Best recession/depression chicken breed(s)?

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Again about araucanas, I think the rumplessness might help because they don't have a tail to grab onto. Chickens, unlike guineas, pheasants, and peafowl tend to keep their tails when a predator grabs them instead of dropping those feathers. Our largefowl araucanas were very meaty, almost like cornish in that sense. You pick them up expecting a normal weight bird but they are just heavy. They are a better dual purpose breed than many of the others out there. When we dressed out some of the extra cockerels, they had lots of meat and the hens are amazing layers. I think it is because some of them still retain some of that wildness from the original quetro/collonqua (sp?) from South America. Our easter eggers all have the same type, just like any of the other landraces out there like the swedish flower hens, hedemoras, etc. which makes them look more of a breed than some of the accepted breeds. Our roosters and hens all look alike if you were to take the silhouette of them and compare it.

I just noticed that my top 3 breeds as far as survival based birds go are all peacombed (easter eggers, sumatras, araucanas).

 

[zephyrcreek]

I'll pit my Javas against any other breed for this type of scenario. In fact I did exactly that this summer. I sent a dozen chicks to my mom, and kept a dozen back. We did it to compare growth rate. She has excellent free range area, with a choice of open pasture, swamp, and trees. She also keeps horses. All summer she only fed a small scoop of scratch 1x a day for almost 3 dozen birds. The javas were allowed to roam all they wanted, and they roosted in the rafters of her very large barn. They wanted nothing to do with the chicken coop, and she did not push it. My dozen were a week younger, but had the same start....except they were fed a conventional high protein grower and then switched over to layer. They had lots of turn out time, but they were confined in a large fenced in area. At five months her cockerels were ready to butcher, and twice the size of my guys. Her pullets started laying in December with no lights. My pullets have yet to start laying. These are a true dual purpose bird that not only does well, but thrives when they can be left alone to fend for themselves.

I have Dels too, and they are great. They beat the javas in personality if you want a pocket pet, and our breed project is much furthur along for our Dels....The are a great bird, and my favorite if I had to pick just one....but the Javas will beat them hads down. They are the easiest keepers around, and smarter than smart. In fact I have most of the American breeds mentioned here, and still pick the Javas.

Also remember you don't want to encourage too much brodiness or you will loose egg production. Another reason to love my Javas and Dels. They will go broody if you leave the eggs in the nest for a week or more, but will not go broody unless you want them to. At least that has been my experience so far. And they are great mothers.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

If you have acreage for free-ranging, it changes the game, IMO. As a city-dweller, I have a whole different list of parameters.

 

[anconaduckman]

I have read every page and there is some great info here. This has also helped me chose my chicken breeds. I am leaning toward the Dominique, java and then a third. Perhaps an Atralorp or Buckeye. I am looking for something to mix well with the first two breeds.

However, my main questions regarding this issue is DUCKS. I have read some good things about ducks like they can forage up to 100% of their diet, on average better egg layers (if you compare best to best), and on and on. So would they make a better or equal choice for hard times? And if all that is written about them is true why are chickens more popular for homesteading and so forth?

My sources are gardening books and so forth. I have 10 Anconas on their way for a dual purpose bird, foraging ability and they are a rare breed that I can help or do my part to help with.

Regards

 

[Oregon Blues]

All ducks are good foragers. Of course, you must actually have forage and protection from predators.

Egg laying breeds of ducks lay more eggs than chickens do. The eggs are larger and have a bigger yolk.

The meat duck grows as fast and as large as a Cornish Cross chicken, with no health issues of any sort. There isn't as much meat on a duck.

I suspect that chickens are more popular because nearly everyone thinks of chickens when they think of eggs. If you buy eggs, they are chicken eggs because ducks do not live well in battery cages. You can raise a lot more chickens in a smaller space, which matters to a commercial farm.

If you really want something cheap to feed and raise, and if you have a lot of lawn or pasture, get geese. Grass is what they are intended to eat and if you have grass, you don't have to buy them any feed at all. They are slightly more predator proof because of their size. You really can't beat roast goose for a luxurious meal and their eggs are the best tasting eggs of all.

 

[anconaduckman]

I was thinking about some geese.

This conversation just interested me as I have 10 Anconas on the way and down the road I am curious about either getting more ducks or getting some chickens. And in the context of this thread is where my thought process was at. Is there any reason to get chickens with a flock of ducks that are dual purpose? I know it can probably go both ways but I wanted to make sure that a lot of the positives were really there.

I would love to get some Dominiques and Javas and maybe Astralorps or Opringtons; as it just seems fun to have chickens.

Regards.

 

[BlackPanther]

I have read every page and there is some great info here. This has also helped me chose my chicken breeds. I am leaning toward the Dominique, java and then a third. Perhaps an Atralorp or Buckeye. I am looking for something to mix well with the first two breeds.

However, my main questions regarding this issue is DUCKS. I have read some good things about ducks like they can forage up to 100% of their diet, on average better egg layers (if you compare best to best), and on and on. So would they make a better or equal choice for hard times? And if all that is written about them is true why are chickens more popular for homesteading and so forth?

My sources are gardening books and so forth. I have 10 Anconas on their way for a dual purpose bird, foraging ability and they are a rare breed that I can help or do my part to help with.

Regards

IMO, chickens are more popular than ducks for a few reasons:
Ducks don't take well to confinement.
Ducks should have a source of water large enough for them to swim and play in, because whatever water you give them, they are going to go in it.... and they just love to mix their food with water.
Ducks are filthy when in your yard or any semi-small space!
Furthermore, some ducks migrate.

 

[bb livestock]

rir, orpingtons,plymouth rocks. brahmas, wyandottes and other dual purpose breeds.
Old english games can fend for themselves.

 

[BlackPanther]

If the Javas were easier to get, I think they would be my top choice. A lot of our modern breeds were created from them; these are the birds that were the old time homestead chicken.
I chose them because they're dual purpose, supposed to be really broody and love to forage.

 

[haTHOR]

Javas, hands down. I raise Black Javas. They prefer foraging over eating feed, they don't fight among themselves, they set and raise their babies, and the males even help. They are vigilant about heading for cover when an owl or hawk comes around. I LOVE their calm, respectful demeanor. They dress out beautifully and taste amazing.