What would be your choice for best overall layer breed...longevity, hardiness, egg size, winter layi

Michael Apple said:

You're welcome, and certainly didn't mean to get off subject. Some prefer heavier, more docile breeds for ease of handling. I think it is best for newer folks who may not have covered yards.

I wouldn't encourage chickens to control rodent populations unless you don't mind doctoring sick chickens. Cholera, E. Coli, and intestinal worms are but a few nasty problems which rodents perpetuate, and can plague your flock. Birds find lizards, bugs, and mice on range at times, and that is nature, but I wouldn't encourage it. Bait blocks in locking box traps work wonders in controlling rat populations around the barn, Rampage bait blocks made by Motomco are a safer bait. Poison pellets can be spread around, while bait blocks stay in the trap, so mice and rats must enter the trap to feed. Even a few good barn cats take care of business. Picking up all feed and containers at the end of the day also prevents rodents.

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The "mousing help" is just a good chase...I never expected nor wanted them to actually eat them...I am fully aware of the disease one rodent contains. However, my house cat who has never caught a rat in his life eliminated our household/garage problem just with his mere presence, watchful alertness, and willingness to put up a good chase or two. We just watched his behavior and figured out where they were getting in (by watching where he was interested then investigating and blocking that weak area)....having an alert patrol in the animal kingdom can do a lot to aid your lookout.

I do all the right protocols for rodent control...my neighborhood is cursed with rats...mostly due to various neighbors not controlling better....so my best plan is to trap and kill and worry and harrass...I found when I make it miserable enough on my property they go back to the neighbors

Lady of McCamley

Lady of McCamley said:

The "mousing help" is just a good chase...I never expected nor wanted them to actually eat them...I am fully aware of the disease one rodent contains. However, my house cat who has never caught a rat in his life eliminated our household/garage problem just with his mere presence, watchful alertness, and willingness to put up a good chase or two. We just watched his behavior and figured out where they were getting in (by watching where he was interested then investigating and blocking that weak area)....having an alert patrol in the animal kingdom can do a lot to aid your lookout.
 
I do all the right protocols for rodent control...my neighborhood is cursed with rats...mostly due to various neighbors not controlling better....so my best plan is to trap and kill and worry and harrass...I found when I make it miserable enough on my property they go back to the neighbors 
 
Lady of McCamley

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Exactly!

Bullitt said:

People often make judgments based on one experience, which is probably not good. That is why this website is so helpful. You can read about thousands of experiences.

If I bought say an Australorp and it wasn't like what I expected, and then I said Australorps were not a good breed, that wouldn't be a good way to go about it.

You can get one or several of a breed that do not match the general breed description. That doesn't change the general description of a breed.

If I bought a German Shorthaired Pointer and it turned out to be a lousy hunting dog, would I say all GSPs were not fit to be hunting dogs? No.

Just food for thought.

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That was why I posted here...to get broader anecdotal responses. (They ALL read well in the breed books...that's what those books are for...to sell breeds.)

I actually found the line or strain to be the most important factor of any breed. Who's your momma and who's your daddy. I have been deeply involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind, and what they produce in their breeding programs is head and shoulder above what the average Lab or Golden or German Shepherd is on the street. A well developed and controlled breeding program makes all the difference.

I find the same thing with chicken breeds. I do ask those around me in my area as we tend to purchase from the same sources, and it can be an indicator of what those lines are like. It means that I may have to go to outside sources after determining with a broader stroke what that particular breed should be like.

Thank you all for your responses as I gleaned from a broader resource pool.
Lady of McCamley

I'm just going to jump in here late with my 1/2 cents (sense lol) worth. I love my turkin, had 2 one a hawk got, the other is a prolific layer. Seems to be quite cold hardy which is funny considering the "naked neck". I followed her laying for almost a month and when I quit she had only missed one day. I use no extra light in winter either. I let my flock have the run of the placeand they seem happy enough running down bugs etc, but she's figured out if i'm mowing there will be extra bugs to be had. "They are so ugly they are cute".

Walt

waltandlori said:

"They are so ugly they are cute".

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That is one way to put it about Turkens.

When I was a kid, someone gave my father some Turkens. We thought they were a cross between a turkey and a chicken.

waltandlori said:

I'm just going to jump in here late with my 1/2 cents (sense lol) worth. I love my turkin, had 2 one a hawk got, the other is a prolific layer. Seems to be quite cold hardy which is funny considering the "naked neck". I followed her laying for almost a month and when I quit she had only missed one day. I use no extra light in winter either. I let my flock have the run of the placeand they seem happy enough running down bugs etc, but she's figured out if i'm mowing there will be extra bugs to be had. "They are so ugly they are cute".

Walt

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I agree! I have always liked naked necks. They've always been hardy in the winter and were good layers. Indiana winters are cold and can be snowy, seems odd a NN is cold hardy but they are. I have 4 NN pullets now and 1 huge young rooster...actually, my rooster crowed for the first time this a.m. He sounded ridiculous, hopefully he'll improve he'll get better at crowing .

NN's are always on my order form when I've ordered new chicks!

waltandlori said:

I'm just going to jump in here late with my 1/2 cents (sense lol) worth. I love my turkin, had 2 one a hawk got, the other is a prolific layer. Seems to be quite cold hardy which is funny considering the "naked neck". I followed her laying for almost a month and when I quit she had only missed one day. I use no extra light in winter either. I let my flock have the run of the placeand they seem happy enough running down bugs etc, but she's figured out if i'm mowing there will be extra bugs to be had. "They are so ugly they are cute".

Walt

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Thank you for your suggestion...I can honestly say I had never considered a Turken...I thought they were more for show than productivity.

I'll put them in my list of breeds to consider.

...and yes...they do have a face only a mother can love.
Lady of McCamley

slfg said:

I agree! I have always liked naked necks. They've always been hardy in the winter and were good layers. Indiana winters are cold and can be snowy, seems odd a NN is cold hardy but they are. I have 4 NN pullets now and 1 huge young rooster...actually, my rooster crowed for the first time this a.m. He sounded ridiculous, hopefully he'll improve he'll get better at crowing

.

NN's are always on my order form when I've ordered new chicks!

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Did your rooster sound like a 13-year-old boy trying to sing? High, low, high, low.

Bullitt said:

Did your rooster sound like a 13-year-old boy trying to sing? High, low, high, low.

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Ha ha Sort of! It sounded like "errrroooooooooooooooooo. " (no exclaimation point, he ended it with a period) :/