Redcaps are poultry antiquities.  

We enjoy our Redcaps for quite a few reasons.  You may also find them beneficial, however they are not for everyone. 

Redcaps do not flourish in confinement, I'm sure this is also true for lots of other breeds.  They are a high energy bird that likes to stay busy. 

They lay an egg that some consider small by today's standards. 

Redcaps in the US rarely meet the breed's standard for weight, a trait we are working to correct.  

Redcaps are often termed flighty. We find ours are jittery as juveniles, but they become tame with consistent management. They are not typically the bird to select for a hug-able pet chicken. They enjoy trees and ranging about for food and dust bathes. Our come running when they see us with the "chicken bucket" - the scrap and treat can. 

 The above eggs are from Redcap hens, pullet eggs are smaller and somewhat more tinted (tan). They lighten as the pullet matures.

We sell hatching eggs and live birds. We ship only the eggs.  Live chickens or chicks are farm pickup. All eggs, chicks and chickens listed below are subject to availability ! 

 Hatching eggs - 

$24.00 per dozen, plus $20 shipping via Priority Mail - United States Postal Service.  Eggs for hatching are selected for shape,  shell quality and they  are candled.  Size will vary as you may receive a mix of hen and pullet eggs.  Color will vary from almost white to beige. Scroll down for tips on hatching shipped eggs...  Please do not order eggs until you fully research what is needed for incubation and raising these birds.  

 Eating eggs -

$6.00 per dozen. 

Juvenile birds 

$20.00 pullets   $15.00 cockerals

Chicks (not sexed)

$6.00 each

 www.squareup/market.com/dautobi-acres 

Incubation of shipped eggs

 Eggs are shipped via U S mail, Priority Service. We cannot guarantee the hatch rate as we have no control over the shipping or incubation of the eggs.  We do everything we can to ensure that we ship only fertile eggs. The shipping process is disruptive on the egg! For best results, allow the eggs to sit (at least) overnight prior to starting incubation. You can also leave the egg turner off for the first day. You will get better results with an additional thermometer and a hygrometer. 

We can ship to most locations in the U.S. via Priority Mail ( Post Office) for $20, some exceptions do apply.  You can ask for the eggs to be held at your local post office for you to go and pickup. This saves them from some additional jarring. 

For credit card orders visit

www.squareup.com/market/dautobi-acres

Pullorum-Typhoid test certificate

Record provided with each sale. If your State requires further testing of eggs or live poultry, additional fees apply. 

Day old Redcap chicks hatched on our farm. Redcap chicks are hatched with pink shanks that gradually turn to slate blue after a few weeks. 

Redcaps are listed as Critical on the Conservation Priority List by the Livestock Breeds Conservancy 

from their website..........

Origins: The Redcap originates from England although the precise area is unknown. It is however, closely connected with Derbyshire and is sometimes called the Derbyshire Redcap. It is not known when this breed showed up, but it is thought to be one of the older English breeds. The Redcap came to the United States in the 1800’s and was spread largely across the country by 1870.Redcap chickens were recognized by the American Poultry Association as a standard breed in 1888.

One of our foundation roosters.  Fertility tests ensure viable eggs. While shipping does reduce hatchability, here at the farm our incubated eggs average 90% fertility. We encourage you to share your results when your eggs hatch.  We also have farm pickup of hatching or eating eggs. 

Our Redcaps free range and enjoy a healthy diet of fresh greens and insects. They also receive free choice whole and cracked grains, black oil sunflower seeds and a commercial high protein lay crumble.  

Redcaps happily spend the day on a routine that includes foraging, sunning, preening, dust bathes and laying. They really don't need you to do anything except set out feed and water. They will learn what the treat bag or bucket is, and follow you around for it.  

Redcaps have slate colored shanks and well fed, healthy, free range birds have a greenish sheen over the darker feathers. Difficult to photograps,but I'm still trying! Each time they molt, feather coloring changes slightly.

Redcaps and Derbyshire Redcaps are related but not exactly the same bird.  A different standard is applied to each breed.  Redcaps are an American version of the Derbyshire Redcap or "Coral".  The Derbyshire Redcap was thought to have been brought to the USA in the 1800's.  Its path has developed separately from the birds in the United Kingdom and Australia.  The  American Poultry Association recognized the Redcap as a breed in 1888 and created the "standard of perfection" for it.  The Derbyshire Redcap's breed standard is defined British Poultry Standards with the Poultry Club of Great Britian (PCGB).  The APA and the PCGB standards differ for these birds in several instances - weight, color of ear(lobe) and more. 

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