Hi Everybody !

[paselbys]

I just got into the site. We're looking to get into chickens for the home/yard. It'll be a great project for our girls who are homeschooled and we sure could use the eggs. We're a family of 6 and have lots of hands to help.

Right now we're getting information and as soon as things get straightened out, we'll be looking for some chicks. Does anyone have a particular favorite for a breed fror meat and brown eggs?

 

[Picco]

Welcome to BYC paselbys! raising chickens is a great hobby and will be a great experience for you and your children. You can find answers to all sorts of questions here and to answer yours I'll give you a list of breeds.

Any breed of chicken can be used for meat but their are special crosses called cornish rocks that grow fast and efficiently convert feed to meat. This breed is really only good for meat though. Other breeds called dual purpose can be used for egg prodcution or for meat. they aren't as efficient as the meat birds but can work out nicely. Here are some good dual purpose breeds:

Plymouth Rocks - come in several color varieties with barred and white being the more common. They lay large brown eggs and work well for meat.

Rhoe Island Reds - dark reddish brown birds which lay large brown eggs and can also be used for meat.

Americauna - come in many color varieties and are very good layers of blue or green eggs.

Wyandottes - beautiful birds that come in several varieties with silver laced being the most common. They lay large brown eggs and grow up to be plump birds that can also be used for meat. They are my personal favorite.

Orpingtons - the most common variety is the buff which is a nice golden tan. they lay large brown eggs and can be raised for meat too. They are a favorite for backyarders.

Giants - come in either black or white and are huge when full grow. They lay large brown eggs and can be used for meat but take a long time to mature.

Brahmas - come in 3 varieties, the light varirty is the most common. They are very large feather legged birds and can become very friendly. They lay huge brown eggs but take a little longer to mature for meat.

Cochins - come in many varieties, they have feathered legs and a plump fluffy appearance. They become quite tame and will hatch their own eggs out. Like the other dual purpose breeds listed, they also can be used for meat.

There are many others too but I have listed a few common breeds that would work well for you. Good luck!

 

[maggiePI]

Sounds like a great adventure. I hope your children enjoy the birds. Mine sure have. My daughter loves to see them running around the yard though she never was truly involved but my son enjoys just being around them. We have some bantys, too, and we hold a couple sometimes like cats on our lap while watching television in the evening. We have a Rhode Island Red, 3 sex links, and a Wyandotte Lacewing. All mine have laid well.

 

[mksenoj]

This will be a great site for you

 

[2manyhats]

Welcome to BYC! I vote Orpingtons for personality, egg laying. They seem big enough to eat, but I have yet to butcher one so I can't give first hand experience there.

 

[jonty]

Welcome to BYC! I only just startedwith chickens but the help I've had from here is fantasic. I live in Germany but if I have a problem or want answers I pop in and within minutes you get a answer. Like me you have a lot to learn but there is no better place to find answers than BYC.

 

[WriterofWords]

Welcome, you'll fit right in! We have a lot of homeschoolers and former homeschoolers here.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

My fav would be the sexlinks for the brown eggs but there a little on the lighter side for meat. Rode Island Reds would come in second in eggs and would be better for meat.

 

[Chicabee19]

I recommend the Bantam Orpington of any color!