Reviews by FarmerTony

Excellent chickens. Probably the best dual purpose purebred. Very popular here in Hawk and coyote infested eastern Oklahoma. They go broody more than other breeds, but not usually until their second year. If they don't hatch out a clutch, they will immediately go broody again after only a week or two of rest, so it is best to let them hatch a clutch if they do. I've heard that they will literally starve to death before they break. This is a good thing for me though as I prefer naturally hatched chicks. The roosters can be a bit aggressive. Not as aggressive as leghorns, but not docile at all. They will defend the hens though, so keep plenty of spares on hand.

A popular breed with egg lovers They produce 300+ large to extra large eggs per year. Their lack of broodiness is a con for me, it may be a pro for you. Even when they do go broody their mothering instincts aren't the best or strongest. They don't instinctively know to watch for predators but if you range them with another breed that does like barred rock, they learn fast, they also learn the first time a hawk takes one of them. They are excellent foragers. Sometimes too good, as they tend to eat everything down to bare dirt within 100 feet of their coop.

They are a production hybrid. One of my favorites, I always keep some around for my own egg consumption needs.