Chickens have been around for centuries.  Gallus gallus domesticus, or the common domestic chicken, has records relating to their existence date back before the 5th century B.C.

The chicken traces it's roots back to India, and the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus).  Initially, chickens were domesticated more for the entertainment value of cockfighting; it wasn't until later that their meat and egg production capabilities were valued.

Chickens are friendly creatures, naturally grouping together in flocks.  As a rule, you can have multiple roosters in a flock, as long as there are at least 10 to 20 hens per rooster.  Otherwise, the roosters will fight, sometimes to the death.  Chickens establish a heirarchy within the flock - the "pecking order" - which governs everything from who eats first to who gets to roost on the top perch.  Watching a flock of chickens interact is very entertaining!

Chickens are omniverous and will scratch about, eating seeds, worms, bugs - even small mice and other creatures.  They instinctively roost at night, prefering high perches.  They roost in groups as part of a defense mechanism to make themselves appear to be one large creature, which will help deter predators.  As any chicken farmer will tell you - this isn't very effective.  Racoons, foxes, hawks, owls, weasles, and dogs all can do a significant amount of damage to an unprotected flock - in just minutes.  We have a resident owl that will make short work of any hen that is outside the coop after dark, so we have all sorts of tricks to try and keep him away, including music (each coop has a radio), lights, flashing red lights, and the "chicken check" every night to make sure the hens all went inside the coop, instead of roosting up under the running gear or someplace where Mr. Owl (he's a Great Horned Owl, we've determined) can get them.

A hen will lay an average of 300 eggs a year, with a record of 362 eggs being held by an Australorp hen. 

Hens typically begin to lay around 5 months of age (depending on breed), and their most prolific production period is in the first year of lay.  After that, the quantity of eggs begins to decline, though hens may continue to lay throughout their lifetime (7 to 8 years). Egg size will increase as the hens age, and our older hens produce what we call "dinosaur" or "episiotomy" eggs - huge eggs that are over 3.5 ounces each..

Young hens will occaisionally lay a very large egg, and typically these eggs have two - or even three - yolks.  "Double yolkers" always cause excitement with our customers!

Chickens come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors.  There are over 60 breeds of chickens in the United States, with different varieties of meat and egg producing chickens.  The American Standard of Perfection is the official breed standard for poultry in the United States.