New to chickens - Looking for breed suggestion

[valren]

Hi,

I am new to raising chickens in general (have never had them) but will be moving into a house in October and am wanting to get chickens for multiple reasons. I am looking for what chicken(s) would be best to suit my needs. I am definitely looking for a good layer but I would like a dual purpose chicken for meat. I feed my dogs a raw food diet (raw chicken, beef, pork, fish, rabbit, etc). The meat would be for both them as well as myself. I realize that many people like to use the cornish x as a good meat bird but one of the reasons I'd like to raise my own chickens is because it still seems iffy to be breeding a chicken that grows so unnaturally large. I'd like for the chicken to become close to full size within probably 4-6 months and the ones that we don't use for meat I'd like to have for egg production.

Or would it be better to have two separate breeds? One for eggs and one for meat?

I was looking primarily at the buff orphingtons and the australorps.

I am open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[TaylorHobbyFarms]

I would recommend New Hampshire Reds. The roosters grow to a very nice size within 4 months and the hens lay great. They are also not a skittish type bird and have great personalities.

 

[chickenlver2013]

Plymouth Barred Rocks, Dominiques, Red Sex Links, and Silkies are very very sweet. Mine follow me around and hop on my lap.

 

[Eggcessive]

German New Hampshires are becoming easier to find (they are New Hampshires that were improved in Germany after they were taken there after WWII because chickens were scarce, and they greatly improved the breed.) There is a thread about them and many of the breeders are on the Heritage Breed Thread too. I am currently raising heritage RIR and GNH, and it is amazing how much larger the New Hamps are at the same age. Barred rocks are good, too, and very easy to find.

 

[riverrunner]

There are lots of good heratige breed dual purpose birds out there that sounds like they would be a great fit for your needs. Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Dominiques and Delawares are all good dual purpose birds.

 

[TXchickmum]

Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires, and Wyandottes are good dual purpose breeds. Our Wyandotte is our largest, heaviest bird and an excellent layer.

 

[BGMatt]

The Langshan fowl is a pretty great contender for someone who wants to have birds for both meat and eggs. They lay very well, thrive in all sorts of climates, are a very hardy breed, lay very well, and get to a good size for butcher. They'd be best for meat at 6 months or so which is the tail end of your ideal growing window.

Whatever breed you decide on, support a good breeder and don't settle for hatchery stuff. Especially the meat qualities suffer greatly as most of the breeds have had leghorn crossed in to increase egg production.

 

[valren]

Whatever breed you decide on, support a good breeder and don't settle for hatchery stuff. Especially the meat qualities suffer greatly as most of the breeds have had leghorn crossed in to increase egg production.

How exactly does one go about finding a good breeder? I'm completely new to this and the only places I've ever known you can get chickens from are feed stores.

 

[BGMatt]

How exactly does one go about finding a good breeder? I'm completely new to this and the only places I've ever known you can get chickens from are feed stores.

It would depend on breed but there are a very few around here, the Poultry Press is a good place to get names and contact info, as are the APA yearbooks. Local shows would be a good place to meet quality poultry people too.

 

[valren]

I think I've decided on Orpingtons.

Is there a difference in egg laying/feed to meat ratio in the different kinds of Orpingtons?

Who are some good buff orpington breeders?

-Kyra