"A Chicken in Every Yard"

Ever have a pet chicken? Chickens can be a great way to bring the country into your own back yard.  Chickens  get the bugs in your garden (including Black Widows!), aerate your compost pile, and make every day an Easter Egg hunt!  Plus, you know if your eggs come from happy chickens.

As part of the educational program for CETA, Phoenix Ranch raises  Cinnamon Queens (aka Red Star, Red-Sex-linked, Golden Comets), selected for their high production of brown eggs as well as being calm and friendly.  It's also easy to tell hens from roosters, even at a young age, which means you don't need to figure out what to do when the sweet little chicks grow into roosters and start waking up the neighbors. 

We also carry Delawares, Barred Rocks and Turken Naked Necks.  Will be getting some Black Astralorps, Buff Orpingtons and Wyandottes, too.   These breeds were selected because of their friendliness.  All lay brown eggs. Delawares are a larger, pretty white chicken with black markings on the neck and wings and said to enjoy human company.  Barred Rock in our experience are one of the most people-oriented breeds we've had, the most likely to follow you around the yard while you garden. Turken Naked Necks are a little more shy but sure make great conversation starters!  Buff Orpingtons are suppose to be very mellow. more likely to get picked on by other birds.  These were sexed at the hatchery, which gives better odds of getting hens than buying "straight run" though isn't 100% accurate.  But if you get an  accidental rooster and you let us know by four months old, we'll either trade you for a pullet if we have anything to offer or we'll give you credit for one down the road.

At Phoenix Ranch, we focus on making our chickens good pets by handling them a lot as babies.  These become well-socialized hens that are comfortable with being carried around (hens are very soft!)  and are easy to catch up.   We are bringing in chicks from different Midwest hatcheries and seeing which ones we like best.  We will have available pullets and hens of various ages in limited quantities.  We are happy to answer any questions by email.  Lessons on keeping back yard hens are available by appointment at Phoenix Ranch for a modest donation.    For more information on availability, see   http://www.vetoutreach.net/Saleslist.html