We have 20 laying hen chickens right now of various breeds:  white & partridge rocks, rhode island reds, brahma’s, buff cochins, silver laced wyandottes, australorps & a little red cochin bantam. Some are very strong layers while others not so reliable. I got an assortment of breeds because I enjoy the variety of birds. The brahmas & cochins are on the Watch list & the australorps & wyandottes are on the Recovering list at the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

We have 5 ducks, all female (males are called drakes). Three of them are Pekins & 2 are Roens. The Pekins are a large white breed & the most popular breed of meat duck in the US. Roens are like a domesticated mallard. Both of these breeds are meat breeds of ducks, but we don’t eat ours. All 5 seem to be very good, consistent layers of eggs even though they are not considered an egg duck. They are very loud quackers & many people who come into the Livestock Barn think they are geese!