Official BYC Poll: What Breed Characteristics are Most Important to You?

[The Happster]

I picked Temperament and Other, because Puffiness Aspect seems to be lacking.

I really couldn't care less about egg laying or egg colour. I buy random birds when I feel like it, often those sad looking chicks that no one has picked. I don't get a choice. I see it, I have to get it.

I love Orps, but I intend to start a Bielefelder flock at some point in the future.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I chose temperament and hardiness. I don't want a bunch of drama in the coop and due to predators I have to keep mine confined.

I think having birds that are disease resistant is important. No one enjoys a bunch of birds that are sickly.

 

[Cupcake1243]

I chose temperament, egg size, egg production, aesthetic/looks, show ability/ heritage/endangered/rare, resistant to disease and parasites and size!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Temperament
Originally purchased 3 Silkies for my 3 kids to have as pets, friendly chickens that wouldn't mind being held and patted. My kids love them and enjoy collecting and eating their little eggs. Now I have 11 Silkies incl 2 roos (reduced from 23) and should get a few more eggs, if they don't all go broody! ... humm... what would you do with 9 broodies if you don't want to hatch chicks? I usually put the broody hen in a wire cage to cool them down, but would putting all 9 in a wire cage together make them unbroody? Or do I need 9 cages? I could hatch 2 lots of chicks but not 9 at the same time!... I might need to ask in a new thread..

 

[Amer]

Temperament, looks... low maintenance. Hardiness, feed consumption, size, all of those come down to the low maintenance.
That’s why I picked clean-legged bantams without single combs that have good fertility. The looks and temperament are also pretty important.

 

[Abriana]

I chose temperament, aesthetics/looks, and general hardiness.

Temperament because I love friendly birds, especially lap-sitters (I had one that would initiate it by pulling on my pants until I sat down). I had a mean GLW named Coral who would grab skin and yank (sort of like a dog would). I loved her, of course, but she was not the most pleasant to be around!

Aesthetics/looks because while I don’t typically care when it comes to breed, I like pretty birds with interesting patterns or pretty colors. I usually choose birds based on coloring, not breed (although I do know the breed I’m getting and would do research to make sure it’s what I want).

And general hardiness because who wouldn’t? I’d love for all my birds to be really resistant to disease. So far I haven’t had an experience with a disease yet (thankfully) but I’m always worried about it in the back of my mind.

 

[3KillerBs]

Health: don't want diseases or to go to a vet

I think having birds that are disease resistant is important. No one enjoys a bunch of birds that are sickly.

Very good points, especially for anyone whose chickens are livestock, not pets. I am at the beginning of this larger, more permanent and self-sustaining flock, but I do not mean to breed trouble.

 

[RebelEgger]

Our chickens are pets just like our cats and dogs, that’s why temperament was most important to me

 

[quailmama 82012]

I chose my coturnix quail because it was the first one available. I hadn't done much research yet, but now that I have I dont change my breed because of their temperament, cold hardiness, size, and I choose different colors for looks

 

[BDutch]

.. I might need to ask in a new thread..

YES! Good idea. Silkies are cute looking, but definitely not my kind a girls. But there are lots of people here who have experience with braking broody Silkies.