In need of opinions please!

[KierstenJoy]

So since I'm new to the whole chicken raising. I'm looking for the perfect breed for myself. I need specifically egg laying. Possibly dual purpose. I really like Barred Plymouth Rocks and Black Australorps. But I'm into looking outside the box. Any opinions would be very welcome!

 

[The Farm]

Red/Black Star. I raise Black Australorps and Black star Great birds !!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Based on your criteria, eggs and maybe dual purpose, there are a tremendous number of breeds that would work for you. We all have our favorites, but those are our favorites, not necessarily yours. You’re unique. You’re different. You’re special. Your wants and desires are going to be different that mine. While you will probably enjoy any breed you come up with, I suggest you narrow it down a bit. You might use a breed selector tool to narrow it down a bit.

This one is from this forum. You don’t have to make a choice in all categories.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

This one is from My Pet Chicken
http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx

Once you narrow it down a bit, go to Henderson’s Breed Chart to do some comparisons.

Henderson’s Breed Chart
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

Then you can go to Feathersite to look at photos.

Feathersite
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html

Some of us really like having just one breed. Some of us prefer a mix. There is nothing wrong with either approach, just what is your preference. Some people enjoy getting a “special” from one of the hatcheries where the hatchery decides which breeds you get. You select which special you want, maybe a mix of egg layers that should all be pullets, and they send you a mix of whatever breeds they have that hatched in excess of their orders. There is no telling what you will get.

You have a tremendous number of options. We can tell you that we like our Orpington, Australorp, Cochin, Barred Rock, Partridge Rock, Delaware or any of many other breeds and it all means nothing. It’s what you like that matters.