Need Help in Selecting Breeds

[DrCoop]

Hello!

I'm brand new to the BYC Community and would like to first off say hello to all members! That said, I was hoping I could get some suggestions as to what breeds I should raise; I live in Northern New Jersey so my focus is on winter hardiness. I'll be raising chickens for eggs only and plan on only having 3 or 4 hens for my wife and I to start; I'll be giving them plenty of coop space (at least double the minimum requirement of 4sqft) and they will get to free range over my entire high fenced-in backyard. My requirements are pretty simple and this is what I'm looking for in a breed:

1) Very winter / immunologically hardy to weather northern NJ winters. They don't have to lay eggs in the winter - just be tough as nail birds that are robust.

2) Long egg-laying lifespan (heritage breed, perhaps?); amount they lay per week is unimportant; just looking for a breed that lays well into their lifespan as I plan on keeping them for their entire lives.

3) All other attributes are unimportant; I'm not really concerned with temperament, color of hens/eggs, size, broody. They can be as mean as a junkyard dog and broody to boot but as long as they're the hardiest birds on the block is my main concern.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions! I hope once I get my chickens going I can contribute to the BYC community!

Vin

 

[donrae]

I'd say go with any bird names after a New England state or region. They were developed in your neck of the woods before electricity and are hardy breeds for the area.

 

[DrCoop]

Thank you donrae! What about barred rocks? Do they produce eggs long in their lifespan?

Thanks again!

 

[Toddrick]

Thank you donrae!  What about barred rocks?  Do they produce eggs long in their lifespan?

Thanks again!

I was going to suggest Barred Rocks . I think all the average birds you get from the tractor supply store, or a hatchery are "production" breeds that will lay heavy the first few years, and then sort of burn out. But I think Production Rocks will not burn out as bad as the more prolific breeds (not sure though). The reason I like Barred Rocks is that they seem to be the quintessential American breed, and pretty much the foundation of many great American birds. That, and you can make Black Sex Links if they visit with a non-barred rooster.

 

[mpsteve]

I love my buff orpingtons

 

[Michael OShay]

Alaska Backyard Chickens has an article on recommended breeds for Alaska at http://akchickens.org/getting-started/recommended-breeds/. If these breeds can handle Alaska's brutal winters, they should have no problem handling your winters. Based on my personal experience over the past 50 years with dozens of breeds, the breeds with the longest egg-laying lifespans on this list are Australorps and Orpingtons.

 

[donrae]

Barred Plymouth Rocks are one of my favorite breeds, they've been the back bone of my flock for the last 15 years or so. Well, them and Easter eggers

with your strong emphasis on longevity, you may not be happy with any breed from a hatchery. Personally, I've had hatchery birds laying at 7 years, but lots of folks here report theirs "burn out" around 3 or 4, so it's kind of a roll of the dice. If you can find a breeder near you, you might be happier. And the term breeder is a tricky one---you don't simply want someone who ordered a bunch of hatchery chicks 5 years ago and now breeds their own birds from them. You want a breeder who is breeding toward the Standard of Perfection of the breed. Those girls will take longer to mature, and possibly lay fewer eggs each cycle, but have more cycles overall.

 

[DrCoop]

Thanks for all your responses thus far! I hope you keep the suggestions coming! So from reading your posts and researching on my own I seem to be narrowing down to the Barred Rocks, RIR, Australorp, and Buff Orphingtons, which were featured on the link posted by Michael (thanks!).

However, as you pointed out Donrae, I will try to obtain the chicks from a breeder if that will give a better chance of egg-laying longevity. That would lead me to the next question - do breeders breed the aforementioned kinds or are there different Standard of Perfection breeds that have an even greater longevity (I'm starting to research as well).

Sorry for all the questions but there are so many breeds I'm a bit overwhelmed and just want the hardiest, most longevity-egg laying breed.

Thanks again for your continued help!

Vin

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks for all your responses thus far! I hope you keep the suggestions coming! So from reading your posts and researching on my own I seem to be narrowing down to the Barred Rocks, RIR, Australorp, and Buff Orphingtons, which were featured on the link posted by Michael (thanks!).

However, as you pointed out Donrae, I will try to obtain the chicks from a breeder if that will give a better chance of egg-laying longevity. That would lead me to the next question - do breeders breed the aforementioned kinds or are there different Standard of Perfection breeds that have an even greater longevity (I'm starting to research as well).

Sorry for all the questions but there are so many breeds I'm a bit overwhelmed and just want the hardiest, most longevity-egg laying breed.

Thanks again for your continued help!

Vin

You're welcome.