Favorite Chicken Breed?

[Ponypoor]

Thank you stay safe and warm.
.

Have the heaters going all the time in the barn and Hen Houses. Just counting down the days until summer!

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

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!

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

I haven't read the entire thread but are you interested in butchering your chickens as they age, when egg production starts to slow down?
If not Americanas would be my choice. They will produce plenty of eggs for a family, mine were broody so they will hatch more hens and of course roosters. Extra birds can be sold. given away or butchered.
If you want dual purpose follow the earlier suggestions.

 

[Beriadhwen]

I adore my cream legbar she lays blue egg and lays 5 a week, my blue cuckoo was laying an egg everyday which are a pretty brown. Mine are only 9 months almost 10 so that could be it. She did stop for 2 months due to molting.

 

[BDutch]

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?!

The ones who lay most are most vulnerable for health issues and often have short lives. All chickens produce less when they get older.
If you want eggs every winter, you need new pullets of a good laying breed every winter period. Maintenance is the main clue.

My Dutch bantams are the best chickens I have/had. But only a good choice if egg production is not very important. I love them because they are very friendly, smart, interact with me in a pleasant way.
Also important for me:
- they are good free rangers who do not damage the garden very much
- their poop is so small that it dries out quickly and doesn’t annoy me
- they can fly a bit, which is very important to escape from predators
- they are so small that I can keep 8 in a space that would be too small for 8 large bantams or normal sized chickens.