Pure Breed Chickens - by "Foxy"

This article forms part of the three part series by our chat forum member 'Foxy'. See also:

• Hybrid or Pure Breed Chickens Introduction
• Hybrid Chickens

Pure Breed Chickens

Well in terms of choice in plumage, size, personality the world is your oyster! There are some truly fabulous and glamorous birds in all shapes and sizes out there so the choice can be very confusing. Essentially some pure breeds have been around for centuries, or even have royal connections.

I have always been intrigued by the fact that Queen Victoria simply had to have an Cochin! I just cant imagine her with one of those giants sat on her lap! Granted they are a lot bigger now than there were in the 1800's, beautiful fluffies imported in from China.

Dorkings are an ancient very old 5 toed breed around with the Romans and named after the town in Kent. Some breeds once common in the UK have become quite rare like the pretty Marsh Daisy. Luckily there is a now a Rare Breed Club dedicated to the preservation of these rare chicken breeds.

As there is so much choice I will cover specifically the pure breeds in depth in another article. Today I will just note some pros and cons so you can compare directly to the hybrid chickens, this will help you decide which would more appropriately suit your circumstances.

Pros to Pure Breed Chickens

• Lots of choice in sizes and plumage
• More personality
• Can go broody
• Lay for more seasons than a hybrid chicken
• Conservation value
• Fun to show!
• Will breed pure
• Will have a Breed Club

Pros to Pure Breed Chickens

• Need far more research -as the wrong choice can be a disaster!!
• Can go broody (yes I know a pro too!)
• Can be expensive.
• Some breeds difficult to source
• More risk of getting a cockerel by mistake!
• Pure breeds are not normally vaccinated

About the Author & Article

This article was written by chicken keeping forum member, Foxy, and originally appeared in the Poultry Information section. Members exchange help and information on keeping poultry as well as just chatting about chickens and other livestock. Foxy's web site can be found here: Beanwood Poultry

Other Articles & Resources

• Hybrid Chickens
• Introduction to Hybrid and Pure Breed Hens