Help Selecting a Breed.

[Bantimna]

Hi I post a topic like this a few months ago. I need to ask again I'm looking for
1. Good Layer
2. Broody
3. Dual purpose
4. Intelligent
5. LF or Bantam


Thank you

 

[Krodsorin]

Wyandotte Bantam or Standard
Australorp... the few I had were good broodies.
Brahma..

 

[Crunchie]

If you truly want dual purpose I don't know that many bantams would fit your bill (I don't know of any that folks use for meat as well as eggs, so I don't know if you could find a truly dual-purpose bantam). My Cuckoo Marans fit all of your criteria. I would say the weakest area out of those you listed would be laying ability. Mine lay very well when they are laying, but they like to take long breaks and they do go broody--if you want a bird that goes broody, you're going to have to sacrifice some production quality.

But, they do lay fairly well, they do go broody (mine are excellent broody hens and excellent mothers), they produce nice heavy cockerals that apparently folks find tasty (I wouldn't know, I'm a vegetarian.

Though I do pass along my extras to other folks' freezer camps), and they are calm but active and free-range well (they have chicken common sense

). If you want to breed them I would suggest finding breeder stock, not hatchery stock. You'll likely get poor quality birds and poor quality egg color from hatchery birds, as they often have other breeds crossbred into them at some point and the hatcheries aren't selecting for type/quality when they breed.

My Ameraucanas also fit those criteria, but they are a smaller bird and so I don't know how dual-purpose they really are. Again I would caution against hatchery stock--in the case of Ameraucanas, you won't get true Ameraucanas at all from a hatchery (In case you didn't already know--sorry if I'm just repeating stuff you already know.

). You will definitely get mixed breed birds.

 

[Chris09]

My Rhode Island Reds, and Plymouth Rocks are great.

Chris

 

[Freeholder]

As far as bantams for meat, Silkies may not be the greatest layers, but they are raised for meat by some people (and my two roosters feel pretty solid when I pick them up). A friend who raises OEG bantams says they have a surprising amount of meat on them, enough for a meal. Again, I don't know how well they lay as I haven't had any yet (I'm getting some hatching eggs from my friend in the spring, though).

I would suggest Wyandottes -- they are decent layers, some will go broody, and they are big enough to be used for meat.

One criteria, though, I don't think you will find in any chicken, and that is intelligent, LOL! They have instincts that serve them well, but very little reasoning ability.

Kathleen

 

[cybercat]

Well, Rocks meet all your wants and my choice was Partridge for their known to be very broody. Then again I free range too. So far I am getting 11 egg out of 22 pullets. They are 33 weeks old. Very good size for meat. Over friendly but I do not hold or pet mine much always under foot. Rooster is not noisy and very nice also. On my blogg I have documented from day one when I got them.

 

[meriruka]

I recommend Orpingtons. Sweet dispositions, often broody, decent size eggs.
Be sure to post pictures of your new flock!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Dunlap hatchery has what they call an Austra White, a cross of Black Australorp and White leghorn.
I raise a lot of them for my customers. They are super layers, hearty, by far the most intelligent chicken I have seen, thrifty with feed, medium sized (more meat than a bantam less than a meat bird). the only thing I can't answer to is if they are broody . . .
i don't know, I don't keep them myself because I can't stand how dang smart they are - just try chasing a "smart" chicken lol! But if that's what you are asking for then they fit the bill! My customers who like that aspect LOVE these birds.

 

[cgmccary]

Please consider a true & tried American dual- purpose bird: the BUCKEYE!

Read thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=271644

 

[NYREDS]

There are any number of breeds that fit 4 of your criteria but I've never known of a chicken I'd consider intelligent.