Official BYC Poll - Which Breed Characteristics/Traits are the Most Important to You?

[Flufferes]

Looks, temperament, and egg production.

Overall health of the bird ties it all together. Its inconvenient and sad to deal with a chicken that's unhealthy all the time. I had a Buff orp hen that always had something wrong with her. She had Sour crop, reproductive issues, bumblefoot, and finally died when she was 2 years old of fly strike last summer.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I chose temperment, broodiness and good dual purpose. Chickens should be easy to handle, be able to self procreate and be useful from first to last.

That's why I'm going to breed for those three traits first, then I can get my egg color.

 

[Kiki]

I choose these three:

 

[TomZilla43]

Tough choices. I'm finding that I like all kinds of chickens(Must be addicted). But I chose egg production, temperament, and looks in that order

 

[BantyChooks]

I pick replacement stock on an entire variety of traits.

• Correct conformation
• Temperament
• Hardiness (not just temperature climes but the ability to be robust under less than ideal conditions)
• Excellent free-ranging capabilities
• Easy keeping (as in gaining/doing well on less feed etc.)

All of the above have to be stellar or I'm not going to get a chance to select for egg laying traits or those below.

• Duel purpose
• Egg laying
• Longevity in life and in laying capability
• Aesthetics
  
• Broodiness AND mothering ability. Because some hens can be excellent setters but are not good mother material.

I select my birds on the merits of the entire list above. I feel the entire list is key to producing the birds I desire. It will take longer to achieve the entire list, but it will be well worth the extra time.

*Broodiness is the only trait that is not as key in some of my birds because I have too many that are extreme broodies already. I'd like to temper the extreme broodies I have to a less broody (As in less amount of times to go broody) but still retain the excellent mothering qualities.

This.

 

[MountainFireflyAcres]

Good Poll,
I selected my breeds coming in next week with the idea of good producing meat and eggs that can get out there and forage for some of their food at the same time not advertising themselves to predators that will hopefully lay through winter and go broody to continue the generations.
The top breed or two from this experiment will be what I will choose to focus on.
Some of these top contenders coming are Rhode Island, Buckeye, Dominique, Wyandotte, Australorpe, Wellsummer, New Hampshire, Marans, and a few others.

 

[Emojikitten]

I raise chickens as pets, so all I really care about is if they can be trained to love humans and other animals.

 

[Mukluky]

Well it's fun to get some colored eggs!

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

And to think all this time I had the browser page as a shortcut on my home screen *face palm*
Do the cute emojis come in the app as well, cuz my standard phone ones suck! Haha

 

[ChickNanny13]

Living in a residential area, I'm limited to the amount (4 - 6) pullets I can have. So they're basically "Pets w/Benefits" ... Temperament is very important, preferring the more quiet & docile breeds. Aesthetics/Looks is also a breed selector for me, I LOVE the puffy/fluffy breeds and clean legged. Egg Production is not so important to me but Hubby wants eggs, ha ha.

I love Orpingtons, have 4 BOs right now, have had Blues & Blacks but this Summer getting some Lavenders. Hatchery stock, our Dept of Ag makes it difficult to purchase from private breeders Wyandottes are another favorite, the blue laced reds to be exact. AMs & EEs are another breed I like, they're very entertaining with their antic, have had several.