rob + chelsea

Went on a 3 hour road trip up to dare2dreamfarms.com with our friend Ceebs last Sunday and picked up 4 little chickies!

Barred Plymouth Rock
Eggs: Excellent Layers of Large Brown Eggs 
Temperament: Very Friendly

Our favorite standard breed, the Barred Plymouth Rock, Barred Rock for short, is distinguished by the black and white pattern that forms lines, or bars, through their feathers. However the Plymouth Rock comes in many varietals other than the Barred pattern. They are large and heavy with proportionate features, making them beautiful birds. Their bright red single comb and wattles provide great contrast to their feathers. Mated with a Rhode Island Red rooster, a Barred Rock hen's hatching eggs will produce Black Sex-Links.

Personality: Barred Rocks are incredibly pleasant birds to have in your flock. They are very smart, docile, and happy to be handled. The breed is content with confinement and very cold-hardy which makes them great for a small farm or backyard flock. Most importantly, they are friendly birds and are easily integrated into the family as pets. This is a great bird to have around children.
Eggs: These hens are very good layers of large, light brown eggs (approximately 240 eggs per year).They are seldom broody, which makes them dependable layers, but not ideal for naturally hatching off chicks of their own.

Easter Egger

Eggs: Good layer, colored eggs
Temperament: Friendly

Easter Eggers are the offspring of Ameraucanas that do not breed true; and therefore Easter Eggers cannot be classified as Ameraucanas since they do not meet all the Standards of Perfection for the Ameraucana breed. Because they are not a true breed it is difficult to classify their traits, personality, and egg laying ability. The majority of them have slate colored legs, ear muffs, and often a beard. They come in all different color varieties.

Personality: These hens are active and friendly. They love to forage and roam, but also do well in confinement.

Eggs: Easter Eggers are good or excellent layers of beautiful blue, green, blue-green, or pink eggs.

Golden Sexlink

Eggs: Excellent Layer of Large Brown Eggs
Temperament: Friendly

Sexlinks are cross-breeds of chickens that are created specifically for their egg production and hardiness. It is possible to differentiate between the sexes upon hatching, usually by the color. Common breeds used for breeding Sexlinks are Rhode Island Reds, Rhode Island Whites, New Hampshire Reds, and Plymouth Rocks all of which are excellent layers of large brown eggs, and are friendly breeds. Sexlinks tend to take the personality and laying ability from their parents.
Temperament: Sex Link hens take after their mothers in personality, in a great way! Like Barred Rocks, they are smart, friendly, and easy to handle.
Eggs: Sex Links can produce a whopping 300 or more big, light brown eggs per year. If you like to bake, or have eggs for breakfast, this is your chicken!

Black Australorp

Eggs: Excellent

The Australorp originated in Australia as a cross that was intended to create a high performance, dual purpose bird. Because Black Orpingtons were used to create the breed, their original name was Austral Orpingtons, but was abbreviated to Australorps. They were in high demand in several different countries after two different findings showed their incredible laying abilities. In one finding, a group of six hens averaged 309 eggs per bird in one year. In another finding one single hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days.
Traits: The Black Australorp is the only color variety recognized in the Australorp breed. They have white skin, a single red comb, and full black feathering that has a lustrous green shine to it. Their legs are black, or slate colored.
Temperament: The Australorp's relation to the Black Orpington explains their docile and friendly nature. They are talkative, but not noisy.
Production: Today, these hens still produce a very high number of eggs per year, and lay well throughout the winter. You can expect your Australorps to give you anywhere between 250 to 300 eggs per year.