A & L Feed

Ameraucanas

Ameraucanas are a very popular breed because of the beautiful blue or green tinted eggs they lay, which have contributed to their nickname as the "Easter Egg Chicken."Comb: PeaStandard weight at maturity: Hens 4 lbs, males 5 lbs.Egg color: Tinted

B.B. Red Old English (Standard)

Standard Old English Game Fowl- Said to be one of the oldest breeds of fowl and noted for their gameness (their courage and indomitable spirit). The male is very territorial and will defend his ground with other invading roosters. It is recommended to keep the males separated after six months of age. Note: All male roosters of any breed will fight; however the Standard Old English Game rooster will fight but not give up unlike most other breeds of roosters. Blood lines of the Standard Old English Game Fowl throughout history have been used in many of our today breeds of poultry for hardiness and vigor. There are 9 varieties admitted into the American Standard of Perfection at this time. Fighting rooster engravings are found on old Roman coins, was the national sport during King Henry VIII time, Abraham Lincoln refereed fights ("Honest Abe") for fairness as a sporting judge and the University of South Carolina continues with the Game-Cock mascot. NOTE: The Old English photos are photographed with comb, ear lobes, and wattles dubbed (cut off). Entering a poultry show with non-dubbed males of the Old English breed is a disqualification.

Black Brested Red Old English Chick

Barred Rocks

Barred Plymouth Rocks, also referred to as Plymouth Rocks or Barred Rocks, are one of America's oldest and most popular breeds of chicken. The Barred Rock is a cross between a Dominique and a Black Java or Cochin. They are a great dual purpose breed, but are considered extremely docile and very hardy, making them an excellent choice for both the novice chicken raiser and experts alike. Standard weight at maturity: Hens 6 lbs, males 9 1/2 lbs. Egg color: Brown

Cornish Rock Cross

Amazing growth rate from these Cornish Rock Broilers as a dressed weight of 5 to 6 pounds can be acheived in as little as 49 to 56 days. It will take 10 to 12 pounds of feed to carry your broilers from day old to 49 to 56 days of age. That figures out to 2.0 to 2.25 pounds of feed per pound of gain.Attn: After chicks are 5 days old, feed them only 12 hours then remove feed for 12 hours. Maintain this as there regular feeding schedule. This will not slow growth but will reduce the chance of heart attack.

Golden Sex-Link

Golden Sex-Link or Red Sex-Link: These hens will mature with feathers that are reddish brown with flecks of white throughout. Easy to raise, lays large brown eggs, and has a good feed conversion ratio. A "sex-link" chicken is one, which at time of hatch, can be sexed by its color. The males are all white with nice yellow skin. (They will not retain the same characteristics in future.) At approximately 22 weeks these hens will start to lay and lay they will. We're sure this hardy bird will become a favorite of yours as it lays eggs right through hot or cold weather.

Black Sex-Link

Black sex links are a cross breed derived from a male Rhode Island Red and a female Barred Plymouth Rock. They are easily sexed at hatching because the males are barred (black and white) and females are solid black, making them a favorite among most commrcial breeders. They are an excellent egg layer, as this breed has a potential to produce over 250 eggs annually. Standard weight at maturity: Hens 5 1/2, males 8 1/2 lbs. Egg color: Brown

Rhode Island Red

This is one of the most famous and all time popular breeds of truly American chickens. Developed in the early part of this century in the state of the same name, they have maintained their reputation as a dual purpose fowl through the years. Outstanding for production qualities, they have led the contests for brown egg layers time after time. No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs than the Rhode Island Reds. Our "production" strain is keeping up the fine reputation of this old favorite. Baby chicks are a rusty red color and the mature birds are a variety of mahogany red.

New Hampshire Reds

New Hampshire Reds were actually developed in the state of New Hampshire around the year 1915 using Rhode Island Reds as the foundation stock. They were once the leading breed used for the production of brown eggs and meat. Considered one of the fastest growing of the dual purpose breeds, they are a favorite in that category of the production of meat.

Black Australorp

The Black Australorp is originally from Australia and became internationally popular in the 1920s for their strong egg laying. They are a large, soft-feathered bird with glossy black feathers having a green tint. They have a single comb with five points that stand upright. Black Australorps are considered to be a docile bird and a good dual purpose breed. Well maintained hens can lay approximately 250 eggs annually. Standard weight at maturity: Hens 5 ½ lbs, males 8 ½ lbs. Egg color: Brown

Buff Orppington

Buff Orpingtons have a beautiful golden plumage that is thick and full, making this already heavy breed appear much larger than they actually are. Their size and plumage allow them to be consistantly good egg layers even in the winter months. Many peoply raise these birds because of their calm disposition that makes them easy to handly and less aggressive around children.Comb: SingleStandard weight at maturity: Hens 8 lbs, males 10 lbsEgg color: Brown

Delawares

This breed was founded in the state of Delaware from an original Barred Rock and New Hampshire cross. The Delaware is considered a heavy breed which lays a nice brown egg. Males are medium size and large enough to butcher for meat and the hens will make a nice "stewing" dish when they are done laying. The feathering on these beautiful birds is almost all white but shows a slight indication of barring in the hackle and tail. Delaware are a nice quiet bird when well tended to.

Dminiques

The Dominique breed developed from the fowl introduced during the early settlement of New England. These were of the type predominating in the south of England and from which the Sussex and Dorking descended. This stock was widely distributed in the Eastern half of the United States by mid 19th century. The breed was generally known as Dominiques except in the region of origin where they were known as Plymouth Rock and occasionally as Pilgrim Fowls. The differentiation between Plymouth Rock and Dominique was not made until 1870 when the management of the New York state poultry show ruled that only rose combed fowl of intermediate size could compete as Dominiques, and that all medium and large single combed fowl of this color would be known as Plymouth Rocks. A small single combed bird of this color was called a Dominique Leghorn. A great increase in popular interest began in 1875 with the "improved" type finding an enthusiastic response among exhibitors and farmers. The breed was never used commercially, and was eventually eclipsed on the farm by the gradual shift to "Plymouth Rocks" when the preferred type of "Dominique" had been transformed into the "Plymouth Rock." Dominiques have many advantages besides their handsome appearance. They are hardy, do well on open range as well as in confinement, are generally calm by nature and are easy to work with and show. They hatch well, are early feathering, mature young, and are of moderate size. The American Poultry Association's indicates that cocks run 7 pounds; cockerels, 6 pounds; hens, 5 pounds; and pullets, 4 pounds. The females are good mothers, reasonably good layers of light to dark brown, and show less tendency toward broodiness than many other exhibition breeds. Dominiques are also good meat birds. While for many years Dominiques were very rare, they are no longer a "lost breed". There has recently been a revival of interest in them which has placed them in a unique category of their being uncommon enough to be interesting and unusual, but not so common as to be a "me, too" breed. The Dominique is a medium sized bird with black and white barring over the entire body. The rose comb is characteristic. A dual propose breed, these birds were kept to produce brown eggs and chicken for the pot. The heavy plumage not only protected the birds in cold weather, but provided material for pillows and featherbeds. The plumage coloration also made them less conspicuous to predators. They were expected to make a part of their living by foraging and to raise a clutch or two of chicks each year.

Golden Laced Wyandotte

The “ancestors” of Golden Laced Wyandottes originated in Wisconsin and were called Winnebagoes. By 1880 they received their present-day name. This variety is a beautiful combination of rich golden bay laced with lustrous greenish black. The general feather pattern is very similar to the Silver Laced Wyandottes. A beautiful bird for exhibition.

Silver Laced Wyandotte

Silver Laced Wyandotte appeared around the 1870s. They are very strong egg layers with most hens producing between 200 and 240 eggs annually. The rose comb of this breed makes it a better choice for colder climates, as the comb is less likely to freeze. The temperature of these birds is considered to be docile and friendly, doing very well in both free range or confined environments. Standard weight at maturity: Hens 6 /12 lbs, males 8 1/2 lbs. Egg color: Brown

Jersey Black Giants

This is the original Jersey Giant developed in New Jersey in the late 19th century by crossing several of the large, dark Asiatic breeds. It is a super heavy bird even a little larger than the whites. Its black plumage has a beautiful green sheen, the eyes are dark brown, shanks and toes are black except for yellow skin showing on the bottoms of the feet. With the straight red comb and tremendous size it makes an unusually handsome variety for exhibition. Hens are good layers of brown eggs and especially persistent through cold weather. Baby chicks are mostly black but do show creamy patches on the underbody, wing tips, and around the face. The white persists in the plumage until final molt of chick feathers takes place.

Light Brahma

The Brahmas are a very old breed from Asia, probably originating in India and brought to this country about 1850 by Yankee sailors on their return from trading in Far Eastern ports. Because of its massive size, full feathered shanks and toes, and striking black and white plumage pattern, it has always been one of the most interesting varieties to work with. Brahmas are exceptionally quiet, gentle, and easy to handle. Their small pea comb, great size, and heavy plumage make them almost immune to cold weather. The hens are good layers of brown eggs, especially in winter, and will also set. Cockerels develop a tremendous frame, grow rather slowly, but when fully fleshed make a beautiful roasting chicken. They are easy to dress with light plumage and yellow skin. Baby chicks are creamy white, but some have shades of gray on the back.

White Leghorns

Over 45 years of scientific breeding research have gone into the development of this layer through a blending of special strains of White Leghorns. These pullets weigh about 4 lbs. at maturity, start laying at 4 1/2 to 5 months, and will continue 10 to 12 weeks longer than most good layers. Livability and resistance to disease are very high, and the feed to egg conversion ratio is excellent, holding down the cost of egg production. When our local farmers ask us to recommend the pullet that will lay the most eggs of top grade and size, of uniform shape, good shell, and highest interior quality, and do it on the least feed and in smallest amount of space, we suggest the Pearl.

Danish Brown Leghorns

These are generally recognized as the most colorful of the Leghorn family and like all Leghorns lay white eggs, are nonsetters, have large combs and white ear lobes, and yellow skin, shanks and feet. Our Brown Leghorns have been improved over the years by the introduction of the world famous Danish strain. The male is very handsome with orange hackle and saddle and black stripes in center of each feather. The female is a medium brown with delicate penciling; wings are a darker brown and breast is salmon colored. The chicks are striped like little chipmunks, and are so lively when just a few hours old that we can hardly take the lid off the box without having them jump over the sides

Marans

(Chocolate Eggers)This breed was developed in France in the mid 1800's in the town for which it bears its name, Marans. They had made their way to England in the early 1900's and quickly became very popular for their very dark (chocolate) brown eggs - a trait they are still known for today. These beautiful birds were first exhibited in 1929 in Paris by the Poultry Breeders Society of France and since then have gradually made themselves popular in various countries around the world. We carry the CUCKOO variety of Maran which resembles the Barred Rock in color by displaying feathers which are all crossed throughout with irregular dark and light slate colored bars. Maran's lay the darkest eggs of any breed we carry and are a nice dual purpose bird for both eggs and meat.

Welsummers

The Welsummer is a Dutch breed named after the village of Welsum in Holland, developed in the 1900's. It was first imported into this country in 1928 for its large brown egg. The Welsummer is a large, upright, active bird with a broad back, full breast, large full tail. and a single comb. They are a fast growing bird and a very rare breed here in the United States. Admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1991.

Norwegian Jærhøns

The only truly Norwegian breeds, Jærhøns were developed around 1920 near the town of Stavanger. This is an active and hardy breed and lays a large white egg. Cocks weigh around 2 kilos (5 pounds) and hens about 1.5 kilos (3 1/2 pounds). Day-old chicks are sexable by color. Two varieties exist: dark brown and light yellow. The pattern on the hens is like a cross between barring and spotting. The males have "bad" barring on the breast and legs. The rest of the bird is white, with some yellow/gold/brown in the hackle, back and tail.

B.B. Red Old English

Old English Game bantams are a single comb breed. Miniature size of the Standard Old English Game Chicken. The Old English Bantam breeds come in many varieties and are very popular at poultry shows with their spirited personalities. Many varieties were admitted into the American Standard of Perfection from 1925 to 1996 and are among the largest class of breeds represented at poultry shows. They make excellent pets and require little feed and space. Note: The Old English Bantam photos are photographed with the comb, ear lobes, and wattles dubbed (cut off). Entering a poultry show with non-dubbed males of the Old English breed is a disqualification and hens are not to be dubbed. The hens lay a small, off white egg and are very gentle.

Black Silkies

Blue Silkies

Both China and Japan claim the origin of these unique bantams and historians have traced them back to Marco Polo. Their black skin and feathers that feel much like hair make them one of our most unusual varieties of chickens. Our Silkies come both bearded and non-bearded and are tremendous setters on all types of eggs. They have all of the qualities of the other silkies but will vary in feather color. A unique genetic feature of this breed is the constant recurrence in the offspring of not only all blue chicks, but also the black, white, and black-white colors used in the original matings many generations ago to produce these blue birds. All of these chicks carry the blue genes and when mated black on white or with other blues in turn produce many blue offspring. In our breeding flocks, however, only blue males of the finest color are used Approximately 50% will be black, white, and black/white combinations.

White Silkies

Millie Fleur

This variety, in many folks opinion, is the most fascinating of all bantams. They have many unusual characteristics and their reddish-bay feathers that are tipped in white really make them stand out. Their colors will get better with age and they are very nice birds.