Groan... how do you decide on a breed question...

[estpr13]

Once you figure out which kind of desired traits you want in a chicken check out this website from a different thread. I love it. It has everything I was collecting to develop my own list. Now I don't have to, as this one is done professionally.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

Good luck.

 

[wclawrence]

Buckeyes and Chanteclers are a little more on the meaty side and lay very well.

If I was in it for the reasons you are, I would get a few of each and decide for myself, besides I would probably breed some of the heavier dual purpose birds to the best laying dual purpose birds and try to get something going that will outperform what we currently have available.

Good luck and Have fun!

 

[chickiebaby]

A thought for you- nothing's purtier than a mixed flock ranging across the grass, and if you are just starting out you can learn the most from having lots of different birds.

If you get real serious about breeding later, that's different but imo, starting off with a nice mix is a great way to go and avoids all this torturous decision-making anyway.

Good hatcheries will even take the worry off your hands and mix it up for you. Can't go wrong, for instance, with the excellent Murray McMurray (my fave hatchery) who will provide you with a mix of layers that includes fabulous birds. You can get 25 and split em with a friend.

Have to admit that's how I started, after the initial chicks I stole when my daughter's class hatched em ! and it has taught me a lot about a lot of diff breeds, in very little time.

Anyway, it sounds to me like everything you are thinking of is great. Can't go wrong if they're chickens!

 

[orcasislandchickens]

For better or worse I decided on dual purpose miniature bantam layers for my tiny flock. Both barred rocks and buff orpingtons are available . They do fatten up enough to be eaten, and lay grocery store small ( large for batam) eggs. I have the orpingtons and can confirm that they are sweet like the big ones.

One of the problems with bantams though is that they only come unsexed. Right away you have a few food roos.

 

[cherrychicken]

I would go with barred rocks, silver laced wyandottes and red sex links all three are very good layers and I think are very pretty. They are also nice and friendly. even though some people think that red sex links are plain looking, I completely disagree! I have two and they are beautiful (great foragers too!) It is up to you but I think that all three of these birds meet your standards. Also, I would go with standards because they produce bigger eggs and from my egg-sperience (lol) the standards are more docile.




P.S. i say SILVER LACED wyandottes because they are supposed to be the best breed of wyandotte for egg laying purposes

 

[chandasue]

Almost everyone has mentioned the Barred Rocks and I agree. Do the other varieties of Rocks carry similar laying and temperament as the Barred? In particular, the Silver Pencilled and Buff varieties?