I've spent my chicken years slowly working through the breeds to determine my favorites for eggs and roosters for table.
Which breed will become your favorite depends in part to your environment and range limitation not just your goals.
I've got 1/3 acre, so limited range, and a need to not have birds flying over to the neighbors or annoying them. (Though none have complained). I also have a very wet climate with lots of mud, and though not a lot of freezing temps, bone chilling dankness all during winter. (Many easterners come here from snow climates to feel COLDER in our wet winters.)
I've tried over the years, RSL/GSL, BSL, Welsummer, EE, Cream Legbar, Delaware, New Hampshire, Buckeye, Rhodebar, Marans, Buff Orpington, RIR, Brown Leghorn, White Leghorn, Buckeye, California Grey, Barred Rock, Games mixes (OEGB, Sumatra), backyard mutt mixes, Isbar, Barnevelder (only got roos in that batch), Wyandottes, Silkie, and Bantam Cochin...and I'm sure something I've forgotten.
Many were breeder quality, though many were simply feed store quality. A few from friends flocks.
So my answers?
- Which breeds are best if you're after getting lots of eggs?
Years ago, my grandma had an egg farm filled with White Leghorns. Yes, Leghorns are laying machines, but they tend to be noisy and flighty. For my little backyard flock, years later, I looked for a better breed and have found EXCELLENT production from my California Greys. (Yes, it's an Oregon thing). Feed store quality, but they have been calm, friendly, and lay lovely large white eggs nearly every day for the last 3 years (with a relatively short molt break). Nice personalities to boot.
After that, I get the Red/Gold sexlinks, which lay lovely brown eggs. They do tend to play out in about 2 years of age for strong production, and it shows in their body weight. (Don't plan on eating your spent RSL's).
For darker brown, Welsummers have been an excellent darker colored layer (though not the deep browns of Marans), though mine did tend to be a bit noisy, so I replaced with Marans who are not as prolific but do lay a bit darker.
For overall solid production for extended time, I'd have to say my Black Sex Links were very good.
- Which breeds make good dual purpose birds (Fair egg layers that can also be processed for the table)?
In my personal search, I think when I settle for dual purpose (after I finish playing genetically with egg color), I will go New Hampshire from a good quality breeder line. Very dependable layers of large eggs and a very decent carcass size. Roos will take nearly 6 months to finish though. I'll have to play with roo feed to see if I can't get them to top out by 5 months. A good NH can be hard to find though.
So, Buckeyes are a very good choice for dual, but watch the line you get for egg laying. In the particular breeder line I got, the hens were not very good at laying eggs steadily, but did average about 3 to 4 a week...with periods of non laying. However the roos do grow fast and you can, fed appropriately, get them to table by 16 to 20 weeks, depending upon the size of carcass you want. You do need to monitor and feed the roosters appropriately to get good weight. Even the hens take more protein for good growth. Good meat flavor, though do expect legs to be longer than the Cornish Cross stuff you get in the store....that just means more drumstick!
If you can find them, honestly, my third choice would be Rhodebar. The rooster grew to a nice table size early and the hens are very good layers. They are harder to find and you should only get from a good breeder. The advantage is they are auto-sexing which means you can target those roos right from the start.
Then it would be a good line of Wyandotte or Delaware. Depending upon the line, they can be both productive and good weight.
- Which are the best (non-broiler) breeds for the table?
Buckeye if you want to focus on meat developed faster but still at a "heritage" rate.
- Which breeds are great with kids (friendly, personable)?
My grandma's WL's were NOT good with kids...I know. I was a kid, and I hated to gather eggs from those snotty ladies (but then again, I was pretty small and didn't command much respect).
All my birds are safe with kids, however only a few have desired to be with people. All Black Sex Links I've had were sweet and friendly. My Buckeyes were very tame and friendly. But for a true friendly bird, it is hard to beat the Bantam Cochin. They are little dust mops that are easy to tame and very personable. My Silkies have been a mixed bag. I choose for broodiness which also inclines them to a certain attitude...works for me for raising chicks, but they can be very peckish at those that approach. My current Silkie is much tamer than my previous birds, but she hasn't brooded yet!
No matter what breed you get, the birds must be carefully handled and conditioned so that they are friendly around children. Never trust a child alone with a bird...for the sake of both.
- Which breeds need specific conditions, for example no climate extremes, or not suitable to keep in certain conditions (free range or confined)?
I have mud, dank wet, and I have hawks. My birds must be able to sustain both.
For my feather-footed and low to the ground Silkies and Bantam Cochins, I keep a designated broody hutch that is covered (with thick tarp, wire and bird netting) over bark chips. Otherwise, they are a solid mud ball waiting for bumble foot. I don't pamper them other than keep them on wood chips and out of direct rain..
My banties are also nothing but hawk bait. I could sob a river at the broodies I've lost on short time free range...it only takes a second, and a hawk has them. It is always my brooding banties (I've only lost one large size bird to a hawk kill). Now my banties are always locked up in their enclosed run...no exceptions, not even when I clean the run now. (Lost the last one as she free ranged for 20 minutes on clean out). They've been savvy enough, watching my roo's warning, but they simply cannot run fast enough. They waddle. They get eaten.
I don't prefer white birds either. More obvious to hawks, though I've never had one taken, but always a mud mess to look at. (Yes I do bark my overall free range, but there is only so much you can do). While it doesn't interfere with laying, it does create a less than pleasing flock to look at.
My experiences.
LofMc
