Chickens
Black Rocks
Our new flock of laying hens are Black Rocks.
The Black Rock hen is bred from specially selected strains of Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock from a single hatchery in the East of Scotland. With the parent birds being both natural breeds the cross retains superb genetic vigour and excellent health record.
They are persistent heavy layers and are also rather beautiful with their blue black wing feathers and partridge colours.
Bantam
A bantam is any small or miniature fowl, but the term bantam refers most commonly to small breeds of chickens.
Proportionally, bantams have slightly larger heads, and longer wings than larger breeds. Many of the large chicken breeds have a bantam counterpart, sometimes referred to as a miniature. Miniatures are usually one-fifth to one-quarter the size of the standard breed, but they exhibit all of the standard breed’s characteristics.
Bantams have become increasingly popular as pets as well as for show purposes because they are smaller and have more varied and exotic breeds than other chickens. They are great for smaller backyards as they do not need as much space as other breeds. It has been said that Bantam chickens are calmer than standard chickens.
Bantam hens are also used as laying hens, although it takes about three Bantam eggs to make one standard chicken egg.
Bantum eggs are available to buy at the farm for £1.20
Brahmas
Good Brahmas are beautiful, stately birds.
Their large size and gentle nature combined with intricate color patterns makes them favorites for the country estate. The Brahma’s appearance in the showroom never fails to command the admiration of one and all. These qualities have made them a favorite with showmen and fanciers.
Brahmas do go broody and are fairly good mothers. Their small comb and wattles, together with profuse feathering and well feathered shanks and toes enable them to stand cold temperatures very well. The relatively slow rate of growth and long time required to reach maturity have caused Brahmas to be passed by as a commercial fowl.
Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red is an American breed of chicken developed in the early 1900s and it’s ancestry goes back to birds bred in Rhode Island, hence the name. Depending on the variety, the Rhode Island Red can have a single or rose comb.
Our Rhodes are single combed.
The Rhode gained in popularity as it was improved by local farmers in the first two decades of the twentieth century. Following the advent of more complicated selection methods in the 1920s and 1930s, the breed established its excellent reputation as a superb layer.
Sussex
Sussex are bright, active, docile birds.
Birds have a long, broad and flat back and a broad, deep chest. The head has a single comb. Legs are short and strong with stout thighs. The tail is moderate and carried at about 45°.
They are good sitters but do not go broody as often as more heavily feathered breeds. As layers, they are very good, producing up to 260 eggs a year and equalled only by the Rhode Island Red.