I'm looking for a heritage breed to fit my needs and I thought I'd come to the most knowlageble people I know
My breed preferences are
American breed (optional)
Good egg layer
Culls make nice meat birds
Easy keeper (optional)
Setter(broody)
Good mama
Good forager
Heat and cold resistant
HARDY
Thanks I know this is very specific but the American breed part Is just something I would like but if not possible iI can do with out
All of the American breeds could potentially meet all of your criteria. Some of your criteria are subjective, however. For example "Good egg layer" is different for different people.
It is more about strain than it is breed. If someone starts with a strain they are pleased with, then naturally their perception of that breed is good. On the other hand, if they start with a strain that disappoints them, forever they will hold it against the breed.
There is no "best" breed. Anyone that claims that there is, has a narrow view. There may be a best breed for you, or me. Then some strains would more closely fit our ideals for that breed than others. Some would disappoint us, others would please us.
It is a matter of what appeals to you the most. That will largely effect your perception. If you are very interested in what you get, you are more likely to appreciate what you have.
Decide on a top two or three and begin to research them for yourself. A summary of their history, pictures etc. Then start sourcing them, asking a lot of questions. It may be that you decide that you would like to try something else down the road. You will then have a better idea what you want out of your birds, and a better way to go about getting them. Just remember, it is really more about strain. Be cautious about making final judgments based on the experiences we are limited to. None of us have had everything out there.
Not all strains, families, lines, individuals within a breed are genetically identical. There will always be variation. Though some suppose otherwise.
Decide what you want and try to get more information about strains, and particular flocks. There is variation from flock to flock like there is from individual to individual. Different flocks within a strain were founded by different individuals, and selected by different persons.
Get what you want, and what you like. Who knows. What you want and like may be different five years from now. In the mean time we want to enjoy what we have.
I will try to caution you to try to know what you source. There is junk and poor performers out there in all breeds.
You may find availability plays a part. There are advantages to finding a breeder of birds that we are interested in that is not far from us, when possible. Don't let that be a limitation though. You want to be excited about what you get.
