Good, All-Around Breed?

[tnchickenut]

Yeah, and I could say Orpingtons too... I just gravitate more towards birds that are both dual purpose and not in all my neighbors yards.... ya know? I like to have the brds that make people say, "wow, what is that!?"

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

I love my Easter eggers and my Mottled Javas. Both are really good layers, friendly and interested in everything you are doing. Javas are a great dual purpose bird. Great for meat and eggs. They are both great foragers, so if you can allow them to free range that means less trips to the feed store. Plus, Javas are a heritage breed on the critical list. You can help bring them back. Good luck on what ever you choose. You can check out my website to find out more about the Java.

 

[BarredBuff]

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Well I would add more BAs,RIRS, and BRs. You also might wanna consider some Cuckoo Marans and Easter Eggers.

 

[poultryhaven]

Speckled Sussex, Marans, and EE's!

 

[Mahonri]

If you want color, marans, Easter Eggers and of course Ameraucanas.

Here are some of my Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas.

 

[SunshineSteedFarm]

Oh my goodness Mahonri, they are beautiful! I love his little blue beard!

 

[joletabey]

Delawares are super friendly, calm, and great dual purpose birds- some of mine jump in my lap!

 

[newchickmom09]

I wanted to suggest some GLW. They lay pretty well and are big enough to eat. I would go with EE if you want colorfull eggs, but my EE are the smallest of my hens. I don't think they would be worth butchering to eat. Also remember EE can lay brown eggs also. One of mine lays the exact same color as my SLW a very light brown.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

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Yeah, I get a rainbow egg basket just from my EEs! I have 4 of them, and I get 1 blue, 1 green, 1 pink with white splotches, and 1 huge tan egg!!

 

[walkswithdog]

Delawares - big pink brown/tan eggs, big meaty birds. Marans big dark brown eggs, meaty bird. I think I'd like Faverolles but this year I'm adding Wh/Blue Wheaten purebred Ameraucanas - big blue eggs. I'll see how they forage.

I had Rocks, barred and partridge and BBS. I'm keeping the BBS for eye candy but the Delawares lay bigger eggs and are better foragers, bigger meat birds.