New Hampshire Chicken - Breed Spotlight

The New Hampshire Red chicken is a great family-friendly bird that's named for the state where it was developed. Many confuse this breed with the Rhode Island Red which makes sense because it was originally developed from Rhode Island Red stock. This is a good dual-purpose bird that matures early and consistently lays brown eggs.

Class: American
Origin: United States
Comb Type: Single
Color: Red
Standard Size: 6.5 Pounds (Hen) 8.5 Pounds (Rooster)
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: Large
Production: 4 to 5 Eggs Per Week
Hardiness: Cold and Heat Tolerant
Disposition: Calm, Friendly

The New Hampshire chicken is a great family-friendly bird that's named for the state where it was developed. This is a good dual-purpose bird that matures early and consistently lays brown eggs.
Big Red and our Buff Orpington (behind) are two of our most friendly chickens.

This breed was developed from Rhode Island Red stock early in the twentieth century. According to the American Poultry Association, there is no record of outside blood being introduced into breed development. Rather, farmers bred the New Hampshire over a period of years selecting for traits of early maturity, large brown eggs, quick feathering, strength and vigor. Gradually, a new and distinct breed was developed and it was admitted into the Standard of Perfection in 1935.

According to The Livestock Conservancy, New Hampshire chickens were used in the Chicken of Tomorrow contests which led the way for the modern broiler industry.

The New Hampshire chicken is a great family-friendly bird that's named for the state where it was developed. This is a good dual-purpose bird that matures early and consistently lays brown eggs.

Big Red is our New Hampshire and is a favorite in our flock. When we're in the yard, she's always near. She is the undisputed flock leader. She is hardy and lays well. New Hampshire chickens can go broody and make good mothers. In our experience, Big Red was only broody once when she first matured. But this can vary from bird to bird. This is a breed I would recommend as the cornerstone of a backyard flock.

 

3 comments:

  1. Big Red sure is pretty!!! She sounds perfect!!! I have Muscovy Ducks... also thinking of adding some chickens... appreciated your review!

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    Replies
    1. We had Mallards in our first flock and loved them. There is nothing more beautiful than a duck. But, I do have to say that chickens are easier, only because they're not so messy. If you do decide to get chickens, you can check out profiles for the breeds I've got on my two "flock" pages. That might help you narrow down your picks.

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