Top 5 Backyard Chicken Breeds

[Bullitt]

The idea of this thread is to be a little informative and a little bit of fun.

Lists always generate debate. But I think we have figured out what the most popular breeds are in the United States, at least, and probably in Canada also.

 

[enel 1]

I'm having fun and I thought I was being fairly informative. I've read this entire thing from page one. i didn't just jump in with my opinion,people starting wanting to list breeds the average person cant just go to the store and buy,weren't we talk about the top favorite backyard chickens or were we talking about people on this forums top 5?

 

[ericsplls]

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.

All I was getting at is that it's hard for everyone to agree. You probably can drive all over washington and never see an american game. If you drive down a country road in the south you'll see there little huts all over the place. You will also see the hens in alot of coops. People here get extra hens and keep them for eggs and broodies. It's not just "certain people" that have them. I think it's neat to see the different kinds of chicken popular in different places in the US.

 

[speckledhen]

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.

Why are you being so antagonistic and trying to make me out a liar?

You completely misquoted me. I said "BRs laid egg for egg as many as any of the RIRs". I said the RIRs did not outdo the BRs; I never said the BRs were better layers, but that they were on par with the RIRs. I never gave specific numbers of eggs in my posts.

Yes, I have had several BR hens lay that well up until the 4th year. I have one right now who rarely EVER misses a day and she is about to turn 4 years old-she does indeed lay 6-7 eggs each and every week, my very best layer, daughter of a hatchery hen. Did every single one of my BRs lay that well for that many years? Of course not, but several have. Most of my older BR hens have passed on now and younger ones are coming along that haven't proven themselves over several years yet or I'd tell you about them as well.

YES, I know what a Rhode Island Red is. Good grief. I had breeder quality Rhode Island Reds from Pine Grove's stock. I have had the hatchery RIR types and I have had the deep, dark, large bodied heritage RIRs as well. You want pictures?

Geez. How many Barred Rocks and RIRs have you had over the years?

 

[DuckLady]

The idea of this thread is to be a little informative and a little bit of fun.

Lists always generate debate. But I think we have figured out what the most popular breeds are in the United States, at least, and probably in Canada also.

Very true, but let's be careful that we are educating and discussing and not flaming and antagonizing.

 

[Cetawin]

Yes Bullitt she knows the difference. She has had both breeder and hatchery RIRs, I have met them. She is not confusing her BRs either, met them too. I on the other hand had Dominiques and NHRs, which she has met.

Leghorns are good layers but I will put up a good Australorp against them laying and my white rocks any day...egg for egg they will keep up with a leghorn in quality and quantity.

 

[Bullitt]

There are Rhode Island Reds, heritage Rhode Island Reds, production reds, and many people call red mutt hens Rhode Island Reds. Asking someone if they are sure they had Rhode Island Reds is a fair question.

I am talking about the average for a breed, not that someone can find one or a few of a breed that will lay 300 or more eggs a year. The average Rhode Island Red will lay 5 eggs a week, or 260 eggs a year, and the average Barred Plymouth Rock will lay about 4 eggs a week, or 208 eggs a year. Please post evidence to prove me wrong.

By the way, an Australorp will eat much more than a Leghorn. Also, the world record for laying eggs is held by a White Leghorn that laid 371 eggs in 364 days. The average Leghorn will lay about 6 eggs a week, or 312 eggs a year, and the average Australorp will lay about 5 eggs a week, or 260 eggs a year.

 

[Bullitt]

I'm having fun and I thought I was being fairly informative. I've read this entire thing from page one. i didn't just jump in with my opinion,people starting wanting to list breeds the average person cant just go to the store and buy,weren't we talk about the top favorite backyard chickens or were we talking about people on this forums top 5?

We are talking about the most popular small-flock chicken breeds in North America, generally.

If you can determine which breed of dog is the most popular, then I don't think it is silly to determine the most popular small-flock chicken breeds.

 

[mommiextwo]

Hello! I'm new here and am excited to read all the posts. I am starting with chicks this week and have 8. Plymouth Rocks, Buff Cochins, Silver Laced Wyandottes and Ameraucanas, two of each. I love them all, each and every one! lol So glad to have come across this site.

 

[draye]

Hello! I'm new here and am excited to read all the posts. I am starting with chicks this week and have 8. Plymouth Rocks, Buff Cochins, Silver Laced Wyandottes and Ameraucanas, two of each. I love them all, each and every one! lol So glad to have come across this site.

Hello,

, from Arkansas.