How did you pick your breeds?

[Noncentzter]

I went on Henderson's Handy-Dandy Chicken Chart, searched for the large egg layers, searched for the non-aggressive ones and I also wanted brown eggs and came up with the following: Buff Orpintons, Delawares, New Hampshire Reds and Barred Rocks. Later I plan on ordering some fertile Ameraucana or EE eggs too...I love the coloring of their Roos!

 

[CHICKENBOY 1]

rir and rocks and even rir x barred rock best brown egg layers i've ever had layed strait through the winter to.

 

[Jonathanq1]

I chose American Gamefowl b/c they did not require much attention and were great free ranging survivors + there colors are awsome

 

[Andi]

My decision was, well, girly. I went to the local farm store, grabbed the brochure that showed what the breeds would look like as adults and what to expect for eggs and used color to decide. Just because they were at the farm store I knew they would be hardy in the area.

I got a few meat birds and the rest were egg layers. I wanted a variety of colors of birds and eggs. The blue-green eggs were at the top of the list (EEs). Big fluffy girls needed to be in there (BO). I loved the red birds (Production Red). The feathered feet were cute and the only ones with feathered feet were bantams. I didn't just get 1 of each. I couldn't if I wanted all of the breeds. I can't have roosters and I was bound to get some. I got 3 of each of the standard size of the egg layers and 2 of the fuzzy footed bantams. 21 chicks came home with me that day.

With having to give some away and eating the roos, we ended up with 4 girls. I didn't get any BO or Red birds, but I did get 2 EEs. I'm happy enough. I'm getting between 3 and 4 eggs a day out of 4 girls. Can't complain! Especially for getting that in Winter in Minnesota! Some day I'd like to get a RIR, BO and a lavander Marans.

Oh, one strange neat thing about getting a variety is that I discovered my BA has feathers that are SO MUCH SOFTER then the other girls!

 

[moonlyghtegirl]

I am not a "warm fuzzy" about animals, and excitable animals have always put me off. I read alot about the temperments of the different breeds, and settled on buff orpingtons for my first chickens. They are a perfect fit for me personally.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

When I'm choosing my breeds, I usually go through the entire FeatherSite chicken breed encyclopedia, look at the pictures and read a little about the breeds, and write down the ones I like. Then I continue research online on the breeds I write down so I can be certain they're the breed for me. For me, it's all about appearance (I like fancy/pretty birds), size (the smaller the better), and tameness, as well as whether they're hardy enough to handle life in my mixed flock and weather conditions. After having a ton of different chicken breeds in the eleven years I've raised chickens, I think I'm mostly settled on the breeds I particularly like.

That said, I often like mixes, too, and if I see something tempting at a feed store or on Craigslist, I'll occasionally get an impulse bird.

I like having a wide variety--I really enjoy having two hens of each breed I like, and that way I can have a wide variety in my flock (I have room for around ~25-30 hens) but also have more than one representation of the breed.

 

[mboreham1]

3 RIR for the eggs, plus they are tough enough to keep the dog at bay. 2 booted bantams, one got a blocked crop and before i realized it died, so i have one mad professor looking booted bantam, she is the character of the bunch and regularly squats for the dog as if she thinks he is her rooster! Apart from that i am going to add a couple sussex in the spring and a couple blue egg laying chickens. Then the flock is complete, 2 piglets are next, our local ordinances say no but i am an outlaw! (Plus if the neighbors complain i will ask them if they think the police will appreciate the marijuana farm they seem to be cultivating!!)

 

[magikchick]

I just want 3 or 4 for pets and eggs. Fell in love with LF cochins. The feed store had some in so started with them. Then came accross Bantam cochins at TSC bought a few of them. Got on to this web site and had to have silkies so got into hatching. Now I have these 3 breeds and love them all.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I agree. There just a good all round breed. I get more eggs from my American Game than any of the production breeds I had ( Leghorn, Sex-linked, Production Reds ).
As for brown eggs it is the Rhode Island Red hands down... I like that Dark Bing cherry Red color of the breed, egg laying ability, hardiness and the idea that is a Heritage breed...

Chris