Help me Decide on a Breed!!!

[Cindiloohoo]

Classic.rocker978 :

Here are the characteristics I would like:

- Friendly, Calm, Easy going Delaware
- Hardy, I live in Missouri so Hot summers and Cold winters.. Delaware
- Big enough to eat but also able to produce a decent amount of eggs (White or Brown) Delaware
- I want the hen to be a bit Broody, I would prefer it if she could hatch her own chicks. Delaware
- Preferably a "True" heritage breed, no Sex-Linked breeds or hybrids. Delaware
- Able forage in a free range situation. Delaware

Let me know what you think, I'm interested in hearing your guy's suggestions!

I think Delaware

They fit all the charachteristics you seek. I live in TN and they do well here. Nice table birds, will brood, and mine hardly touch their food in the warmer weather because they catch bugs all day. I get 6 eggs a week from each of my hens. They are much more friendly than some of my birds. They are very curious with sweet personalities. They DO beat up my Pit Bull on occasion though..so they're pretty rowdy when they want to be

I may be a wee smidge biased about these birds, but I have every reason to be

They're great!​

 

[Tommie D]

Another vote for the Delawares

 

[Sumatra503]

I've raises RIR's and Plymouth Rocks. I ended up with the flighty production strains and they sucked as table birds. Be careful when you order from hatcheries if you want table birds. Steer clear of anything that is advertised as a production bird.

I agree with the Delawares and Orpingtons.

Welsumers are also fairly good layers from my experience, though not as good as some.

I love my EE hen and she lays consistantly and sets each year.

 

[sloallie10]

buff orpingtons all the wayy!

And ILA!!! BEAUTIFUL! I have never seen the beauty in marans, but NOW i realize, and yours are GEORGOUS!

 

[Classic.rocker978]

Here's what I think I've got it narrowed down to...

Buff Orpington-Super Friendly and Mega Broody BUT will the forage?Extremely easy to come by in my area.

Delaware - Nice eggs, friendly are they broody enough? Probably one of the better foragers.

Barred Rock - ? I dont know much about these guys ?

I want to have around 10-15 hens and 2-3 roosters.I want the hens to go broody enough to where they do their own reproducing so I can eat the earlier generation every year and still get a good supply of eggs everyday. I want a majority of their feed to be from foraging during the warmer months.

 

[sloallie10]

Classic.rocker978 :

Here's what I think I've got it narrowed down to...

Buff Orpington-Super Friendly and Mega Broody BUT will the forage?Extremely easy to come by in my area.

Delaware - Nice eggs, friendly are they broody enough? Probably one of the better foragers.

Barred Rock - ? I dont know much about these guys ?

I want to have around 10-15 hens and 2-3 roosters.I want the hens to go broody enough to where they do their own reproducing so I can eat the earlier generation every year and still get a good supply of eggs everyday. I want a majority of their feed to be from foraging during the warmer months.

Yep I would go with BO's or BR's. YOur good either way.
Bo's are so pretty in the sunlight though and i love their butts!!​

 

[Chickenrandomness]

lol, i know how you feel about all the breeds!!! i was like that not too long ago! then i got my first chickens

 

[Illia]

Quote:
I don't think those meet the criteria of a "True Heritage breed," that the OP asked for.

Pretty though.

I agree with joletabey and speckledhen ..... Delawares! Plymouth Rocks, as well! You would love them both.

Really then that also goes for people mentioning BBS Ameraucanas, Welsummers, and Easter Eggers.

 

[3chimama]

Barred Rocks are so friendly and very hardy! I love mine!

 

[ultasol]

Nobody has mentioned the classic Wyandotte colors either. Large fowl wyandottes bred to standard are, in my experience with the SLW, good layers, fast growers (although males are slow to feather) and both hens and cocks have wonderful temperments. I would not recommend the hatchery version of these breeds, they often don't look, act, or produce like standard bred birds.