Best All-Around Chicken Breed?

[2102Simm]

What about the Bielefelder? As per the Muarry McMurray page roos get to 12lbs, hens 9.5lbs. It said they were good in cold and hot weather and supposedly they lay upwards of 200 eggs a year. It said they're good foragers and somewhat likely to brood. They also are supposed to lay large eggs.
I personally have never owned any, they're my dream chicken breed as I just started my flock this year made up of RIR and Buff Orps.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

According to wiki based on egg count and body size the jersey giant would be great. But we know they grow like slugs and are feed hogs...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Giant

 

[Bullitt]

The Winner Is
The Rhode Island Red

Picture from: https://morningchores.com/rhode-island-red-chickens/​

Here is the criteria again:
-- 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


From: https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/rired

"The Rhode Island Red is not only America's best known breed, but is perhaps the world's best known fowl. It is the most successful dual purpose bird, and remains an excellent farm chicken. Originally developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the 1880's and 1890's, its ancestors include Malay (hence the deep color), Shanghai, Java, and Brown Leghorn chickens. Its distinctive color and good production qualities helped it to spread rapidly. The single combed variety was admitted to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1904 and the rose combed birds were accepted a year later in 1905."

Dual-Purpose Chicken Breed
It is no wonder that the Rhode Island Red is the most successful dual-purpose chicken breed. Hens should weigh 6 1/2 pounds and roosters should weigh 8 1/2 pounds. It is the perfect balance for eggs and meat. They have a very good feed-to-egg ratio.

Development
Rhode Island Reds are known to develop well, not slowly.

Reproduction
As mentioned at the start, a little broodiness is needed. Rhode Island Reds will sometimes go broody. All a person needs is one or two broody hens a year for reproduction. From personal experience, I know that Rhode Island Reds do go broody sometimes.

Foraging
Rhode Island Reds forage well and avoid predators better than most dual-purpose breeds of chickens.

Eggs
Rhode Island Reds are probably the best breed for laying large brown eggs.

Heat and Cold
Rhode Island Reds are known for their hardiness. They handle the heat and cold well. They may get frostbite on their comb, but that doesn't stop them.

The winner of the best all-around chicken breed should not come as a surprise to those familiar with chicken breeds.


From Cackle Hatchery (The first breed listed under brown-egg layers): https://www.cacklehatchery.com/rhode-island-reds.html#product_tabs_breed_info

• Poultry Show Class: American Class
• Weights: Hen-----6 1/2 lbs Rooster------8 1/2 lbs
  Pullet--5 1/2 lbs Cockerel-----7 1/2 lbs
• Purpose and Type: Primary production, Egg Laying & Pet/Secondary meat source
• Egg Shell Color: Brown
• Egg Production: 200-280 eggs per year (estimates only, see FAQ)
• Egg Size: Large
• Temperament: Active
• Gender Accuracy: 80-85%
• Fertility Percentage: 65-80%
• Broody: Variable
• Mating Ratio: 10 Females to 1 Males
• Roost Height: 2 to 4 feet
• Country of Origin: United States, Rhode Island
• APA: Yes, Recognized by the American Standard of Perfection
• ALBC: Recovering Status, Considered a sustainable heritage chicken breed
• Breeder Farm Source: Cackle Hatchery® Poultry Breeding Farm has been developing our bloodline or strain of pure Rhode Island Red since 1936.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I wouldn't use a rir to build a sustainable flock, especially from a hatchery. I've had a couple and they were rather small and egg focused.

But you do you.

 

[Bullitt]

I wouldn't use a rir to build a sustainable flock, especially from a hatchery. I've had a couple and they were rather small and egg focused.

But you do you.

This is not about hatchery versus small breeder.

And you do you.

 

[featherhead007]

AH, come on peeps. this one is the best!

 

[2102Simm]

AH, come on peeps. this one is the best!View attachment 1967163

I'm a newbie to chicken breeds, he's gorgeous what's his breed?

 

[aliciaplus3]

What about the Bielefelder? As per the Muarry McMurray page roos get to 12lbs, hens 9.5lbs. It said they were good in cold and hot weather and supposedly they lay upwards of 200 eggs a year. It said they're good foragers and somewhat likely to brood. They also are supposed to lay large eggs.
I personally have never owned any, they're my dream chicken breed as I just started my flock this year made up of RIR and Buff Orps.

I had some.... egg numbers were not up to par they were a little bigger than my sexlinks but my Delaware are just as big... with better egg numbers.

 

[featherhead007]

Her name is Beetov-Hen, and she's smarter than any dog or cat I have ever had!

 

[featherhead007]

Beetov-Hen is a brown leghorn 1 yr old hen