Trying to decide on ONE breed to replace my mixed flock

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Wyandottes! Mine are sweeties! They will eat out of my hand and follow me around and chill on my lap. It's all in how you raise them! It's like saying all pit bulls area mean...

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Delawares, but you'll have to get the right strain. Some of the roos are sweet, others are human aggressive.

Wish I could help, but we are all out of Del roos. There is keen interset in Dels on BYC, they may even find you first.

 

[cubalaya]

i have never had them but, if i could only have one breed of chicken, it would be delawares. fast growing, great layers of large brown eggs, the ideal dual purpose american farm chicken. heritage doesn't always mean show birds that dont lay good. this breed was meant to grow fast for the broiler industry and lay a good amount of large eggs and that should be in the apa standard.

 

[Cowgirl71]

Hatcheries breed their birds to be scrawny, feed efficient egg-laying machines, that barely meet the Standard of Perfection. Heritage birds are bred toward the SOP, and to be large, meaty, and reasonable layers.

If you do decide on heritage, a lot of BYCers love their Delawares. You can check out Whitmore farms in Maryland: http://www.whitmorefarm.com/content/5089

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I have to say Delawares. I love mine and DH is even impressed with them.

 

[EweSheep]

As for me, I am a sucker for Coronation Sussex but not everyone wants those feed guzzlers.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
I love my Light Sussex and Coronation Sussex, too. Though, their egg size is less than the Delawares.

 

[kimberly_kodiak]

I agree that the Delawares have great personalities. Out of my mixed flock, they are my favorite. The only problem with them is their color. I find that if you free range them, like my mother, you are bound to lose them. If you are keeping them protected then they are a great dual purpose bird.

 

[Clay Valley Farmer]

If breeding a quality heritage breed, having eggs and a good winter hearty breed were marking points I would think getting some Chantecler's would be a good choice. Also if you plan to keep to a single breed and develop some good breeding stock you may have some good luck selling hatching eggs and chick, likely better with a rarer breed than trying to sell bared rocks or RIRs.

 

[AllCoop'dUp]

I know they aren't are your list, however Black Australorps are a nice duel purpose bird and are laying machines!!