Looking for Breed Suggestions

[jacka99]

Hello, Me and my Granddad are about to rebuild a old coop and get back into chickens. Because of previous bad luck I am getting to choose the eggs or birds this time. That is where my question comes in. I am planning on getting two to three breeds for eggs mostly but also possibly for meat once we get our layer flock established. Anyone have any suggestions for breeds that would fit what I want? Also hoping that even when cross bred the chicks will still fit need as we will probably only keep on rooster from the multiple breeds. Thanks in advanced

 

[MissChick@dee]

Orphington grate layers large and good meat birds. Leghorns not large not good for meat but prolific layers.

 

[av8torcrj]

My number one choice for eggs would be McMurray red star and McMurray Pearle white leghorn. The latter in my experience can be kinda neurotic but lays a great egg. I've never had a "dual purpose" hatchery breed that I felt was worth pulling the feathers off of to eat, mostly bone.

 

[Sneebsey]

I'd go for something like Wyandottes, Rocks, Sussex or Marans with your goals in mind. These are all larger sized productive birds, true dual purpose. Leghorns, I agree, are great layers, but they will bring down meat production qualities in future generations.

 

[cottontail farm]

Red Rangers are a meat type bird (slower growing the cornish cross but meatier and faster growing then heritage birds). I've raised them for meat and kept some of the hens when the roosters were butchered. The hens are good layers of brown eggs and one has even raised babies two years in a row.
My big Brahma rooster has fathered chicks with the ranger hens and the chicks grow up to be nice sized birds

 

[redranger209]

I’d go with barred rocks and white leghorns, with a br rooster. Then you can make California greys, an amazing production crossbreed. I’d also get cream leg bars, for the autosexing, unique look and blue eggs. Those with brown leghorn make an autosexing super blue chicken. Massive blue eggs every day.

 

[av8torcrj]

Oh, and I DONT recommend a leghorn as your rooster. Mine have been a total pain and at times very human aggressive.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Rocks, Sussex or Marans with your goals in mind.

As a dual purpose keepers... I like these breeds, in my experience with them. The Sussex being the over all human friendliest and easier to pluck than the Marans. Would choose all over Orps, which just grow to slow and are too heavily bodied for layers on my feed bill. Love rocks too.

Sooo many good birds!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I decided on Bielefelders. They're autosexing, lay well, friendly, free range well, and their meat had decent reviews for a dual purpose breed. That's based on reviews though, mine are just now hatching so we'll see if it's true!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

https://livestockconservancy.org/images/uploads/docs/pickachicken.pdf

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

Couple good comparison charts... funny how some people don't care what YOUR goals are and just tell you what they would do.