What’s everyone favourite ‘multi-purpose’ breed?🤔

[FC16]

Would love to know everyone’s Number 1 breed that ticks most boxes

Just looking for some ideas to be thrown out there as I just got rid of my oldest hens, who were so nice so it wasn’t easy for me, to make room for some Orpington’s I was getting. After finding a new home for them I was then let down by the person with the Orpington’s who decided they could no longer sell them due to bird flu. (There is a map for livestock trading prevention zones where I live and the person with the chickens fell right on the border of one of the zones , half their land was in and half was out. They decided it was best not)

Anyway, I’ve been searching around and there’s no other orpingtons close to me at the moment which is slightly annoying.
I’m considering other breeds and have a few in mind, but thought I’d ask what everyone’s favourite all round best breed is.
•Good egg layer •Broody tendencies •Decent size (if were to use for meat) •Pure breed

 

[neo71665]

I like rhode island reds. They check all your marks except broody.

 

[FC16]

I like rhode island reds. They check all your marks except broody.

Definitely would like to get a couple Rhode island reds for their eggs, great birds

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You are in England, why not Sussex?

 

[The Birb King]

Marans are nice birds. Beautiful chickens, beautiful eggs, and usually good temperaments Same with Ameraucans. The only thing about these breeds is that they can be a bit expensive and hard to find.

 

[FC16]

You are in England, why not Sussex?

Definitely up there on my list, just hard to find locally to me at the moment, I don’t want to hatch my own again and I’m hoping some will become available as we come into spring

 

[FC16]

Marans are nice birds. Beautiful chickens, beautiful eggs, and usually good temperaments Same with Ameraucans. The only thing about these breeds is that they can be a bit expensive and hard to find.

I’ve never kept Marans before, I know they’re decent layers, I’d like some of them dark eggs too. Do they tend to go broody?

 

[The Birb King]

I’ve never kept Marans before, I know they’re decent layers, I’d like some of them dark eggs too. Do they tend to go broody?

This is my first year having them so I'm not really sure none of mine have gone broody yet. So far mine have been laying a dark egg at least every other day, and they are friendly.

 

[FC16]

This is my first year having them so I'm not really sure none of mine have gone broody yet. So far mine have been laying a dark egg at least every other day, and they are friendly.

Sounds, good will definitely look into getting some. I do have a ‘bluebell’, supposed to be a blue maran hybrid, believe they’re crossed with RIR, lays very well but you don’t get them dark brown eggs

 

[The Birb King]

Sounds, good will definitely look into getting some. I do have a ‘bluebell’, supposed to be a blue maran hybrid, believe they’re crossed with RIR, lays very well but you don’t get them dark brown eggs

Not all Marans lay really dark eggs it just depends on their genetics. I have 3 Marans hens and only 2 lay super dark eggs the other hen lays lighter speckled eggs.