Favorite Chicken Breed?

[urlocalcrazychickenlady]

Hey y’all!! I’m wondering, what is your FAVORITE chicken breed?

I want the best egg producer, but I know that the ones bred for production are prone to short lives and/or health issues. So what is your tried and true, healthy, productive hens?!

Just tryna plan for possible chicks this spring.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Folly's place]

One favorite breed? That's hard! I like varied egg colors, so EEs, Speckled Sussex (friendliest hens), brown Leghorns, Chanteclers (cold climate favorites), Buckeyes, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Welsummers, and Salmon Favorelles (mild mannered, not great with bullies).
I can't imaging having only one breed!
Mary

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Favorite overall are Naked Neck Turkens. They’re interesting looking, fairly productive and have great temperaments. I also get a kick out of people asking “what the heck is wrong with that chicken?!”

Right now I am working on a free-range flock so Leghorns are my current favorite though I only have one. I have had a few in the past and didn’t like them for suburbia because they were so flighty and clearly miserable being confined. In the past I have found Speckled Sussex to be quite lovely and good setters and mothers. I am also partial to a Black Copper Maran because I like their dark eggs.

So…I can’t pick just one but if I had to I would still go with Turkens. Here’s the Magnificent Muraco who is a mutt chicken but obviously has some Naked Neck in him

 

[hammyanne]

My response isn't original by any stretch of the imagination, but my EE is by far the most curious, smart, and consistent layer in my free-range flock. She's never had any issues getting back inside the coop and hasn't had any health issues so far. Definitely my vote for hardy, friendly breed!

 

[MROO]

I keep Nankin Bantams, which are technically my all-time favorite breed, but this winter, my preference is swinging over to Sapphire Gems. I only have one, a young pullet who is contributing a huge red-brown egg every day. The rest are all freeloaders!

 

[Folly's place]

Some olive eggers landed here last year, and they are good looking and so far excellent layers.
Mary

 

[BigBlueHen53]

EEs will always be my recommedtation for a tried and true breed for novices, you just can't go wrong with them IME. Hardy in all temps, friendly, laid-back, get along with other breeds, I've never had a bully. Dependable layers, don't go broody. Good foragers. And they come at a reasonable price.

 

[FrostRanger]

Another vote for easter egger! What's not to love? They go well in most flocks so it'd be worth it to have at least a few just because

 

[StinkyAcres]

Fifth vote for EEs! (Ameraucana-type Easter Eggers also known as Americanas). Very healthy, hardy, egg-laying machines. My oldest hen ever was an EE and my current oldest is almost 9 years old and still kicking.

 

[Rabbit chicken]

I love Turkens I recommend a cross though... Road Ileand reds and eastereggers are good choises... but if you want Amazing brooders to hatch more chicks I have found that Svart Hona(a solid black breed) are amazzing at it... My Svart Honas can hatch over 10 eggs and are happy to brood...