Linda Penning crouches in the dry grass and extends her hand toward the fence. The pen is spacious, with a board propped up on one side for some extra shade. As soon as her hand reaches the fence, a ...

Anyone who has reared chickens knows a first flock can go very well or go wrong fast. Much of that comes down to breed choice ...

I hadn’t kept bantams until, about six years ago, a friend gave me two Lavender Pekins. Quickly named Pam and Betty, after my beloved Bolton aunt and granny, they proved as feisty and formidable as ...

Though all chickens are descended from the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), in the course of human history different climate and selective breeding have produced a vast selection of shapes, sizes and ...

The answer may surprise you.

Have you ever wondered how some chickens thrive in freezing temperatures while others struggle to stay warm? If you live in a colder region, choosing the right poultry breeds can make all the ...

In 2004 the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) conducted a chicken census. The results were astounding: of 70 chicken breeds maintained in the United States, half were endangered and 20 were ...

Apparently, fat roosters aren't very good at making chicks. The world's largest chicken breeder has discovered that a key breed of rooster has a genetic issue that is reducing its fertility, and ...