Top 5 Backyard Chicken Breeds

[speckledhen]

I think the Barred Plymouth Rock is probably the most popular breed for the small flock. It has an edge over the Rhode Island Red because Barred Plymouth Rocks are generally more friendly than Rhode Island Reds. But Rhode Island Reds are better layers.

Which breed is best for someone depends on what they want chickens for. Most people with backyard flocks want friendly chickens that are good layers. The Barred Plymouth Rock usually meets those requirements.

I would challenge that one, the part about RIRs being better layers. You really can't make a true blanket statement like that. A hen can't lay more than an egg per day (except maybe a very rare glitch). I have consistently had both RIRs and BRs and the BRs laid egg for egg as many as any of the RIRs, hatchery and breeder types included. I consider them equals in the egg laying department and I think you'll find many folks who have both breeds would agree.

 

[Bullitt]

I would challenge that one, the part about RIRs being better layers. You really can't make a true blanket statement like that. A hen can't lay more than an egg per day (except maybe a very rare glitch). I have consistently had both RIRs and BRs and the BRs laid egg for egg as many as any of the RIRs, hatchery and breeder types included. I consider them equals in the egg laying department and I think you'll find many folks who have both breeds would agree.

Many people seem to have a reaction when I point out that one breed is a better layer than another.

I can say that in general a Barred Plymouth Rock will lay 4 eggs a week on average in a year, whereas a Rhode Island Red will lay 5 eggs a week on average in a year. So I think I am safe in saying that on average Rhode Island Reds are better layers. Of course there are individual variations.

I put links to a few websites that show the number of eggs laid by each breed.


Plymouth Rock

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Plymouth-Rock-B85.aspx

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/barred.html

http://www.keepingchickens.com/plymouth-rock-chicken/



Rhode Island Red

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Rhode-Island-B97.aspx

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/rhodeislandrdpage.html

http://www.keepingchickens.com/rhode-island-reds/

 

[ericsplls]

I would say in the southeast I see few backyard flocks with austrolorps. Here it would go RIR, Barred Rock, Orpington, Easter Egger, American Game.

 

[speckledhen]

Many people seem to have a reaction when I point out that one breed is a better layer than another.

I can say that in general a Barred Plymouth Rock will lay 4 eggs a week on average in a year, whereas a Rhode Island Red will lay 5 eggs a week on average in a year. So I think I am safe in saying that on average Rhode Island Reds are better layers. Of course there are individual variations.

I put links to a few websites that show the number of eggs laid by each breed.


Plymouth Rock

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Plymouth-Rock-B85.aspx

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/barred.html

http://www.keepingchickens.com/plymouth-rock-chicken/



Rhode Island Red

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Rhode-Island-B97.aspx

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/rhodeislandrdpage.html

http://www.keepingchickens.com/rhode-island-reds/

My Barred Rocks lay 6-7 eggs per week until they get to over 4 years old. I have two 5 year old BR hens who are still laying 4-5 eggs per week, in addition to one who is over 3 years old who lays 7 eggs almost every week without fail.

I still don't believe you can make a blanket statement about one of those two particular breeds being a better layer than the other, though sources such as you quoted keep spouting the "party line" from way back when. On one level, it's an individual thing. On another, it just doesn't hold true across the board when you consider different lines/strains can vary tremendously.

All that aside, of course, the Rock still must be on the top five list of backyard/barnyard breeds. It's not that I'm defending the Rock; it's that I've had both breeds in hatchery and good breeder stock and the RIRs have never outdone my Rocks as layers. To me, they're equals.

 

[Bullitt]

My Barred Rocks lay 6-7 eggs per week until they get to over 4 years old. I have two 5 year old BR hens who are still laying 4-5 eggs per week, in addition to one who is over 3 years old who lays 7 eggs almost every week without fail.

I still don't believe you can make a blanket statement about one of those two particular breeds being a better layer than the other, though sources such as you quoted keep spouting the "party line" from way back when. On one level, it's an individual thing. On another, it just doesn't hold true across the board when you consider different lines/strains can vary tremendously.

All that aside, of course, the Rock still must be on the top five list of backyard/barnyard breeds. It's not that I'm defending the Rock; it's that I've had both breeds in hatchery and good breeder stock and the RIRs have never outdone my Rocks as layers. To me, they're equals.

You said all the Barred Plymouth Rocks you have had were better layers than all the Rhode Island Reds you have had. Why would you then say that they are equal at laying eggs?

So you don't think a hatchery would claim that Barred Plymouth Rocks will lay over 300 eggs a year if it were true? They are trying to sell chicks, so they would be the first to use that information if it were true.

Most people overestimate how many eggs their chickens lay. I think you may be overestimating the number of eggs your chickens lay.

Can you point me to information that states that Barred Plymouth Rocks will lay more than 300 eggs a year?

Leghorns are the best at laying eggs, and that is why they are very popular for commercial operations. They will lay a little more than 300 eggs a year on average. It is difficult to believe that your Barred Rocks lay as well as that, which is what you claimed by saying they lay 6-7 eggs a week. You also said they lay eggs that well for their first 4 years. That is unheard of.

I agree there can be individual variations, where one particular Barred Plymouth Rock may lay eggs better than one particular Rhode Island Red. But all the information I can find states that in general the Rhode Island Red is a better layer.

By the way, are you sure you have had Rhode Island Reds and not some mutts? Many people call similar chickens Rhode Island Reds.

The Barred Plymouth Rock is the most popular because it is hardy, generally friendly, and they are good layers. By the way, you did not have a problem with me claiming that Barred Rocks were generally friendly, and you made the same claim. How can you make such a claim about them? We can make such claims because we are describing the general traits of a breed.

 

[Bullitt]

I would say in the southeast I see few backyard flocks with austrolorps. Here it would go RIR, Barred Rock, Orpington, Easter Egger, American Game.

I think you are correct that Orpington should be higher on the list, so I moved Orpington up.

Is American Game that popular of a breed? Where would you place it on the list?


1. Plymouth Rock

2. Rhode Island Red

3. "Easter Egger"

4. Orpington

5. Leghorn

6. Australorp

7. Sex-Link (There are several hybrids, such as Red Sex-Link and Black Sex-Link)

8. New Hampshire

9. Wyandotte

10. Welsummer

11. Cochin

12. Old English Game Bantam

13. Silkies

 

[Chickwithstick]

Thank You! He is Gorgeous !!!

 

[ericsplls]

I can't say that the american game is that popular nation wide. I can say that from Georgia to Louisiana there are alot of them. I would say at 1 in 10 people I know around here have american game. About half of them that do raise them raise alot of them.

 

[Illia]

Honestly if you're gonna put Sex-Link on the list it should go somewhere in the top 3, but then again, EE is number 3 and I highly disagree with that so

Back in Utah and here in Washington both I notice EE's aren't all that common, Sex-Links are EXTREMELY common, and Aussies, Buffs, Reds, and Rocks are right behind them. Aussies probably first. But, that's just two states. However online I notice the same trend. Most people tend to have maybe one or two EE's in their flock if any.

American Games wouldn't be on the list. If we lived in the Philippines sure, or only the south maybe, but numbers don't equal popularity. Most people don't even know truly what an American Game is if you brought up the name. They're only popular to certain people, just the same as Oriental Games and Long tailed and Long crowers are.

 

[enel 1]

I think most "back yard" flocks are owned by people that want eggs and "pretty "yard ornaments,and are unaware that there are even actual breeders out there and the only place to buy chickens is through their local feed store. WE all know that hatchery birds and breeder quality bird aren't the same,but you average Joe has no clue and they usually buys chickens on a whim,these are the same people that get there other "pets' from pet stores and not actual breeds ,I would compare buying a "breed" of chicken from a hatchery the same as getting your dog from a puppy mill and a farm store the same as a pet store.So I guess my point is,Black labs are the most popular dog breed but if you get it from a puppy mill it wont be the same as if you got it from a reputable breeder,and a breeder will say that it isn't a 'REAL' lab,so for people like us who have an actual affliction for chickens to try and figure out what the top 10 most popular back yard chickens are,is silly everybody has heard of barred rocks RIR and i would say those are the birds the "chicken mills sell the most of. jmo