Breed Poll - help me decide

[AinaWGSD]

I picked light sussex because of my (admittedly limited) experience with my hatchery chickens I have been very impressed with the temperament and growth of my speckled sussex. I'm less impressed by their egg laying, but it's still not bad since they do lay consistently and they lay med-lrg eggs. It's just not as good as my EE or SLW's egg laying prowess. But I could see how they would be attractive table birds. And I love the black on white contrast of the columbian pattern.

 

[Cowgirl71]

I picked Barred Rocks.

Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons are my top 3 favorite breeds, after hours of research and lot's of experience with several different breeds. Did I pick these breeds for their looks? No. Though they are pretty birds, IMHO. I picked them for practicality reasons. Meat, eggs, foraging, broodiness. Something that's not just yard candy, but productive members of the farm. However, I can't limit myself to one breed (BORING!), and I'm not going to maintain separate flocks. In the past, I've been really impressed at how hardy and fast-growing and large my hybrid/mixed breed chicks are. So, I plan to take these three breeds and mix them into a good "farm fowl." Most of the people I've sold chicks too say that they don't necessarily need purebreds. They'd be perfectly happy with mixed heavy breed chicks, so long as the pullets are great layers of brown eggs, are not white in color (predators), and aren't frufru (feathered legs, crested, etc.).

I'd imagine that your extra Barred Rocks should be pretty easy to sell, at layer prices? Possibly even the New Hampshires, if you called them "Reds." Just my $0.02!

 

[tnchickenut]

Here is what I know...

I know the BRs and the Barnevelders are staying. I just can't decide the third..... NHs? Dels? (I'll always keep the bantam Dels) Any of the Sussex?

All my large breeds are dual purpose, brown layers. The Orps I did have were too big. The Wyandottes I had were HUGE but laid tiny eggs. Delawares come with drama... and if you don't know what that means and get into them, you will. The NHs are nice but other than plumage offer about the same as a BR. The Sussex I have are imports and are almost too big too. I don't want a turkey sized chicken to cook. Call me crazy but the best meat bird I own is the BANTAM Barnevelders. Perfect size. (no they are not tiny "true" bantams)

So, yes, I pick breeds because of their use first, not prettiness... however, if a pretty bird can serve well... then why not?

Another problem is a BR won't sell around here if it's over $1 because EVERYONE has them. But a Barnevelder won't sell for what it's worth because alot of people are clueless that they are a table bird too.

But this poll is helping me see what the average chickener sees. So thanks.