All Cattle Breeds

Delaware

Delaware Chickens were originally developed for commercial, dual-purpose use but later they were replaced by hybrids. Delawares today make excellent backyard chickens. They typically lay four, large, brown eggs a week far into the winter months. Delawares mature quickly and produce a clean, white-meat table fowl. Chicks develop feathers quicker than most breeds. They handle both cold and heat well. Unlike present day commercial breeds, they do well as a free-range, foraging chicken. Delawares have dwindled to a few hundred birds. Many breeders keep them today with the goal of preserving the Delaware as one of America''s heritage breeds.

Delawares bear confinement well. Generally a docile breed, Delawares get along ...

Derbyshire Redcaps

Derbyshire Redcaps area a breed of chicken originated in Derbyshire, England. They have an unusually large Rose-type comb which is where they got the name "Redcap". It is covered in small, fleshy points, and has a distinct spike pointing backwards called a "leader". Their combs, wattles and earlobes are all bright red.

Redcaps are a native English birds that have been written about since at least the early 19th century. Most likely they were derived from Golden Spangled Hamburgs, Dorkings, Old English Pheasant Fowl, and Black-Breasted Red Games.

Derbyshire Redcaps were common on British farms until the middle of the 20th century, particularly around the southern Pennines. They have never been preferred by intens ...

Dominique

Dominique Chickens are dual purpose birds. They excel in egg production and lay a steady three, large, brown eggs a week long into the winter months. Hardy survivors, the Dominique can survive a cold winter or a hot, humid summer. Dominiques mature quickly. A medium size fowl dresses out as an acceptable three-pound table bird.

Dominiques chickens grew up with America. In colonial days the Dominique fended for themselves as foragers of seeds, insects, and plants. Colonial America valued the Dominique''s feathers as fill for their pillows and mattresses.

Broody Dominique hens make good mothers and pets. The hens have exceptional success and low mortality rates raising their brood. The hens have a ...

Dorking

Dorking Chickens excel as quality-meat producers. Dorkings have a tender, fine-textured, flavorful white meat. They are tolerable egg layers and produce 140 eggs a year with maximum outlay during spring and summer. Dorkings have the unique distinction of existing as one of a few fowl with red earlobes that lays white eggs; most red ear lobe chickens lay brown eggs. A hardy breed, the Dorking tolerates cold and will work well in the northern latitudes.

Dorkings have an exceptional, often irritating, brooding instinct. They like to sit on eggs. Entire flocks have gone on strike preferring to sit on eggs rather than lay them. Of course, their broodiness also translates into good mothering dispositions. Dorkings have a calm ...

Dutch Bantam

Dutch Bantam chickens are one of the few true bantams (naturally small - and not originating from Large Fowl). Plus Bantam Island in the Dutch East Indies is the original homeland of thes docile, proud little birds. Dutch Bantams, in their gold partridge form, are about as close as you can get visually to the ancestor of all chickens: the red Jungle Fowl.

Dutch Bantams are hardy, active, and lively little birds and come in many beautiful colors and patterns. They weigh between 0.45Kg and 0.55Kg (1lb to 1lb-3ozs) making them one of the smallest bantams. They are easy and straightforward to maintain. They are short bodied with a medium to high carriage. They have blue legs, white earlobes, and a single upright well s ...