#1 Recommended breed to new keeper?

[21hens-incharge]

Hi!
So- you lost your flock But your getting new ones!
You can only get one breed? WHich breed will YOU get?


Personally, I would get Silkies. They come in pretty colors, they're fluffy, they lay eggs, and you can show them!

So- what would YOU get?

Everyones goals are different. What cimate, what the flock was lost to and much more come into play.

I like hearty, active birds that are calm and lay well. My favorite breed is the Black Australorp although many breeds would "fit". I have had very good luck with my Aussies.

 

[TheBeardie]

I have actually had to replace my entire flock after a predator attack about five months ago. I had my standard sized flock wiped out and a small duck flock too. All that was left was one muscovy duck and my bantam flock.

I purchased two dozen eggs and the lady bought five extra just in case any got cracked. They where mixed breeds. They could be any mix of Speckled Sussex, BBS Copper Marans, Ameraucanas, Olive Eggers, EEs, Leghorns, Red Sexlink and Salmon Faverolles.

Most of the chicks are friendly and are beautiful. They are almost 13 weeks old now.

If I had to pick one pure breed.... I'd say Bantam Cochins. So cute small and friendly. The other option would be EEs. I also got more muscovies too.

This is my only Bantam Cochin right now. Cute little thing!

 

[Acre4Me]

I think a flock of salmon faverolles would be lovely and sweet

We picked a SF from a bargain bin at Meyer. She looks like an owl (as much as a chicken can look like an owl) when she is hunkered down when sitting on ground. Super cute and seems to have an interesting personality. Ours is almost 14 weeks old.

 

[cathloveydovey]

Hi!
So- you lost your flock But your getting new ones!
You can only get one breed? WHich breed will YOU get?


Personally, I would get Silkies. They come in pretty colors, they're fluffy, they lay eggs, and you can show them!

So- what would YOU get?

I actually had this happen to me last Christmas. A pack of coyotes attacked and killed all my chickens except for six, three died overnight and three are still alive today. When we were hatching eggs, my Dad and I stuck with Orpingtons, but we got some types that we had never heard of. Gold Laced, (all dead) Silver laced, and Isabell Orpingtons. They're full grown now and absolutely gorgeous and incredibly friendly. (I don't have pictures) The hens haven't started laying for some reason so I don't know what the eggs are like but from the former hens we had they were amazing. So I'm hoping they turn out like that as well. From past experiences, Orpingtons are by far my favorite breed, friendly, cold hardy, good meat, and egg birds, just overall wonderful birds to have.

 

[Acre4Me]

Chanteclers or Leghorns. Both of those breeds are hardy, productive birds with balanced temperaments, 'street sense', and good looks. The latter may not always be very good pet material, but I need my birds to take care of themselves, and they excel at that.

View attachment 1615046
View attachment 1614794

We are hoping to get some Chanteclers next year-they are nice looking birds. We don’t care for our Dark Brown Leghorns too much as they remain very skittish and flighty (not to mention that at 42 weeks old, two of them still have yet to lay an egg), but can see how they could be great for expansive free ranging, and ours are very good about going back to the coop after free range time.

 

[TXchickmum]

I definitely would consider climate, preference for eggs, etc. My black Australorp is the most adaptable to the Texas climate. She does well in winter and with the heat in summer. -also, an exceptional layer. She's very alert and the dominant hen in the flock. My Buff Orpingtons are also pretty climate tolerant (especially cold, and alright in the heat). They are very docile, and very much pets, as well as very good layers. I had a couple of Lavender Orpingtons. They were beautiful birds, but did not thrive. They were always a bit smaller than my other large fowl birds. -thinking the breeding for the "pretty color" probably didn't lend to creating a healthy, quality bird. -won't purchase those again. Some folks love Silkies, others really enjoy the nice color variety of Easter Eggers and the like. I personally don't care for either. -just prefer what will thrive in my climate, lay very well.

 

[Acre4Me]

If I had to choose 1 breed...

Currently we have 6 breeds of chickens age 42 weeks. We also have 7 random breeds of 13 week olds, but as they are lowest in pecking order, and young and not yet laying, I’m going to leave them out of this!

The Jersey Giants are sweet and docile. We have 1male and 1 female. They enjoy free ranging and are happy in the run. They are enormous, so are interesting from that perspective. Very full feathered, shiny black/beetle green feathers, and our 1 female is a good layer of good sized eggs.

Our EEs are nice and consistent layers. They are fun to see the color variations, along with muffs and beards.

Our Black Australorp are a great all around chicken. We have a BA cockerel and 3 pullets. One pullet is on her second round of broodiness. She was a great mom to the 7 random chicks, but she’s broody again (she’s only 42weeks old). The other two are great layers. The male is aggressive, more than we woul like and we expect to get rid of him at some point.

These are the three of our current flock we would be most likely to choose from. If I had a flock with both male and females, I would pick the Jersey Giants. If I wanted eggs only and consistent production, I would go with the black Australorps.

But, in reality, if i was starting a whole new flock of only 1 kind, then I would look at the breeds that are on the conservancy watchlist and do a little research and possibly pick from there.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

I would get Buff orpingtons. They are docile, easy going birds, are not flighty, and lay great eggs.

 

[asphaltwarrior1]

Well I'm new to chickens and we were gifted 6 Buff Orpington chicks, three turned out to be males and three females. I gave one male away to a friend with an animal sanctuary of sorts. These birds are amazing. I start calling to them when I'm on my.way to feed them and I can hear their eagerness to see me. They will climb over each other when I offer belly rubs. Just look for my other threads and watch my Youtube videos. I'm sure if the three hens don't produce enough eggs for five of us to eat I'll get a couple more Buffs if they are available mid next year. They are great with the kids picking them up as well. Only thing I noticed and it may just be a chicken thing, but they are very cautious of change.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Easter Eggers are not good winter egg layers so be ready for a big drop in production.

NOBODY lays for me in winter (I don't supplement light). Interestingly though, both last winter and this winter, an EE won the egg race.