Adopt a Farm! Celebrate the saving of the Kids’ Farm by bringing home a farm of your own. This special package includes three animals: cow, donkey, and alpaca, a cute garden trowel, and pack of seeds to start your own garden! Adopt a farm.
The National Zoo has moved its chickens and ducks temporarily from the Kids' Farm exhibit to the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The birds were moved because of a potential threat of contracting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) should it enter the United States.
Although HPAI has had health implications for poultry and people in other parts of the world, HPAI has not been found in the United States. The Zoo moved the chickens and ducks to reduce any potential risk to people and animals and to keep visitors comfortable as they visit the Kids' Farm at the National Zoo. Also, the chickens and ducks were moved because the Zoo may not be able to move these birds later due to regulatory or permitting issues, if HPAI enters the United States.
Black-Tailed
White Japanese Bantam
The Japanese bantam or chabo is thought
to have been first bred in Japan around 1600.
Bantam means "miniature" or "dwarf."
Description
This breed has a white body with black tails.
These bantams carry their tails upward and higher
than the head, also called squirrel-tail. They
have a large, single red comb with five distinct
points and wattles. Males weigh about 1.63 pounds
(.74 kg) and females weigh about 1.38 pounds (.63
kg).
Interesting Information
The history of Black-tailed White Japanese
chickens can be traced back to Japanese paintings
over 300 years old.
Dominique
The Dominique breed developed from the fowl
introduced during the early settlement of New
England. Dominiques are a dual propose breed,
used for eggs and meat.
Description
The Dominique is a medium-sized bird with black
and white barring over the entire body. A medium-sized
rose comb with a spike at the rear of the comb
is characteristic. Cocks weigh seven pounds (3.18
kg) and hens five pounds (2.27 kg). The females
lay light to dark brown eggs.
Interesting Information
Their heavy
plumage not only protects the birds in cold
weather, but the plumage coloration also makes
them less conspicuous to predators.
Old English Game Bantam
Natural History Old English Games are an ornamental fowl
(not typically used for meat or eggs). Old English
Games are the modern day descendants of the ancient
fighting cocks. They have changed little in shape
or appearance in more than 1,000 years.
Description
Of all the domestic breeds, the Old English Game’s
appearance is most like the wild jungle fowl.
Standard weights of bantam males are 1.75 pounds
(.80 kg) with bantam hens weighing 1.56 pounds
(.71 kg). Hens lay white or lightly tinted eggs.
Interesting Information
Old English Games are very
hardy, extremely active and very noisy.
Old English have figured in
the development of many other breeds.
Old English are capable of
considerable (but not full) flight
New Hampshire Red
Natural History
A dual-purpose chicken, the New Hampshire Red
is selected more for meat production than egg
production. They represent a specialized selection
of the Rhode Island Red breed.
Description
Their color is a medium to light red. This breed
is medium heavy in weight, with the standard for
males being 8.5 pounds (3.86 kg) and hens 6.5
pounds (2.95 kg). Hens lay light brown eggs. The
comb is single and medium to large in size; in
the females it often lops over a bit.
Interesting Information
New Hampshires can be competitive and aggressive.
White Wyandotte
Natural History White Wyandottes originated in New York
State and are a dual-purpose chicken, raised for
meat and eggs.
Description
White Wyandottes have white plumage. They are
medium-sized with the standard weight for males
being 8.5 pounds (3.86 kg) and hens 6.5 pounds
(2.95 kg). Hens lay brown eggs. Wyandottes have
rose combs.
Buff Orpington
Natural History
Buff Orpingtons are a heavy, dual-purpose fowl
for the production of both meat and eggs. Orpingtons
were developed in England and brought to America
in the 1890s.
Description
Buff Orpingtons have a solid, buff color plumage.
The standard weight for males is ten pounds (4.54
kg), with hens weighing about eight pounds (3.63
kg). Hens lay light to dark brown eggs. They have
a single comb.
Interesting Information
Their feathering allows them to endure cold
temperatures better than some other breeds.
Adopt a farm.
