Best Breed for Small Suburban Flock?

[SteveRhea]

I'm looking at raising chickens in my Florida neighborhood. I'm looking for a full-size dual-purpose breed that lays lots of brown eggs. I'll be breeding them and keeping one or two roosters with noise reducing collars on. The rest will make delicious Coq Au Vin. I'm stuck between Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Australorp. Which of these might be the best for my flock? Out of opinion, personal experience, or anything else. Thanks!

 

[LoveThemBirds]

Barred rocks.

Their not aggressive,and will make you start keeping chickens as pets.Lay like nuts..

 

[SteveRhea]

Thanks for the suggestion! I had been leaning that way myself.

 

[Michael OShay]

You will get a lot of different opinions here, but I've raised all three breeds over the years and in my personal experience, I would go with the Australorps for the following three reasons. First, hardiness; while all three breeds are very cold hardy, Australorps are more heat hardy than the other two breeds (which could be a consideration in central Florida). I've raised all three breeds in very hot summer temperatures (117-118 F), and while my BRs and RIRs were listless, panting, and holding their wings out from their sides, my Australorps were going about their usual business like troopers. Second, temperament; RIRs are sometimes aggressive, and while BRs are generally docile, the Australorps typically have the calmest and most gentle temperament of the 3 breeds. My children and granddaughter never had a problem making lap pets of our Australorps. Third, lay rate; Australorps are the best layers of the three. An Australorp holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days, and while none of mine have ever reached that level of production, I've done some meticulous egg counts over the years, and have had a few of my Australorps lay more than 300 eggs in a year. I've never had a RIR break the 300 mark (although I've had a few of them come close), and I've never had a Barred Rock get even close to the 300 mark. Whatever breed you decide to go with, good luck with your flock.

 

[SteveRhea]

Wow, thanks for taking the time to respond so thoroughly!

I had heard some amazing things about Australorps as far as friendliness and productivity, but I didn't know they actually held the record. I was under the impression that Red Sex Links held that record, which is why I considered RIRs in the first place. Barred Rocks might be easier to find locally, but I'll make sure to look more closely for Australorps.

 

[Michael OShay]

Wow, thanks for taking the time to respond so thoroughly!

I had heard some amazing things about Australorps as far as friendliness and productivity, but I didn't know they actually held the record. I was under the impression that Red Sex Links held that record, which is why I considered RIRs in the first place. Barred Rocks might be easier to find locally, but I'll make sure to look more closely for Australorps.

Actually as far as records go, Red Sex Links are only third among brown egg layers with one having laid 346 eggs in a year. Number 2 is a Black Sex with 352 eggs in a year, but a Black Australorp actually holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in a year, and another Australorp laid 354 eggs in a year (http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/australorp). In fact many people still think that the 364 is the all-time egg record, but it was actually broken in 1979 by a caged White Leghorn that laid 371 white eggs in 364 days (http://cafnr.missouri.edu/about/chicken.php). However as a general rule though, both Black and Red Sex Links will outlay Australorps. My Black and Red Sex Links consistently churned out more than 300 eggs per hen per year, although my Australorps had a longer laying life. You should be aware however that even though sex links use RIRs in breeding (Black Sex Links are RIR roo X BR hen, and Red Sex Links are RIR roo X silver gene hen), RIRs cannot match the lay rate of sex links which outlay either parent breed. In other words, keeping pure RIRs will not achieve you a sex link laying rate. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization. If a high lay rate is your main priority, I would suggest going with Black Sex Links which tend to have the largest eggs of all breeds and hybrids with double yolks not being uncommon.

 

[Hens rule]

Buff orpingtons are good quiet friendly birds. They are also very good layers and are very social.

 

[Toddrick]

Actually as far as records go, Red Sex Links are only third among brown egg layers with one having laid 346 eggs in a year. Number 2 is a Black Sex with 352 eggs in a year, but a Black Australorp actually holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in a year, and another Australorp laid 354 eggs in a year (http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/australorp). In fact many people still think that the 364 is the all-time egg record, but it was actually broken in 1979 by a caged White Leghorn that laid 371 white eggs in 364 days (http://cafnr.missouri.edu/about/chicken.php). However as a general rule though, both Black and Red Sex Links will outlay Australorps. My Black and Red Sex Links consistently churned out more than 300 eggs per hen per year, although my Australorps had a longer laying life. You should be aware however that even though sex links use RIRs in breeding (Black Sex Links are RIR roo X BR hen, and Red Sex Links are RIR roo X silver gene hen), RIRs cannot match the lay rate of sex links which outlay either parent breed. In other words, keeping pure RIRs will not achieve you a sex link laying rate. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization. If a high lay rate is your main priority, I would suggest going with Black Sex Links which tend to have the largest eggs of all breeds and hybrids with double yolks not being uncommon.

You are so full of useful information!

I would not recommend Black Australorps for solely the reason that I heard from multiple BYC'ers that they are very vocal birds. My Red is also pretty vocal/skittish. I voted Barred Rock hens because they can be used to make BSL's, but of course a (non barred) rooster is needed. I am biased though, because this is my own '5 year plan'.

You probably don't want a hatchery RIR (production red) because they are not really as dual purpose as the literature suggests, because they are production layers. Same with Red Sex Links I think. The Barred Rock is one of the biggest, meatiest bird that is also a solid layer I believe. I'm not clear on how meaty a BSL is, but I suspect since they are such good layers, that they are not as good for meat--but better than a RSL.

 

[Michael OShay]

You are so full of useful information!

I would not recommend Black Australorps for solely the reason that I heard from multiple BYC'ers that they are very vocal birds. I voted Barred Rock hens because they can be used to make BSL's, but of course a (non barred) rooster is needed. I am biased though, because this is my own '5 year plan'.

You will also hear from multiple BYC'ers (including myself) that their Black Australorps are quiet as well (as chickens go). This seems to be largely a matter of the particular strain and breeding in BAs. In fact, I've decided over the years that it is true of most breeds. Trying to generalize the noise levels of chicken breeds is a lot like saying that people are either quiet or noisy. It all depends on the particular people. As a general rule though some breeds are definitely quieter than others. Silkies and Brahmas seem to be almost universally hailed by BYC members as quiet breeds. Of course even with these breeds, there can always be an exception to every rule.