how to choose

[kbs]

I'm having trouble deciding what type of chickens to buy. I'm looking for eggs and for meat. They say the White Leghorn is a egg laying machine. I'm also told the Barred Rock is a great all purpose bird and the same about the Dominique. Please help

 

[rhoda_bruce]

both are true. If you want a guarantee of eggs go with the leghorns. If you want just enough for your family to have the whole year, you can probably go with a dual purpose like the barred rock or rhode island red.....about 8 should do it for most families, but you would need more if you want to use the eggs to trade or sell. If you will incubate or set the eggs, you can use either of the males for a bi-product of meat, but you won't get a lot of meat from the egg breeds, but its still good meat and by killing them, you will have it and lessen the feed bill. I'm all about keeping expenses down, but that requires discipline. You might want a mixed group of chickens, so you can have the best of everything. But then you would want a dual purpose rooster to stay with them.....at least I would. I took great pains selecting the breed I have.....husband and I studied for weeks and argued it all out and hopefully came to......perhaps not the best, but a very good conclusion.

 

[GreenAcresFarm]

I wasn't sure what breed to choose either. I now have a mixed flock of 4 Buff Orphingtons, 2 Barred Rock, 1 White Rock and 3 Siver Wyandotte's. I love all of the different colors.

I really like the temperament of the Barred Rock tho.