chickens?

[Harmon_7]

What is a good breed to get if you are going to let them roam?

 

[tiki244]

Do you want eggs? Do you want meat? Do you want friendly chickens? What color?

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Not sure exactly what you mean by 'roam'.

I have Barred Rocks, RIR, and NHRs. All are great at foraging (although I also leave layer pellets free choice 24/7). They aren't great flyers, though, so might not be so good if you have a lot of ground predators?

Bantams are supposed to be great flyers, though. Not sure if that will influence your decision or not

And of course, IMHO it's important to provide shelter, even if you let them free range all of the time.

Good luck picking.. there are so many kinds (and in my henhouse, not nearly enough space for all 7,251 breeds..)

Meghan

 

[Harmon_7]

i want eggs and friendly...color doesnt matter.... Roam= i am just going to let them free in my yard. I will have a cop where the feed and water will be and the nesting boxes but other wise the door will be wide open for them to run...

 

[tiki244]

try this http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson

 

[tiki244]

then click on chickens and you will see all the different charecteristics of different breeds........I would stay away from white because Hawks can see them well,,,, and I would stay away from Polish because they cant see too well....Hope that helps

 

[peepkeeper]

I would avoid white chickens, they can't hide from predators, and I would avoid silkies and polish and other chickens with big poofy hair, they can't see well. RIR, Dominiques and sex links are hardy, good personality and good foragers.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Okay.
Are you ready for the list.. lol

Ancona
Andalusian
Aracaucana
Campine
Catalana
Chantecler
Dominique
Fayoumi
Hamburg
Lakenvelder
Leghorn
Maran
Minorca
Penedesenca
RIR
RIW
Welsummer
Brahma
Buckeye
Delaware
Dorking
Faverolle
Holland
Iowa Blue
Java
New Hampshire
Orpington
Sussex
Wyandottes
American Game Bantam
Appenzeller
Bearded d'Uccle
Cochins
Crevecoeur
Cubalaya
Houdan
Japanese Bantams
Kraienkoppe
La Fleche
Langshan
Manx Rumpy
Naked Neck
Nankin
Redcap
Sicilian Buttercup
Silkies
Sultan
White-Faced Spanish

There are many others. That's just a few

 

[Harmon_7]

Arent those just a list of t he breeds? I know them but i was just wondering what is best?

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

no. that is a list of good free roaming breeds. Trust me. There are TONS more.