Please suggest breed

[Bimmber]

Hi guys,

I`m looking for my first ever (!) chicken breed. Could you please help me narrow down to suitable breeds?

What I need is:

1. Large bird, as big as possible. In terms of size, not actual carcass or weight.
2. Ideally brown color. Or at least should be dark (like Bielefelder).
3. Lays x large or jumbo eggs.
3. Shell color - white or brown colors - no unusual or fancy colored shells.
4. Docile/friendly/not aggressive.
5. Auto sexing - would be nice!
6. They are intended for eggs only, so no need to be dual or meaty breed (I`ll keep COBB 500 for meat separately). Ideally at least 250 eggs per year.
7. I don`t mind if they start laying at later age - I`m not in rush.
8. Good mothers as I don`t plan to have incubator - let nature do its job and chickens (and me) experience them being mothers.
9. Winters do get very cold here, sometimes up to -20 celsius (-68 far.), so, hardy birds would be welcomed.
10. Not very noisy breed.

They will be kept as organic and free range - with freedom to go outside and eat grass, worms and have fun in the sun I have 20.7 acres of farmland/forest for them to roam.

After lots of reading, I have noted few breeds which might be suitable - Rhode Island, Lohmann Brown+, Bielefelder. Please suggest more.

Thank you chicken people

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I love my Bielefelers. I would definitely reccomend giving them a try with the goals you have.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

I love Brahmas, I breed them.
They’re “okay” layers (great during the winter months)
Very friendly and docile. They’re cold hardy.
They’re great Broodies and can fit a lot of eggs under them as they’re so big.
They’re Gentle Giants.
A very quiet breed aswell.

Here’s some pics of mine

 

[Bimmber]

they aren’t renown for their mothering skills, so the baby chicks may need to be kept in a brooder until they reach adulthood

Welsummers are average egg layers, producing around 160 eggs each year

On the negative side, these birds can be noisy! They are the ones who shout the loudest when they feel the mood upon them or something is upsetting them

---
That what google is saying about Welsummer.

 

[MagpieDucks]

I would try Jersey Giants.

 

[Alexandra33]

I, too, vouch for Welsummers. They don't meet all of your criteria, but then again, few breeds do.

1. Ideally, better quality Welsummers are on the smaller side. Similar in size when compared to Leghorns, but meatier. However, one of my hatchery girls is quite large.
2. Very dark.
3. Lay wonderfully large, stunning eggs for their medium body size.
4. Colors range from terra cotta to dark brown, as in "Marans" dark.
5. Quite docile little birds, sometimes even affectionate.
6. Auto-sexing is a little tricky with these guys, but it can be done.
7. I consider Welsummers almost strictly prolific layers.
8. Later layers, usually.
9. Only one of mine has gone broody.
10. Extremely hardy, healthy.
11. Admittedly, they can be a little loud.

160 eggs annually? That's all, according to Google? Mine, when laying, produce around 5-6 per week.

~Alex

 

[Bimmber]

About J. giants:

The hens seldom go broody, but when they do they really aren’t the greatest setters because of their weight – sadly they are prone to breaking the eggs.

lay between 135 and 160 eggs per year

 

[MagpieDucks]

About J. giants:

The hens seldom go broody, but when they do they really aren’t the greatest setters because of their weight – sadly they are prone to breaking the eggs.

lay between 135 and 160 eggs per year

I wouldn't trust Google nearly as much as personal experience of BYC members.

 

[Bimmber]

Its not actually google saying, but chicken websites I found via google. Sorry, I must have clarified that.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

No breed can with stand -68F winters without heat lamps and staying cooped up out of the drafts.
If you are only looking for egg production then get Leghorns, they have amazing feed to egg conversion, are very hardy, are great layers of large white eggs, and great all around birds!