I Can’t Choose a Breed! Help!

Silver Laced Wyandottes are often very broody birds who would rather sit and hatch eggs over the heat of summer. So that's something to consider, whether you need a hen to hatch chicks or whether egg production is more important. Barred Rocks don't tend to be broody and I can't advise you about Ameraucanas, but I know my English Araucanas are great little layers who have never even thought about being broody.

 

I think it is always hard to chose the “best breed” as there are so many choices and some suited for better purposes than others.
I have a barred rock and she is big in comparison to my other girls and is top of the pecking order. I have two araucanas that are bottom of my flock but they make up for it in personality and speed (they are really quick). But a bit of flash feathers is also nice to look at so a Wyandotte would be nice.

 

I have had all three of these breeds and I must say, the ameracauna is the sweetest & most docile. My Wyandotte is a good flock member, but will hold her own when needed. Both lean toward the bottom of the pecking order. Then, there's Reese the barred rock. She pecks hard. She squawks. She eats feathers. She goes broody frequently. She's a fabulous layer, but she's a bossy lil thing and I'm not sure I would try this breed again. It's also important to remember that each chicken is an individual, and won't necessarily act according to breed. My leghorn, who should be super flighty, is a lap hen who thinks she's a puppy. So go with your gut feeling and good luck!