I found a breed table on a site: http://woodlotfarms.com/Chicken_Breeds.html
All the links come back to the breeds page here. I messed with it to develop my list a little
Breed Name Purpose Egg Production Egg Size Egg Color Broodiness
Australorp Dual Purpose High Large Brown Average
Delaware Dual Purpose High Large Brown Average
Java Dual Purpose High Large Brown Average
Naked Neck-turken Dual Purpose High Large Brown Average
New Hampshire Red Dual Purpose High Large Brown Frequent
Plymouth Rock Dual Purpose High Large Light Brown Seldom
Rhode Island Dual Purpose High Large Brown Seldom
Rhode Island White Dual Purpose High Large Brown Average
Wyandotte Dual Purpose High Large Light Brown Frequent
Brahma Dual Purpose Medium Large Light Brown Average
Cochin Ornamental Medium Large Light Brown Frequent
Jersey Giant Dual Purpose Medium Large Light Brown Seldom
Marans Dual Purpose Medium Large Dark Brown Average
Orpington Dual Purpose Medium Large Light Brown Frequent
Polish Ornamental Medium Medium White Seldom
Silkie Ornamental Medium Small Light Brown Frequent
My list of breeds is ever adapting. The limiting factor is finding eggs that are local and not outrageously priced.
I could order many of these from hatcheries and ebay but I lose up to three days viability in getting them to the Philippines so I can afford 3 days to get them to SoCal as well. Add to that the air cell damage from traveling with the postal service and I would be looking at very low hatch rates.
I am going to a meet-up of SoCal BYCers in San Diego County next Sunday. I am hopeful I can network there and get info on the eggs I want.
Australorps, Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds should be my main target due to the fact that based on my primary goal, they are the perfect breed. The big boys - Jersey Giants, Bramha, Orpingtons and Cochin are to eventually increase the size of the birds in our area - a poultry improvement program. Marans are there because of egg color while Silkies and Polish I hope to sell as ornamentals to wealthy Filipinos who want something amusing in their back yard.
http://www.odysseyranch.com/Poultry.html sells some on my list at 1.50 per egg. When I spoke to them today about my next trial hatch they wanted to know what day I would pick up so they could start collecting the morning before - a good sign. The also have a mission statement about breeding true to the standard at a reasonable price. Still the elusive RIR and barred Plymouth Rock are not on their list. The two most common birds in the USA are just not sexy I guess.
