Best All-Around Chicken Breed?

[Bullitt]

The Swedish Flower Hens I've seen at county fairs are easily as large as Brahmas. If the ones we have locally aren't representative of the breed in general, they are evidence that SFHs are easily bred to have a bit more meat on them. They get my vote!

From what I have found, there is no breed standard. That makes it difficult to know what the size should be.

According to Green Fire Farms, SFH roosters can weigh as much as 8 pounds. These are the largest SFH.

It is a little odd that you have SFH in Montana the size of Brahmas.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

So, from PERSONAL experience...
Australorps. My top pick. Mine went broody at least once a year each. Large brown eggs. Hefty carcass, beautiful to look at, no problems in hot or cold, plenty of eggs, happy to forage. Feed hogs but you get that when you feed a big bird that lays a lot of eggs. Sweet as a button personalities.

Downside; that sweet personality, the lack of flightiness and large size makes them susceptible to predation. My easter eggers either make a HUGE fuss over a danger or they VANISH instantly. The Aussies are a bit slower on the uptake, they don't jump as fast under cover, and always seem to go first. ;_; Which sucks cause they're always the favorites.

From what I have gleaned outside that;
I know barred rock is on here but I would hazard that the White Rock, a strain usually with a bit more focus on the meat end, is a strong and separate contender. Theoretically they're the same but we all know that's often not quite true. The barred rock tends to be more popular with people seeking egg production and pet chickens, wheras the white rock is a bit more popular with people looking to make their own primitive cornish crosses. The average barred probably lays a few more eggs and the average white gets a few more ounces fast. The big upsides to the whites are the different and more closely monitored strains and the white feathers make for a more appealing finished caracss.

 

[Uff Da]

It is a little odd that you have SFH in Montana the size of Brahmas.

I was surprised when I started seeing them around, too. I expected them to be closer to the size of my Icelandics. I literally did one of these:

 

[Happy Henny]

Which breed of chicken do you think is the all-around best?

The criteria would be (in no particular order):
-- A dual-purpose chicken for eggs and meat
-- A chicken that does not develop slowly
-- A chicken that can reproduce itself (go broody)
-- A chicken that forages well for food
-- A chicken that lays eggs well
-- A chicken that can tolerate cold and heat pretty well


A breed like a Leghorn would not qualify because they are on the small side to be a meat chicken and they rarely go broody.

It is also important to remember that many hatchery strains of a breed are less broody. Some broodiness is needed, but not overly broody.

The first thing that comes to mind for me seems to be Brahmas

 

[Bullitt]

So, from PERSONAL experience...
Australorps. My top pick. Mine went broody at least once a year each. Large brown eggs. Hefty carcass, beautiful to look at, no problems in hot or cold, plenty of eggs, happy to forage. Feed hogs but you get that when you feed a big bird that lays a lot of eggs. Sweet as a button personalities.

Downside; that sweet personality, the lack of flightiness and large size makes them susceptible to predation. My easter eggers either make a HUGE fuss over a danger or they VANISH instantly. The Aussies are a bit slower on the uptake, they don't jump as fast under cover, and always seem to go first. ;_; Which sucks cause they're always the favorites.

From what I have gleaned outside that;
I know barred rock is on here but I would hazard that the White Rock, a strain usually with a bit more focus on the meat end, is a strong and separate contender. Theoretically they're the same but we all know that's often not quite true. The barred rock tends to be more popular with people seeking egg production and pet chickens, wheras the white rock is a bit more popular with people looking to make their own primitive cornish crosses. The average barred probably lays a few more eggs and the average white gets a few more ounces fast. The big upsides to the whites are the different and more closely monitored strains and the white feathers make for a more appealing finished caracss.

Australorps are the same size as Plymouth Rocks but larger than Rhode Island Reds, at least on average. Are you arguing that their larger size means they should be eliminated from the list because they eat more? I think that would be a good argument.

You are also arguing that the Australorp does not do as well with foraging/avoiding predators.

I checked Cackle Hatchery's website. They show egg production the same for both Barred Plymouth Rock and White Plymouth Rock. If that is true, then the edge would have to go to the white for meat. However, the barred color might be better for foraging and avoiding predators.

 

[Trevorusn]

Faverolles is large enough, but also does not lay enough eggs.

They lay plenty enough for me. Plus the fact they do well in either free range or confinement makes for a very versatile housing scenario. For me, they are one of the best breeds hands down.

 

[Amer]

Over look the 'look' of them , IMHO Naked Neck aka Turkens are the most ultimate dual purpose breed, and some will go broody. They lay almost as good as leghorns, awesome layers, as meat birds they are not as big as some but FYI those breeds Greenfire farms sells as the second best, and one of the best, tasting chickens according to some French magazine.... They don't tell you what was #1.. It's Redbro Cou Nu, naked necks. Best thing about them is half the feathers to pluck, they are deceiving , body looks fully feathered but they are in strips, puff out, half the legs half the breast the vent area is just smooth skin, and... no hair, no hair to pluck or singe off. They do great in hot climates of course and I'll testify do great in subzero also most of winter here can get -10f with -20f windchill they are the first birds outside playing in the snow while my jersey giants are hanging out in the coop lol.
I never wanted them thought they were ugly, but now that I have them they are the darndest cutetist chicks and the birds to me are the most exotic things I've ever seen. There is plenty near me that have rare Greenfire breeds, I don't know anybody that has Naked Necks.

Interesting thoughts!

Something that has not been discussed is egg size. Laying eggs well also means having a good-sized egg. A chicken that lays 200 medium eggs is not as good as a chicken that lays 200 large eggs.

The Orpington is known as a very good layer, but they are also known for laying medium-sized eggs. For this reason, I do not think Orpington can make the cut.

Are there breeds on the contenders list that do not lay large eggs?

Based on average egg-laying ability, Buckeye, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Wyandotte must be eliminated from the contenders list of all-around best chicken breed.
That leaves three chicken breeds on the list.
Australorp
Plymouth Rock
Rhode Island Red

Australorp was developed in Australia, and the other two were developed in the United States.
Which is the best all-around chicken breed? Or is there another breed that was missed?

I vote Australorp. They lay the most eggs out of any standard dual purpose breed. While hatchery Aussies couldn’t stand up to the Rocks for size, Standard Bred Australorps have a decent carcass.

So, from PERSONAL experience...
Australorps. My top pick. Mine went broody at least once a year each. Large brown eggs. Hefty carcass, beautiful to look at, no problems in hot or cold, plenty of eggs, happy to forage. Feed hogs but you get that when you feed a big bird that lays a lot of eggs. Sweet as a button personalities.

Downside; that sweet personality, the lack of flightiness and large size makes them susceptible to predation. My easter eggers either make a HUGE fuss over a danger or they VANISH instantly. The Aussies are a bit slower on the uptake, they don't jump as fast under cover, and always seem to go first. ;_; Which sucks cause they're always the favorites.

From what I have gleaned outside that;
I know barred rock is on here but I would hazard that the White Rock, a strain usually with a bit more focus on the meat end, is a strong and separate contender. Theoretically they're the same but we all know that's often not quite true. The barred rock tends to be more popular with people seeking egg production and pet chickens, wheras the white rock is a bit more popular with people looking to make their own primitive cornish crosses. The average barred probably lays a few more eggs and the average white gets a few more ounces fast. The big upsides to the whites are the different and more closely monitored strains and the white feathers make for a more appealing finished caracss.

That’s a good insight! Barred Plymouth Rocks and white Plymouth Rocks are almost different breeds when it comes to qualities.
Hatchery Barreds are very good egg layers but have a poor carcass.
Hatchery whites make quite a large carcass and good egg production.
Standard-bred barreds are quite slow growing in order to get the perfect barred feathers-they don’t tend to get as big as the whites. Good egg production.
Standard-bred whites have great meat qualities and good egg production.

For most people, it has never mattered how many eggs a chicken will lay because you will never be able to use them all. That is why while not suitable for mass-producing eggs, dual purpose birds are definitely the best choice for the backyard breeder, as reflected by the different types of Plymouth Rocks.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Australorps are the same size as Plymouth Rocks but larger than Rhode Island Reds, at least on average. Are you arguing that their larger size means they should be eliminated from the list because they eat more? I think that would be a good argument.

You are also arguing that the Australorp does not do as well with foraging/avoiding predators.

I checked Cackle Hatchery's website. They show egg production the same for both Barred Plymouth Rock and White Plymouth Rock. If that is true, then the edge would have to go to the white for meat. However, the barred color might be better for foraging and avoiding predators.

I was not, I was suggesting they'd be best from personal experience.

For every trait you enhance in a chicken, there's a trait that gets less effective. If you make a sweet bird that's not flighty, you get one that doesn't spook as easy. If you make a bird that produces more, it eats more, especially if that's split between eggs AND meat. I think the Australorps do a good job on balancing these things, but as a result some things are not as good.
If I were trying to keep a dual purpose chicken as a sustainable flock to feed myself or a larger group from those birds, out of all the breeds I've owned I would pick the Australorp. They need a bit more care but they're very good birds.

If I were picking a chicken I *didn't* have previous experience with I would pick a good strain of white rock for the above reasons. Internet numbers aren't always reflective of reality and many people have the experience that the barred rock is often more optimized for eggs while the white rock is a competent egg layer but more optimized for meat. That's my experience with the barred rock as well. I've owned both from hatcheries and the barred rock wasn't all that much bigger than a red sex link or ISA brown. I have not owned a white rock but this is what I've heard through the grapevine and would be my next top pick based on my experiences and what my research has drudged up.

FWIW, I would pick a hatchery australorp for dual purpose over a hatchery barred rock. My experience is the hatchery barred rocks are smaller than the hatchery australorp.

 

[Bullitt]

I vote Australorp. They lay the most eggs out of any standard dual purpose breed. While hatchery Aussies couldn’t stand up to the Rocks for size, Standard Bred Australorps have a decent carcass.

First, I am sure all the breeds on the list, whether from a hatchery or breeder, will have hens weighing at least 6 pounds and roosters weighing 8 pounds. They all qualify.

The Barred Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red are also listed as 200 to 280 eggs a year. I think Australorps tend to be more broody, so I am pretty sure that Rhode Island Red will lay more eggs than the Australorp.

Whether people can use all those eggs is not relevant for this. But people might want to sell eggs for eating or hatching, or maybe they have a very large family.

The hatchery chickens are bred for production of eggs, usually. I think hatchery chickens would be great for what we are discussing here.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

First, I am sure all the breeds on the list, whether from a hatchery or breeder, will have hens weighing at least 6 pounds and roosters weighing 8 pounds. They all qualify.

I actually question that.
Hatcheries don't breed to the standards laid out in the APA or anything but they still use the numbers that those breeds represent even if the lines don't represent it any more.

So if we're talking about birds from a hatchery I would say that barred rocks are right out. They're just not big enough, nowhere near.