Looking for help with choosing birds.

[Chihdog]

I want to get some birds that are good for meat and eggs. What mix of chickens would you all recommend?

 

[junebuggena]

Australorps are large birds and solid layers. If you're wanting them for both meat and eggs, get them from a good breeder. Hatchery birds aren't very large at all. Jersey Giants are a good breed for both meat and eggs, if you don't mind slow to mature birds. Rock hens lay really well, and cockerels are decent sized meat brids.
Keep in mind, with any breed that isn't specifically a broiler type, it will take at least 4 or 5 months before they are big enough to process. And they won't look anything like the birds you buy at the grocery store.
If you want birds with big, meaty breasts; then you're better off getting a flock of Cornish Cross and processing at 8 weeks old. Keep a separate flock of Leghorns or sexlinks for eggs.

 

[Chihdog]

So I was thinking 2 separate coops. Is it possible to have your birds procreate and replenish themselves? So as we butcher.. let some of the eggs hatch... and so on?? Make sense?

 

[junebuggena]

Cornish cross are not very sustainable. They are bred to grow very big, very quickly. They are not bred for health or longevity. They rarely live past 6 months. If you do manage to keep them around long enough to hatch chicks, they won't grow like their parents and they probably won't get as large either.
If you want to breed future meat birds, I suggest getting some barred Rock hens and a large, non barred, non white rooster and breed your own black sexlinks. Sexlinks, being crossbreeds have what is called 'hybrid vigor.' The males grow bigger and faster than their father and the females lay better than their mothers. You will also be able to sex them at hatch. A barred hen can only pass her barring gene to her male chicks.

 

[SJ]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens chihdog.

So lets talk about your goals.
1.Eggs
2.Meat
3.A self replenishing flock
4.A mixed flock

These are the goals of so many a backyard chicken keeper. And they are achievable And many such as your self have wondered "What breed or breeds...?" So we here at backyard chickens are here to help.
Now in my opinion, if you want your own chickens to hatch their own eggsand you have 2 separate coops you have a lot of options. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. The first thing you should know if you plan on having chickens hatch eggs (hens on top of eggs) is that not all breeds BROOD or set eggs. Some breeds such as Leghorns are "non-setters" they are not supposed to brood ever.
So at least one choice should have good brooding qualities. A few Dual purpose breeds that are known to brood are: Austalorp, Jersey Giants, Rocks, Orpington, Chantecler, Delawares, Standard Cornish, Sussex, Cochin, New Hampshire, or Wyandottes. Heres a link to ALBC's chicken breeds list. It lists the broodiness with each breed.
http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/chicken-chart

Its says Cornish are non-setters but mine have all been broody and protective mothers. One cornish pullet of mine hatched 14 chicks out in a nest she made in the ditch. I thought she died after she went missing for 2 weeks then one day she shows back up with a pack of fluffy chicks. Cornish will set ALBC has an error.

After you pick your brood breed you' have an idea of how to meet you other goals.

I got a lot to say on the self sustaining flock so check into my old posts. Or just PM me.

 

[Chihdog]

I'll have to look and see which ones are broody.