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The Cochin: | Growth Photos

These are truly awesome looking birds, but despite their massive appearance, they are not as heavy as they appear. These Asiatic Class birds were first imported to America in 1845 and were originally called the Chinese Shanghai Fowl because they originated in the Shanghai district of China. The name was later changed to Cochin China then again shortened to just Cochin. The Cochins have a profusion of soft feathers and an abundance of down fiber in their under fluff producing an appearance of even greater weight than what actually exists. Cochins lay eggs for a short period of time then exhibit extremely persistent broodiness and therefore are not kept as layers. Although primarily bred for exhibition, they are also used as a meat type fowl, cocks can reach 11 pounds and hens up to 8 1/2 pounds. The most significant trait about this bird though is its widely recognized ability as foster mothers, Cochins are frequently used to hatch and rear game birds and other species of fowl. They take well to close confinement, this is especially advisable in wet, muddy weather. Color of their skin is yellow and they lay brown eggs.

The Dark Cornish, AKA Indian Game Fowl | Growth Photos

The Dark Cornish, aka Indian game, is the ultimate meat type bird of the heavy class. This is a very sturdy bird with distinguishing characteristics of fairly short, strong and thick legs that are set widely apart, with a wide breast and a compact, broad, well muscled body that is deceptively heavy for its size. Standard cocks reach 9-10 1/2 pounds and hens 7-8 1/2 pounds.They have a small pea comb and are a hard feathered breed with plumage that sits very close to its body, the feathers are shorter than other breeds and may show exposed areas of skin. Because of this the Cornish need adequate protection during very cold weather as their feathers offer less insulation than other chicken breeds. The body conformation is the same in both sexes of this breed. Dark Cornish fowl was developed in Cornwall, England with several different blood lines; the Aseel, Black-Red Old English, and Malay. Due to the influence of the Malay blood line the Cornish Game Fowl has relatively hard feathering, a strong constitution, and a cruel expression due to their projecting brows and orange-yellow to pale red eyes. They also have a blocky look due to the Aseel blood line. Some cocks can be aggressive or offish at times due also to the Malay blood line.

The Dominique: | Growth Photos

This is the bird that traveled across the country with the pioneers during the early settlement of New England. Known also as the Dominikers, they are a medium sized bird with black and white barring over the entire body. The rose comb is characteristic so there is no problem with combs freezing. Dominiques have many advantages besides their handsome appearance. They are hardy, do well on open range as well as in confinement, are quiet and docile, and are a good-natured bird that's easy to work with and easy to show. The females are good mothers, they will hatch and rear their own young. They are good layers of light to medium brown eggs, with the pullets starting to lay by 5 months of age and show less tendency toward broodiness than many other breeds. Dominiques are also good meat birds. An interesting feature about the Dominique is that the baby chicks carry a sex-linked gene that allows you to tell at hatching the males from the females. The cockerels have yellow toes and leg shanks, while the pullets have a gray shadow in the front of their leg shanks. Also the pullets have a focused yellow spot on top of their head and the spot on the cockerels heads are less focused and fuzzy. Fertility is high and the chicks hatch easily. The hens lay 180-200 brown eggs a year.

The Langshan Black: | Growth Photos

The Langshan is a stylish, medium sized bird that originated in the Langshan district of China. They are considered one of our oldest breeds of chickens. The shape of the Langshan is distinct from that of the Brahma or Cochin, although the Langshan also has the feathering of the legs and its massive appearance the tail feathers are higher. In both the male and female, the tail feathers are nearly the same height as the head. Which gives the bird a V-shaped appearance.
They have a medium size single comb and are a little lighter in weight than Cochins. The Black Langshans have plumage of glossy metallic black, with greenish sheen. Many other breeds were created using Langshan blood in the foundation matings. The hens lay 140-150 brown eggs a year. They are a good general purpose breed for eggs and meat having a breast full, deep, and carried well forward with white flesh of excellent flavor. Langshans are good sitters and mothers, being of gentle disposition they are easily kept in confinement or on free range. They are active and quick birds making them excellent foragers, they are ideal fowls for the farm, and will gather a considerable proportion of their food during the year.

The Maran Birchen: | Growth Photos

This is a French dual-purpose bird. The cocks have an average to large size single comb and their plumage is usually lighter than the hens. They are a soft feathered bird with a nicely rounded body that's long and wide especially near the shoulders and a full breast, making them a very good table bird if you have a surplus of young cocks. They are layers of the famed very dark brown egg, darkest than all other chickens. The eggs and meat are considered gourmet products. One unique trait about this bird is each birds personality is unique, they can be very docile and quiet, very aggressive, or somewhere in between, so watch small children until the character of your bird is evident.

The Marans Black Swiss: | Growth Photos

This is a French dual-purpose bird, with a distinctive nicely rounded body that's long and wide especially near the shoulders and a full breast, making them a very good table bird if you have a surplus of young cocks. They are a soft feathered bird with an average size single comb. They are layers of the famed very dark brown egg, darkest than all other chickens. The eggs and meat are considered gourmet products. One unique trait about this bird is each birds personality is unique, they can be very docile and quiet, very aggressive, or somewhere in between, so watch small children until the character of your bird is evident.

The Marans Cuckoo: | Growth Photos

This is a French dual-purpose bird, with a distinctive plumage of a dark cuckoo pattern. The cocks have an average size single comb and their plumage is usually lighter than the hens. They are a soft feathered bird with a nicely rounded body that's long and wide especially near the shoulders and a full breast, making them a very good table bird if you have a surplus of young cocks. They are layers of the famed very dark brown egg, darkest than all other chickens. The eggs and meat are considered gourmet products. One unique trait about this bird is each birds personality is unique, they can be very docile and quiet, very aggressive, or somewhere in between, so watch small children until the character of your bird is evident.

The Plymouth Rock Barred / Mottled: | Growth Photos

This is an American medium-heavy dual purpose breed. Plymouth Rocks are said to have originated in Massachusetts as a Barred variety and were produced using a Dominique male and a black Cochin or Java female. The Plymouth Rocks are one of the most popular of the dual purpose breeds for backyard flocks. And understandably so with their laying ability, rugged self sufficiency and extremely good temperament they are hard to beat. They have a full, deep breast with a long keel combined with the pelvic area of the laying breeds. The hens can produce 200-250 large brown tinted eggs per year with the pullets starting to lay by 5 months of age. They will go broody enough that a flock can be maintained without an incubator, although they are primarily good layers and don't brood too often. They are a sturdy and vigorous breed that do well on open range as well as in confinement, they are quiet, calm and good-natured birds that are easy to work with and easy to show. The cocks average 9 1/2 pounds while the hen average about 7 1/2 pounds.

The Rhode Island Red : | Growth Photos

This is an American medium heavy dual purpose breed that lays a deep brown egg. Developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Ours are a good breed for exhibition qualities and production ability. Due to the influence of the Malay blood line the Rhode Island Red has relatively hard feathering, a strong constitution, and a deep mahogany color. Some cocks can be aggressive at times due also to the Malay blood line. The hens lay 250-300 rich brown eggs a year.

The Rhode Island White: | Growth Photos

This is an American medium heavy dual purpose breed that lay a deep brown egg. Developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Ours are a good breed for exhibition qualities and production ability. They have the same distinctive brick-like oblong body as the Rhode Island Reds, however the Whites bloodline is influenced by the Partridge Cochins, White Wyandottes, and the White Leghorns. The hens lay 250-300 rich brown eggs a year.

The Welsumer: | Growth Photos

This is a Dutch dual purpose breed that takes its name from the small village of Welsum in the Netherlands. They're a soft feathered bird with black/red partridge coloring and a large single comb. They are good foragers on free range and lay very dark brown eggs, as the Maran although not quiet as dark. They make a very good table bird if you have a surplus of young cocks.