feathers that are reddish brown with flecks of white throughout.  The males are all white with nice yellow skin.  At approximately 22 weeks these hardy hens will start to lay and lay they will--even in hot and cold weather--brown eggs
		Mature weight:  5.2 lbs.

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     New Hampshire Red

		This breed originated in the state of New Hampshire at the hands of poultry farmers who started with Rhode Island Reds and by means of generation after generation of selective breeding intensified the characteristics of early maturity, rapid full feathering and production of large brown eggs.  The mature birds are a chestnut red color.
		The baby chicks are a light red color.
		Mature Weight:  5.5-6.0 lbs.

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   Rhode Island Red

	This is one of the most famous and all time popular breeds of truly American chickens.  Developed in the early part of this century in the state of the same name, they have maintained their reputation as a dual purpose  fowl through the years.  Outstanding for production qualities, they have led the contests for brown egg layers time after time.  No other heavy breed lays more or better than the Rhode Island Reds.  The mature hen is a mahogany red.
	Baby chicks are a rusty red color.
	Mature weight:  5.5 lbs.

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   White Leghorn

	Over 45 years of scientific breeding research have gone into the development of this layer through a blending of special strains of White Leghorns.  These females weigh about 4 lbs. at maturity, start laying white eggs at 4-1/2 to 5 months, and will continue 10-12 weeks longer than most good layers. Livability and resistance to disease are very high, and the feed to egg conversion ration is excellent, holding down the cost of egg production.  This is the chicken for commercial egg production but not a favorite of back-yard flocks.  The leghorns tend to be flighty and not as docile as other birds.  They must be fed a feed that is not formulated for jumbo eggs.
	The chicks are fluffy yellow fuzz balls.
	Mature weight:  4.5 lbs.