Creating the Perfect City Chicken

[eyralis]

Hi!! So... we have been dreaming of creating the perfect city breed:

- Small-ish
- Quiet (so they don't disturb the neighbors)
- Docile and friendly (so they're easy to handle and can double up as pets)
- Good layers: laying often and laying good-sized eggs

Here are the two best breeds we've found so far:

Bielefedlers:
- quiet, docile and friendly, lay often, large eggs, but only available in large fowl

Faverolles:
- quiet, docile and friendly, available in Bantam, lay often, but lay rather small eggs

What would happen if we crossed them? We currently have:
- Bantam Faverolles hen
- Bantam Faverolles rooster
- Large Bielefelder hen
- Large Bielefelder rooster

Whom should we cross with whom?
Who passes on the genetics of chicken size?
Who passes on the genetics of egg size?

Any thoughts or opinions would be much appreciated!!

 

[Baizer84]

Why not just develop a bantam Bielefelder? Seems to be the obvious answer.

 

[eyralis]

We'd love to, but how does one do that?

 

[enola]

What about Olandsk chickens?

They are a dwarf breed that is supposed to lay well and like humans!

 

[eyralis]

They sound great!! Do you by any chance know what their average laying rate is?

 

[enola]

I am not sure, but I think a breeder told me 200+ eggs a year.

 

[eyralis]

Thanks!! We’re sold, and have just ordered a breeding pair!

 

[enola]

I pm'd another breeder, she says hers lay nearly every day, are the last ones to stop laying in the fall, and the first ones to start in the spring. I don't think they will lay a huge egg, but, savings on feed money will be huge!

 

[eyralis]

They sound amazing, seriously! The lovely Gottaluvfriends is sending us a pair of hers, and they will be here in just a few days!!!

 

[Baizer84]

I would find a bantam breed that somewhat resembles a Bielefelder and breed them in and work to perfect your bird, breeding for bantam size and Bielefelder characteristics. Bantam Rocks would be your best bet.