Help me decide which breed

[dancingbear]

You might try calling your local feed stores, and ask when/if they will be getting chicks in, and see if anybody there knows what breeds they usually get. Then mark your calender with the name of the store on the expected date(s). Maybe you'll get a few more choices, and you'd still be able to pick them out yourself. Sometimes, folks at feed stores will help you locate local breeders, too.

Or check the BYC breeder's list, for any breeds you might want to try. See if there are any of the right breeders are near you.

Or post an inquiry in the breeder's section, or in the Buy, Sell, Trade area, and see if you can find folks near you. I was pleasantly surprised to find a KY traders thread under the Chickenstocks area. And I've gotten some of what I want through that, too.

There's more than one way to buy some chicks.

 

[Southerngirl]

The buff orps or rocks are great dual purpose birds. I bought 25 orps roos in mid june for my fall batch with my broilers. You could just order both and let them cross breed to see what you get. In regards to the giants, they are not considered full grown until around 2 years of age.Have you considered Dark Cornish? They also fit all the wants on your list for a breed. Good Luck!

 

[bigredfeather]

I would add Buckeyes to your list. You may not be able to find them from a hatchery, but there are a few people on here that sell eggs and/or chicks. IMHO they are a great dual purpose pure breed. You can cross them with something as well. I am going to try my Dark Cornish roo with some Buckeye hens next year as a expiriment.

Most Buckeyes have a great disposition as well.

 

[cybercat]

Quote:
The reason I got the partidge rocks is that they are well know for going broody and raising their chicks. Almost as good as silkies but larger. I got mine from MT Healthy and will tell you they are large over 4lbs by 13 weeks. Very healthy and now on their own forging. I did loose one to shipping and one has an injury I think he got here. I ordered from my local feed store that only deals with them. But you can do it yourself without a feed store. They do have a web site but do not carry alot of breeds. Quality instead of quantity. This is a good thing for they work with what they do have instead and with local breeders.

 

[Lu King]

Of the three different breeds that we have .....I don't know what they are, but they're white with a little black or brown streaks on the body are my favorite, and the RIR's are my least favorite. The females are okay, but the males are vicious.

 

[Bassleg]

Delawares were the meat chickens before the xcross try them, and they lots of eggs!

 

[hencrazy]

Wow, didn't realize there were so many breeds of chickens. When I ordered from Ideal this spring, I didn't even pay attention to all the different breeds beause I knew what I wanted. I recently picked up a book about chicken breeds and the author makes them all sound great. I think it would be fun to try several types, but I'm really limited because of where I live. I refuse to order from a hatchery again - was not at all impressed. The birds were very healthy, just poor examples of their breeds. The one's I picked up at Brau's are much nicer - I've had a lot of people ask where I got them from and if they are for sale.

I thought about seeing if I could trade some EE's for a nice orpington roo. I could breed him to my BO hens and maybe my australorp.

I do have a BLRW bantam - hatchery stock - who is really trying. I have had a lot of fertile eggs, but I haven't let any hatch. Would I just get medium sized chickens? His coloring isn't the best, but he's great conformation-wise.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[dancingbear]

What's BLRW? There re so many breeds, and colors, that often, an abbreviation like that is meaningless to a reader, without a prior reference.

 

[hencrazy]

BLRW = Blue Laced Red Wayandotte

 

[Thingrizzly]

If you're looking for just a few birds, you may want to get with the local feed store and tell them what you want. When they order they can add what you want to their order and you also save on the small order charges.