Best dual purpose breed for sustainability

[Oldhound]

I LOVE my Cubalayas. Started laying at 5 months , medium size eggs not large. Some will roost in the rafters if they can find room. Between a Leghorn and a Dominique size wise . Mine came from Sandhill Preservation , but Urch Turnland also has some fine birds. Mr. Jim Zook of Orchard farm has excellent birds . They are out there just for the search. Good Luck. By the way way they are one of the most beautiful and intelligent of breeds. But I am Very Biased. Bill

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

This post on Reddit inspired me to raise chickens and join BYC.

Changed my life for the better.

The poster raises Buff Orpingtons in his garage because they are very productive and very quiet. My single BO is a drama queen when it comes to egg songs.

 

[Arielle]

I picked dual purpose because I wanted easy temperments and eggs and meat. THe colors chosen: blk, silver laced, speckled etc to out wit the hunting hawks. Some a bit btoody, most not.

I too am very worried about my families future; other threads have more info--really. Try heritage, foraging in the search. Dorkings are heralded as a thrify bird, self reliant and excellent foragers that maintain their larger than bantam size without much help (yellow house farm ) Winter feed is a concern. Reduce the flock for the winter to reduce feed needs and build again in the spring thru the summer.

Consider vermiculture: the growing of worms as a protein source. Red worms use vegie scraps, those too moldy for the hens, as food for their food. USe beds in the summer and buckets in doors for the winter.

Great thread OP--thanks for starting it!

 

[ericsplls]

I would try a smaller standard bird over a bantam. OEG, American game, dominique would all be good choices. Dominiques would require more assistance than american game but you would also get more return. I'm looking into growing grain sorghum instead of corn. It's lower maintenance and yeilds more on non irrigated fields.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

 

[Engteacher]

6chickens in St. Charles :

Javas!

What if the economy recovers completely, and you don't really need all those eggs and all that meat after all? With Javas, at least your efforts helped save an endangered breed.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/2002-02-01/Java-Chickens-Back-From-the-Brink.aspx

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/2/2-4/Michael_Dougherty.html

Plus, they're beautiful birds.

Good luck. With the medicare/medicaid cuts proposed, I suspect my income to be dramatically reduced this year. I'm investing in peas and beans. Lentils! Perfect protein and SOOOO easy!

Yes, Javas! My first java hen went broody in the dead of winter and raised healthy chicks in spite of the bitter cold. My hens laid consistently all winter long. The extra roosters dress out to a nice sized bird in about 20 weeks. They get along well and the two cocks in charge keep a sharp eye out to protect the hens and are respectful of us humans. Javas are efficient with food, forage well, and are good natured. They should definitely be on your short list!​

 

[Earthologie]

Quote:
HOW!! do you get that many free!

My friend owns 20 hens

 

[Earthologie]

I live in Northwest Ohio, Near Defiance.

I have also been reading about black sumatras for their foraging ability. Seems like they lay less eggs than the Cubalaya though? At least some sites said they lay abundantly, other sites said they barely lay at all (the Sumatra, that is...)

For Cubalayas I seem to be having a hard time finding information on how many eggs a year the average hen lays as well...

How many do yours Cubalayas typically lay?

Perhaps the Cubalayas from hatcheries are not sold out. Maybe the internet searches on my cell phone just aren't as good as using a real computer.

Regardless, those are the two breeds my eyes have narrowed down to: Cubalayas and black Sumatras...

The biggest decision will come from who lays the most eggs... For me anyways...

P.S.

I just scored THREE free Old English Game Bantams from a friend. No rooster though. Well, I'm supposed to get them... But she might change her mind

 

[ChestnutRidge]

Quote:
I have a resident breeding pair of Goshawks in this area and visiting eagles spotted occasionally. My lawn pets, Silkies and Bantie Cochins have solid roofed pens because I know they hawks would take them if they could get to them.

My LF have had a hawk sitting on the wire roof of their pen in the morning so they know they are here. When ranging the roosters diligently keep watch and one squawk will send the flock running for cover. I find while the hens are busy foraging the roos are scanning the sky for danger. They are also smart enough to put themselves away in their roofed pen if they want a midday snooze.

Cover and color is going to be an important consideration. My white puffball Silkie on the lawn would be history. My Welsummer hen in my veggie patch is nearly impossible to find even when I know she's in there somewhere.

If the visiting eagle could catch the chickens without cover it isn't going to care how big the chickens are.

Thanks! I appreciate your expertise. We live in an area with hawks (my dh knows the specific kinds on our ridge...), so that has been a great concern of mine. I am going for darker colored birds for that reason. Cover is a good consideration as well. I like the idea of a place for them to get under and be less on-guard.

As far as the dual purpose breeds, I have also read good things about Speckled Sussex. They lay fairly well (some say 240-260 eggs per year), mature to a good weight for meat, blend in well, forage, and are friendly/easy to handle.

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
240 - 260 is great, not fairly well. But I doubt a standard bred one would lay that, maybe 220 at highest (guess) even that would be really good for a dual purpose breed. 240 - 260 would be from a production bred bird, but it would not give you as much meat.
Their are Dual purpose laying around 200 eggs a year and give a nice amount of meat.
Their are eggs laying breeds that lay 240+ eggs a year and not much meat but still make good fryers.
Their are meat breeds that give a lot of meat and a very poor egg layer. ect
Sorry if I sound mean or anything,
punky