What are the 3 best homesteading chicken breeds?

[ninjascrub69]

1. Chantecler
2. Buckeye
3. Production Red

 

[Luckytaz]

Buckeye, Chantecler, and Dominique.

 

[CityChicker]

Quote:
OMG! That is too funny. Those would be my exact breeds as well. When I read "Australorp" and "EE", I had thought the same exact thing as well either instead of Sex-links or possibly the Barred Rocks. LOL.

Really, having raised chickens for many year, I think Buff Orpingtons are about the best all around bird. Good strains can lay a decent amount of eggs. They can be used for meat and they most definitely will go broody. It is really hard though to settle on one breed that does it all. If I wanted eggs predominately and was really concerned about being as profitable as possible, I would do sex-links. Likewise, for a meat bird, I would do a cross as well. If you really want more of a homestead bird though, the ones above are all awesome. I guess from that perspective, my top three would be Buff Orps, Black Australorps, and Barred Plymouth Rocks.

 

[punky rooster]

let me try this agian,
buckeye
dorkings
plymouth rocks
I like them best
other:
Dominique
chantecler
RIR
orpingtons
Delaware
Astrolorp

ta da punky

 

[Dixiedoodle]

My uncle who raised chickens all his life, lived on a farm and was what we call a homesteader.. says, He always raised several different breeds... Some of them were great layers in the heat, others were pumping out eggs during the winter... he always had three or four hens that he kept for broodiness. Once they proved that they were great mother-hens he would never cull --them no matter their age.

His favorite were : true hertiage breeds: RIR, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Dark Brown Leghorn and the old fashion-barnyard mix!! According to my uncle: the barnyard mixes were the best.. If he needed more broodies /pullets hens, he would put his best broody w/ the largest -heaviest roo... This way he got some nice pullets/hens who might have a really good chance of being broody...and the roos were large enough to eat! Each yr... He separated each breed --using his best rooster and best hens and bred for production.. And let the broodies do their thing..

His main advice: KNOW your flock. know which breed works well on your farm/yard/in your weather/your needs.. KNOW which hens are more broody, who lays what, when and how many... Know what to expect from your rooster and NEVER breed one that isn't what you want/need..