Topic of the Week - Which Breeds Are Best For….

[sumi]

There are a bewildering number of chicken breeds available, each with its own set of qualities and characteristics. Some are great egg layers, some are fair layers, and great table birds. Others are cute lawn ornaments that lays only occasionally. To help especially the new chicken keepers pick the breeds that are best suited to their needs, this week I would like to hear your thoughts and recommendations on chicken breeds for the purpose of egg-laying, table birds, etc. Specifically:

- Which breeds are best if you're after getting lots of eggs?
- Which breeds make good dual-purpose birds (Fair egg layers that can also be processed for the table)?
- Which are the best (non-broiler) breeds for the table?
- Which breeds are great with kids (friendly, personable)?
- Which breeds need specific conditions, for example, no climate extremes, or not suitable to keep in certain conditions (free-range or confined)?


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[BY Bob]

With our small flock we have only had experience with white leghorns and mutts. I can unequivocally say that white leghorns are amazing layers. We have always averaged around 350+ eggs a year from them. So much so that I tracked my Daisy last year and she delivered 360 large white eggs. We got Daisy as a pullet and it has taken some patience, but she has become very friendly. It was down to 12 degrees last night and she has handled the cold quite well. She does fly/jump up onto my lap and she will jump up on the table. The leghorns have always been our alpha hens, so perhaps they are bossy. She is not nearly as mean to the other hens as our beta Patsy is. Patsy can be downright mean, but she is not a Leghorn, she is a mutt.

I think leghorns are the quintessential chickens. They look and act like a chicken should.

Here is Daisy in her glory:

 

[CoopintheWoods]

White Leghorn:
For egg production, the white Leghorn. Mine, named Annika, has missed only five days since she began laying on December 26th. She is also fairly friendly.

Red Sex-Link;
My red sex-link, Poppy, is one of my best foragers. However, she does not appreciate people much.

Friendliest Chickens:
My Barred Rock, Betty, and my speckled Sussex, Charlotte, are my sweetest birds. they sometimes follow me around when I am outside, and Betty will fall asleep on laps. Easter eggers can also be very sweet. One of mine, Bumble, passed away recently, but was the nicest, sweetest chicken ever.

 

[dunnmom]

I've had Buff Orpingtons for almost a year. American, not English lines. Their egg production has been notably good. I get 3-5 big brown eggs daily from 6 hens. I've gotten 6 once so far. They are also very docile and allow themselves to be caught and handled, even if they are a bit annoyed by it. They squat on a dime when in lay. Of course, my husband and I are the "roos" in their world as we have no male for them. They are also pretty good with my 4 kids and don't peck them unless they are teasing them with food, of course. Even then, there was no blood or anything. They also seemed more accepting of new flock additions than my Wyandottes were. They did well over the winter without supplemental light and heat, aside from a break in laying due to molting, but needed help during the summer staying cool. I don't know that I would use them as table birds unless I had to dispatch an ornery bird, as most of their bulk seems to be their feathers. At any rate, I think I've found my breed. I didn't have a very good first experience with Barred Rocks or Wyandottes, both had too many behavioral issues for me, but I'm sure I'll try out other breeds at some point.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Try the Bielefelder. They are good egg layers and very sweet! Like dogs. I really love mine! Check them out!

I agree on the bielefelders. I have many, including a rooster, and they are super friendly, quiet and don’t mind taking a siesta on your lap. I have one that likes to piggy back ride when I kneel down to weed the garden

 

[BDutch]

If you have little space to keep chickens, I recommend Dutch or another small bantams.
They even fit into a prefab coop (but such prefabs still need alterations).

Dutch are one of the smallest breeds and in W-Europe a common breed. They lay good from early spring till the end of autumn and are show very social behaviour (especially towards each other). Dutch are excellent broodies, but if you want to quit a broodies behaviour is not very difficult to stop them. They live a long life and still lay (less) when 8 years old.

They are great free rangers because they fly away for dogs, know the difference between neighbour cats they can trust and strange cats that ar not trustworthy.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

In my experience with my current breeds...

Silkies/polkies- eye candy, not great layers, only one of mine enjoys a cuddle, they have lovely and docile personalities and are fun to watch

d'uccles- not bad layers, eye candy, cuddle lap babies, lovely docile personality, fun to look at and to cuddle!

(Silver) sussex- great layer, beautiful, docile, doesn't mind being handled

cochin/cochin mixes- alright layers, especially my cochin mixes, very fun to watch, don't mind handling, docile

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I’m so new I know very little. But I do appreciate all your advice and comments. the one question I have right now is whether you find a difference in friendliness if you start with baby chicks or pullets?

Not really. One of my hens was bought as a 6 week old, and she is friendlier than a hen that I raised feom a chick. It depends on their individual personality and how they were brought up.
If you want sweet chickens, don't buy POL hens, unless they were raised being used to handling. The adult hens I've bought are all skittish, even though they trust me enough to eat out of my hand. But I recently got a 3 year old hen who is very friendly, because she was raised with kids and being used to handling.
The younger you get them, the more time you have to build a relationship with them, but some chickens grow to like attention, and some don't

 

[fluffycrow]

My most prolific egg layers have always been leghorns and ISA brown. The leghorns live way longer though, while with the ISA brown it's an irregularity that they do. As for kid friendly breeds, the only one I've kept (granted for a very short while) and would recommend would be serama. As for breeds with special requirements, I can tell you that my brahma DO NOT like the heat

 

[BDutch]

O

Oh my gosh - that’s it I am in love

How adorable are they!?

Yes, there truly are a great breed and a joy to have. They are rare in the US but there are people who have them. I don’t know about Canada. Hatcheries in the US who sell them often sell wanabee Dutch (probably mixed with OEG).

Want to read more about my Dutch hatching 11 eggs in co-operation?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/natural-breeding-project-no5-janice-pearl-broodies-and-11-hatching-eggs--.1574045/