Help With Breed Decision

[AuroraSprings]

Hello all! There are SOOOOO many chicken breeds that I am looking for some help identifying a breed or breeds to raise. Here's what we are looking for:


Dual-purpose
Approximate breed standard (we've had bad luck with chickens that didn't even closely match the breed in production)
Must be heat-tolerant
Atleast somewhat broody
Calm enough to work around, but active enough to forage for most of their food
Heritage breed
EDIT TO ADD:
Need Lg-XL eggs and over 150/yr would be nice

It would be nice if they weren't white, since that makes them easier targets for predators, but as long as they are smart/resourceful enough light/white colors should work.

Any thoughts or comments are welcomed.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

How about brahmas or australorps?

 

[Amarisus]

I don't know if you've looked at buff orpingtons but I love the breed. My little orpington is the sweetest chicken in the flock she sits in my lap and loves to be pet. They're nice big birds they lay well and from what I've read make great mothers. They are dual purpose birds as well.

 

[missychicky]

I would go for black austrolorps, one of my 2 hens of that breed has gone broody before and wouldnt give up. They can take most any weather and they are extremly sweet and tame. They are one of my favorite breeds.

 

[TheChickenCameFirst]

Quote:
I would also recommend Buff Orpingtons.

 

[gryeyes]

My three favorite dual purpose birds: Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps (they're sort of related, as they came from Orpingtons generations ago), and Light Brahmas. BAs are great layers. LBs are more heat tolerant than the BAs (black feathers being a real heat sink in the sun). All three breeds are mellow breeds. Oh, and there are buff and dark brahmas too, if you don't like the amount of white in the LB feathers.

I always recommend folks check out (and save) this link to Henderson's Handy Dandy Chicken Chart:
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Quote:
X2 - Not sure if BO's are heritage breeds or not. But I LOVE my BO. Just the sweetest thing.

 

[speckledhen]

Plymouth Rocks are my very best foragers. They are pretty well camouflaged (I live in the mtns, in the woods and have never lost any to predators) and handle the extreme heat of Alabama very well, way better than my white Delawares. They are a true dual purpose heritage breed. Fabulous layers. The hatchery stock rarely broods, but the breeder stock will occasionally brood chicks.

My blue/black/splash Rocks are broody, for sure.

 

[typnslow]

Quote:
What a great site THANKS!

 

[gamechicken]

what i think would be good is a grey game rooster. they r peaceful and the will live off the land. they r a good choice to pick to have to free roam around the house.