Best Free Range Chicken Breed?

[ErinHill]

Yes, I know, the title is a very loaded question. There is no one best breed. It all depends on individual needs. So I will outline what I need.

I own a large equestrian facility that is home to about 40 horses. The facility if located in eastern Ontario (-30 to +30 degrees celsius). In the middle of the facility is cute little chicken coop (36 sg ft indoor, 84 sq ft caged). The coop is home to 10 Red Sex Links that are let out every morning to roam around as they wish. They scratch and forage over a dozen acres or so of horse paddocks. The chickens lay an egg a day and are quiet and friendly. At night, the chickens head back to the coop (although I have to carry some over from time to time). I lock them up at night.

I'm very happy with my chickens. However, some chickens are better than others and I'd like to breed those chickens. The problem is that the RSL are not purebred so they're not really conducive to a breeding program. I'd like to switch to a breed that I can improve over time by breeding only my best hens. What I'm looking for in traits are:

- Heat Tolerant
- Cold Tolerant
- Good (Large /X-Large) Egg layer
- Friendly and easy to catch (I love the RSL that drop and do the little dance when cornered)
- I have a Great Pyrenees and a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd Cross....no predator issues.
- Since I'd like to breed in superior traits, it would be nice if the less desirables could be fattened up for....other uses.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BlackHackle]

Breeder quality Black Australorp, Plymouth Rock, or Rhode Island Red. Not hatchery, they won't get as big

 

[AlleysChicks]

I like my black Australorps and Barred Rocks. And my EEs but they aren’t purebreds.

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

Yes, I know, the title is a very loaded question. There is no one best breed. It all depends on individual needs. So I will outline what I need.

I own a large equestrian facility that is home to about 40 horses. The facility if located in eastern Ontario (-30 to +30 degrees celsius). In the middle of the facility is cute little chicken coop (36 sg ft indoor, 84 sq ft caged). The coop is home to 10 Red Sex Links that are let out every morning to roam around as they wish. They scratch and forage over a dozen acres or so of horse paddocks. The chickens lay an egg a day and are quiet and friendly. At night, the chickens head back to the coop (although I have to carry some over from time to time). I lock them up at night.

I'm very happy with my chickens. However, some chickens are better than others and I'd like to breed those chickens. The problem is that the RSL are not purebred so they're not really conducive to a breeding program. I'd like to switch to a breed that I can improve over time by breeding only my best hens. What I'm looking for in traits are:

- Heat Tolerant
- Cold Tolerant
- Good (Large /X-Large) Egg layer
- Friendly and easy to catch (I love the RSL that drop and do the little dance when cornered)
- I have a Great Pyrenees and a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd Cross....no predator issues.
- Since I'd like to breed in superior traits, it would be nice if the less desirables could be fattened up for....other uses.

Thanks in advance.

That little drop and dance is them squatting down for mating lol

 

[ErinHill]

These are the breeds that I was leaning towards and actually have young Black Australorps in a Chicken tractor with White Leghorns and some Easter Eggers. I like the EEs and BAs.

Can you please define "Breeder Quality "? Most of my eggs have been from locals on Kijiji or Facebook with mixed success. I suspect some inbreeding issues.

 

[ErinHill]

I like my black Australorps and Barred Rocks. And my EEs but they aren’t purebreds.

I like the EEs as well. Mine are young and haven't laid yet but are friendly.

 

[CannedMonster]

So since you like some of them can you use the RSL in this program?
I know that they don’t breed “true” but they have the traits you like don’t they?
If you got a good rooster you could create your own barnyard mixes with the traits you want.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, and Buff Orpingtons. I love my EEs, but they are technically mutts... All are great in heat/cold (I had temp of -20 with windchill last winter and they were all great.. this summer temps in the 90s and they are still fabulous. All hens are friendly and if raised together as chicks they will get the pecking order out of the way as chicks instead of adults. All the breeds listed are large birds with large eggs. I have noted that the RIR hens can be aggressive to other new hens .. I simply monitored them for 2 days and at night stuck the RIR (only 2 are aggressive while 1 was not) in a dog kennel so they didn't rip out all the feathers of my new hens during the early am while I'm on my way to them. When I let them out RIR went out with them and all was fine.. its only when confined I have noted with all my RIR hens. Just toss a few chicks in with your others to avoid this. They are great with people, kids and dogs. Very friendly and run up to me while splitting wood (with a loud wood splitter running) to eat the bugs. Very brave breed, but also bossy haha.

 

[Corys chickens]

I like my black Australorps and Barred Rocks. And my EEs but they aren’t purebreds.

Thats nice to know i have black australorps chickens

 

[centrarchid]

Developed in Canada for Canada, the Chantecler Chicken.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chantecler_chicken