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.

 

[Snobulle]

Mine is probably short leg or asil. Bc asil's love sitting on the eggs but the only bad thing about them sometimes agresive towards us if we do somthing bad to them and I hate the people that make them fight

 

[Cynthia12]

Have never had an issue with my silkies and their fuzzy legs. Just keep an eye out and deal with it quick if you see anything, but go for it! They are gorgeous birds

I used to have silkies too. Sure miss my birds. I loved hatching the silkies. And Showgirls.

 

[Cynthia12]

It would be so hard to pick just one breed! I have noticed over the years that it's a combination of factors for me. Summers can be hot, Spring and Fall wet with crazy winter weather. It can be 50 one day,snow and freezing rain the next, then 70 the day after that. We don't often get snow, it's more of the rain or sleet that we have to contend with. On top of that, every predator imaginable. Mainly hawks, owls, racoons, possums, snakes, coyotes, foxes and bobcats. Anything white or mostly white colored is off the table. Light Brahmas or anything similar do not make it. Rhode Island Red, Amberlinks, or a mix are too aggressive so I don't get them any longer. My best/ favorite breeds have been the speckled sussex, silver laced Wyandotte, buff or chocolate orp, with the solid black hen or 2 thrown in. I currently have a Cochin mix hen and 2 some type of old english mix/ EE bantams in 1 small flock. Then a 2nd small flock of 3 Mille Fleur D'Uccle. Everyone seems to be doing well. I found it best to have at least 2-3 of each breed and go from there.

Sounds like Utah weather.