Hubbard chickens are broiler chickens that are raised by a company named Hubbard Breeders. The company provides its broiler stock chickens to farmers and other entities around the world for meat production. These chickens typically are not great egg layers, but instead, they grow and fatten up quickly so they can be produced for food.
While Hubbard chickens are not a specific breed, there are a few characteristics that broiler chickens share that can be examined here.
Quick Facts About Hubbard Chickens
| Species Name: | Fowl |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Care Level: | Easy |
| Temperature: | Moderate |
| Temperament: | Easy-going, self-sufficient, independent |
| Color Form: | All colors |
| Lifespan: | 5–10 years |
| Size: | Medium to large |
| Diet: | Grains, scratch, veggie scraps |
| Minimum Coop Size: | 3 square feet |
| Minimum Run Size: | 10 square feet |
Hubbard Chicken Overview
Broiler chickens are typically housed in large warehouses where they roam free, sometimes thousands of them at a time. If they are not housed in open warehouses, they are left to free-range outside on fields that are enclosed by tall fencing or walls.
Hubbard chickens are shipped to customers at just a day or two old so farmers can raise the chickens for the 7 to 14 weeks that it takes for them to become ready for processing. Broiler chickens do not have to be processed for food, though. These are happy, curious chickens that would make excellent pets.
How Much Do Hubbard Chickens Cost?
The cost of Hubbard chickens depends on how many of them are purchased at one time. If a farmer is looking to buy hundreds of chickens at once, they can probably get them for under $5 each. For dozens, the price may be a few dollars more each. If you want to buy just one or two broiler stock chickens as pets, you could pay up to $15 for each one.
Typical Behavior & Temperament
Hubbard or broiler chickens are typically curious, outgoing, independent, and cooperative, which is why so many can live peacefully together in the same space. These chickens are friendly with humans who care for them with gentle hands. They do like to talk, and they prefer to scavenge for food rather than eat out of a container.
These are social chickens that like to stick close together with their family members. They are not the best egg layers, but they can produce up to about 200 eggs each year if fed the proper diet. All in all, these are fun chickens with big personalities and the ability to maintain independence with or without other chickens around.
Appearance & Varieties
Hubbard chickens are medium to large-sized animals, depending on the specific species they happen to be. They can be any color, including white, red, brown, black, gray, striped, and multicolored. They have thick yet soft feathers and short, sturdy legs that move faster than they look like they can.
Because Hubbard chickens can be a variety of different species, some of their features can vary, such as the length and thickness of their feathers (although generally, the feathers are thick), the size of the animal’s comb and beak, and the length of their tail feathers.
How to Take Care of Hubbard Chickens
Broiler chickens are quite easy to take care of. They need room to roam, and they should be fed commercial scratch and vegetable scraps daily. They should always have access to fresh, clean water, and they need protection from the weather elements. Here is what else you need to know.
Habitat Conditions & Setup
These chickens can be free-range with little supervision if the land they are on is enclosed with a fence to protect them from predators. They should be provided with a shed or large coop so they can get relief from the rain, wind, and other uncomfortable weather elements.
If they are being kept in an enclosed habitat, it should consist of an enclosed coop at least 3 square feet in size. An attached run for exercise and eating of at least 10 square feet is also necessary. Bedding made of mulch or hay can be added for comfort.
Related Read: Can Goats and Chickens Live Together?
What to Feed Your Hubbard Chicken
Broiler chickens are good at foraging for sources of food, such as worms, bugs, dandelions, and other greens. When free-ranging outside, it is easy for them to access these natural food sources. However, their diet should be supplemented with commercial feed made up of cracked corn and grains. They can also be fed scraps of vegetables like carrots, corn cobs, lettuce, and beets.
Keeping Your Hubbard Chicken Healthy
If you decide to raise a broiler chicken as a pet, you can keep them healthy by having them dewormed and vaccinated regularly. Access to fresh water and daily rations of commercial feed is necessary for good health too. These chickens also need room to exercise and have human interaction daily.
Do Hubbard Chickens Get Along With Other Pets?
These chickens typically do not have an opportunity to hang out with other animals, apart from ducks or other birds occasionally. If they are introduced to friendly cats, dogs, cows, and other farm animals at a young age, there is no reason that they cannot learn how to get along with them. However, these are farm animals that are fine on their own, and they do not need to interact with other animal species to enjoy a high quality of life.
Are Hubbard Chickens Suitable for You?
Hubbard or broiler chickens are the perfect pets for any farm, homestead, or homeowner who wants to look after chickens. They are easy to take care of, they do not mind interacting with humans, they can help reduce your need to buy eggs from the store, and they are fun to watch while they hunt for food in the yard or on the farm. Are you thinking about getting this type of chicken to raise as a pet or for food? Let us know what your thoughts are by leaving us a comment.
Featured Image Credit: Peter Turner Photography, Shutterstock