Chicken Breed Recommendations

[aart]

Other than the high production layers for lots of eggs,
it's pretty hard to ascribe specific traits to breeds accurately.
All individual birds can have different demeanor's,
and how they are housed and handled can make a vast difference,
as can the line of the breed and where you get the birds.

The anecdotes you will get in response here will be just that, and highly subjective.
I like black and white birds, but mostly chose breeds that will make Olive Eggers.
Have had a few Lt Brahma, gorgeous, sweet, lousy feed to egg conversion, but great for stewing. SLW were also gorgeouser, sweet, and decent layers, but not particularly hardy.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I ordered every catalog from every hatchery/breeder I found that offers them for free. I did this after I bought my first 4 (because I love chickens so much that I wanted to read more and look at pics). I should have bought them before because I learned a lot from them. Might be worth a look. They list typical: temperament, egg production, bird size, confinement vs foraging, cold/heat hardiness, etc. I have the following catalogs currently as I loaned some I had out. I can't remember all of them...

• Murray McMurray
• Welp
• Meyer
• Cackle
• Hoover's

 

[so lucky]

Since my DH is not as committed to having our life disrupted by chickens as I am, I try to appease him on small differences that don't matter much, lol. One thing that bugs him is to see white feathers all over the lawn when the white chickens are molting or just from general feather loss. (They free range for short periods of time) I was determined to not get a white chicken this time, but the guy who grabbed them from the bins at the farm store sneaked a white one in the box while I was distracted. So now I again have white feathers al over the lawn.
So if you are a picky person, I advise green chickens. Or maybe grey and tan?

 

[Aunt Angus]

So if you are a picky person, I advise green chickens. Or maybe grey and tan

(pic found @ umnet.com via Pinterest)

 

[Aunt Angus]

I laugh, but I have white feathers ALL over the place from my Cochin...

 

[Folly's place]

I'm fine with white feathers, and also recommend reading up on breeds, and considering your climate and coop plans. Henderson's breed chart is helpful too, and the catalogs already mentioned are good.
Get an assortment of birds that look interesting to you, and see who you like, and how they do at your coop. I too have tried birds that came recommended, and they weren't for me.
Mary

 

[Aunt Angus]

Had to share this. The white feathers find their way everywhere. Not even my dog is immune!

They even stick to the other chickens.