fun chicken stuff

Did you know a rooster takes 18-20 breaths a minute, but a hen takes 30-35 a minute
Did you know a chickens heart beats 280-315 times a minute
Did you know a chicken lives on average 5-7 years, but can live to be as much as 20 years old.
Did you know a hen lays eggs her entire life with production decreasing every year.
Did you know eggs can be white, brown, green, pink and blue.

There are two breeds of like size. Brahmas are most often referred to as the largest of the chicken breeds. The Brahma are very large docile birds who make reliable brooders because they can cover a large number of eggs due to their size. The Brahma is often referred to as the "King of Chicken Breeds" at poultry shows and Auctions.
The Jersey Giant developed in the USA is reported to be larger, However, there are other breeds - such as Orpingtons, Langshans and just about any heritage bred chicken - that can get quite large.
Here is a link with more information on the jersey giant ---> http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/jerseygiant.html

The Serama Bantam or Malaysian Serama Bantam, is a relatively new breed of domesticated chicken to many parts of the world, originating in Malaysia .

This tiny breed of bantam chicken is a lightweight even compared to the other smaller breeds of bantam chickens such as the Dutch bantam and the Sebright bantam, only weighing in at an average of 12.3oz, Dutch av weight 20oz and the Sebright av weight 21oz. So that's two thirds the weight of the once thought small Dutch and Sebright. Their not that tall either at an average of 8-9in.
Here is a link with more information----> http://www.homegrownpoultry.com/breed_f ... index.html

Not all hens wish to be mothers, and dont always lay in a nextbox. They will lay eggs 'on the go' as seen in this vid of Blanche. Watch how Slim crows like he is the dad! Blanche wants nothing to do with it.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWbY6PPrtaI

How often do chickens lay eggs? Usually about every 25 hours, though as a hen gets older it will lay less eggs.
Can Chickens fly? Yes and no... bantams can fly further than standard birds, though most chckens in general can fly only about the distance needed to perch.

My hen laid a soft egg, should I be concerned? In general, you shouldn't be alarmed unless it appears the hen looks sick. Usually a soft egg just means they may need more calcium in their diet, eg. Feed them oyster shells.

Matilda was the name of a record holding oldest chicken. She had a career in show business and lived to be 16. An interesting fact about her is that she never laid an egg, some say that may have had a lot to do with having a long life.

Here is a link that will tell you all about her. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(chicken)#World.27s_Oldest_Living_Chicken

Oh nice to know, Dal

In 2007, researchers were able to extract small amounts of protein from a 68 million year old Tyrannosaoures Rex leg bone. Further analysis confirmed that the chicken is the closest living relative to the T. Rex.

The official flying record for a chicken is 542 feet 9 inches (not quite two football fields in length) according to the International Chicken Flying Association.

Big Snow, a White Sully chicken bred in Australia, holds the record for world's heaviest chicken. Before dying of natural causes in 1992, Big Snow tipped the scales at 23 lbs. 3 oz.
Eat your heart out, Blanche!