Breeds no farm flock should be without

[crawfordmama]

EEs for sure!

 

[punky rooster]

a heritage breed
they are all purpose and they are worth preserving!
punky

 

[Nava]

Nacked Necks, that is a must have breed

 

[henjoy]

Isa Browns (or any sex link) for eggs and definitely Dorkings if you want meat. The Dorkings are a heritage breed with good size and are champion setters and great mothers. Here in Michigan ours raise 2-3 broods per year. Dorkings are not exactly dual purpose though because they are usually setting. Stiil, we love ours.

 

[TK Poultry]

I guess Bantam Ameraucanas aren't farm chickens

but I can't imagine not having any! I think everyone should!

 

[punky rooster]

no hatchery bird is a heritage bird only the breeder birds with all the same quality, size and shape from when they were first being made are truly heritage

 

[Wifezilla]

Ducks!

 

[Terri O]

If you said Ducks I get to say geese and guineas! Perfect watch dogs too!

 

[oldchickenlady]

Buff Orps and RIR's. I have these 2 and hope to get some silver laced wyandottes by next spring. Very pretty mix to look at and great egg layers and friendly.

 

[LizaBlue]

Ooh, I really wish when you started this thread you had made sure to ask them to tell WHY, lol. I haven't gotten any chickens yet, just rabidly gathering info and preparing a home for them. DH has a co-worker who offered him some RIR's, and they both want Delawares; I started reading about breeds on the BYC home page and thought we ought to get Australorps, but I also want to get some pretty green and blue eggs. When I saw this thread I got real excited, hoping to learn a lot more - personal experience tells a lot more than books! Also, the descriptions of breeds don't say it all...I want to know if the birds are just fun to watch, play well with others, make good mothers, lay the best eggs, make a good Sunday dinner, or are guaranteed to freak out passersby and you just can't buy that kind of entertainment - in other words, everything only the owners can tell you!

So how 'bout it ppl, help a newbie out and don't just say why your flock must include these birds but why?