I want ONE breed...DUMB???

[HollowOfWisps]

Not dumb. I started out with a mixed flock and now I'm going to gradually transition to having only one or two breeds. However, I would highly recommend getting multiple breeds that fit your criteria to start, deciding from there which one fits best with you and rehoming what you're not happy with. I'll give my experience as an example. My family had all of the usual meat breeds growing up so now that I have my own farm I decided I wanted to try some other breeds besides the usually RIR, Cornish etc. I thought for sure the Salmon Faverolles, Wyandottes, Barred Rocks and Brahmas were what I was looking for. However, once owning them I realized that I just didn't mesh well with those breeds either. Mine all matched their breed descriptions perfectly and are exactly what I thought I would want, but in the end just weren't. Then there are the breeds I added, but I didn't think I was going to like them...turns out those are the ones I clicked with the best. I absolutely love my Orpington, Maran, Sussex and Welsummer. They are the four I added just for some more diversity and now are my favorites. Now I'm trying to decide between those four breeds which one or two I eventually want to stay with when I start needing to add more to my flock down the road.

 

[SourRoses]

Faverolles are another that might meet your requirements. Docile, dual purpose, and some broody. It struck me when we kept them how much the dander smelled like chicken stock, I know that sounds weird but I haven't encountered another breed that smells that way.

No matter what breed you pick, the specific line matters. Hatchery versions are not often true to type, with some exceptions.
A breeder is your best bet, just make sure they're focused on the same traits you actually care about, rather than a mission to fix the show traits.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Faverolles are another that might meet your requirements. Docile, dual purpose, and some broody. It struck me when we kept them how much the dander smelled like chicken stock, I know that sounds weird but I haven't encountered another breed that smells that way.

No matter what breed you pick, the specific line matters. Hatchery versions are not often true to type, with some exceptions.
A breeder is your best bet, just make sure they're focused on the same traits you actually care about, rather than a mission to fix the show traits.

I know exactly what you mean regarding the Faverolles dander smelling very unique. I'm glad I'm not crazy because every time I smell it I'm wondering if I'm really smell them or I'm just super hungry Mine both also seem to shed more dander than my other breeds.

 

[sdm111]

Getting ready to find some new chicks and build a coop while they start to mature. Seems like it would be nearly impossible to prohibit interbreeding without a lot of work, I want to find the right breed of dual purpose bird. I don't want to cross-breed anything because I want the natural traits of the birds I choose to remain intact. We want brooders that produce a good amount of eggs but also, eventually meat.

I want one breed because I do not want to depend on a hatchery to provide brooders for my egg layers, etc. If I have more than one breed of rooster, there will be no way for me to know which rooster has fertilized which eggs, etc. My ideal is to buy chicks once, and create a sustainable flock from those chicks.

From what I've read, Orpingtons seem pretty perfect. Forage well, generally too big for hawks but relatively quick on the ground for their size, 4-5 large eggs per week, great brooders and mothers, and good size for eating. Still researching breeds, though.

Regardless of which breed I go with, am I naive in thinking this can be done?

I believe it's an excellent idea.

 

[762]

I done did it. Ordered 10 female and 5 unsexed from Hoover. Orpingtons. Would be just my luck if I didn't get a rooster!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Look into Cornish bantams. I know, they're bantams. But they make up with those small genes by being compact and hefty.

They also love to brood, have small combs and do okay in Montana if given draft free shelter, so your temps should be fine

 

[Percheron chick]

Not dumb. I started out with a mixed flock and now I'm going to gradually transition to having only one or two breeds. However, I would highly recommend getting multiple breeds that fit your criteria to start, deciding from there which one fits best with you and rehoming what you're not happy with. I'll give my experience as an example. My family had all of the usual meat breeds growing up so now that I have my own farm I decided I wanted to try some other breeds besides the usually RIR, Cornish etc. I thought for sure the Salmon Faverolles, Wyandottes, Barred Rocks and Brahmas were what I was looking for. However, once owning them I realized that I just didn't mesh well with those breeds either. Mine all matched their breed descriptions perfectly and are exactly what I thought I would want, but in the end just weren't. Then there are the breeds I added, but I didn't think I was going to like them...turns out those are the ones I clicked with the best. I absolutely love my Orpington, Maran, Sussex and Welsummer. They are the four I added just for some more diversity and now are my favorites. Now I'm trying to decide between those four breeds which one or two I eventually want to stay with when I start needing to add more to my flock down the road.

Excellent advice. You just don't know until you get your toes wet. I never saw myself owning barred rocks. Got stuck with 2 I couldn't sell. They're a must have now

 

[762]

Excellent advice. You just don't know until you get your toes wet. I never saw myself owning barred rocks. Got stuck with 2 I couldn't sell. They're a must have now

So if I go 10 lavender Orpingtons and 10 black Australops, what could be my strategy for getting out of the breed I don’t prefer?

 

[TooCheep]

Eat or sell. If they are young laying hens, they should be fairly easy to sell.

 

[762]

Hoover is only of the only places still selling Orpingtons. There are lavender that hatch the same day as some Australorps. I have to order chicks with a minimum of 15 total and 5 per sex/breed. If I get 5 of each breed female and 5 of each unsexed, I could end up with quite a few roosters. Will the excess of roosters become a problem before they are old/big enough to be butchered?