Small Farms

Often confused with Rhode Island Reds, this breed of chicken was developed in New Hampshire around 1915.  The New Hampshire chicken is favored for its fast maturity and brown eggs.  The breed was standardized in 1935.

The characteristics of the New Hampshire chicken are:

• Large single comb with five distinct points
• The rooster’s tail is carried at a 45 degree angle; the female at a 35 degree angle
• Yellow shanks and toes with a red tinge; in the rooster a red line runs down the sides of the shanks to the toe tips
• Eggs are a light to medium dark brown color

The current status of this chicken breed is “watch.”  My personal experience with this breed is that they are very docile and thus easy to care for.  My children have named their favorite hen, Henny Penny- she is in the above photo and loves to eat out of our hands.  This breed of chicken would make a good 4-H project for children.

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