If you were told you could only raise ONE breed, what would it be?

[Cats Critters]

EE's all sorts of colers, nice, and realy pretty eggs!

 

[L&Schickens]

I could not pick just one, so don't ask me too.

 

[Indiana hens]

Buff Orpingtons! I buy them by the hundred. You can always make them a pet anytime you like. Not the scratching , biting , flap in your face breed like the others. They are reliable! Beautiful too! What a classic chicken.

 

[ksacres]

Easter Eggers, hands down.

Breeds I have had over the years:

Easter Eggers (both standard and bantam)
Cochin (many varities, both standard and bantam)
Dark Brahmas (standard)
Light Brahma (standard and bantam)
Ameraucanas (standard and bantam)
Sumatra (standard and bantam)
Buttercup (standard and bantam)
Red Sexlink
Black Sexlink
Hyline Leghorn
California Whites (Leghorn hybrid)
Barred Rocks
Silkies
OE Games (bantams in many varities)
Dark Cornish (standard)
Buff Rocks (standard)
White Rocks (standard)
White Leghorn (bantams)
Sultans (standard)
Rhode Island Reds
Black Rosecombs
Black Australorps
Broilers (cornish X)
Polish (several varities in both bantam and standard)
Silver Phoenix (standard)

 

[amyquilt]

Hands down, Buff Orpingtons!

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
I've owned: Delawares, RIRs, Buff Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks (Barred and Columbian), EEs, New Hampshires, Australorps, OEGs and a variety of crosses and bantam breeds over the course of 20 years.

What breed would I choose? Delawares. Why? In my experience, the only breed on the list above that lays better is the RIRs, and Delawares generally (although not always) have better temperaments.

But I noticed you listed temperament first, and if temperament is your primary consideration, you should probably go with the Orps. Hands down, they are the nicest birds overall. Rocks are often nice too, but in my experience, they vary widely based on strain.

 

[Emzyyy]

aha! you want me to choose?! Thats way way way way way WAY too hard! The breeds Ive had so far are Silkies, Sebrights, Easter-Eggers, Polish, Cochins, Modern-Game. But I think I would have to choose Silkies, Polish, or Sebrights. LOL that was all I could limit it to.

 

[birdnutz]

I only have bantams. but here it goes;
Seramas first,
Silkies,
D'Uccle (hens only)
But my ducks are first!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
And, I'll add two more virtues:

that green iridescence on black is beautiful, &

they are reasonably q . u . i . e . t .

Steve

You guys need to meet my australorps. Rosanne Rosannadana walks around talking to herself and anyone else that will listen. Sweetums will come at me claw and beak anytime she thinks I am not paying attention.

LOL that is what I was thinking! I don't have any but my mother has one. She is big and loud and bossy. Tells all the chickens (and the people) what to do. Bawks like she is dying every time ANY chicken lays an egg, is NEVER quiet unless she is asleep......and my mother wouldn't trade her for the world.

For me, it is a toss up. For looks I would go with BLRW....sooooooo pretty. For eggs White Leghorn and I think they are stunning (maybe you just have to get to know them) and no matter what people say, my experience has been that they are SUPER sweet and cuddly.

 

[Bammony]

Orpingtons! Any color, as long as it says Orp at the end.