What are your favorite breeds?

[michickenwrangler]

Cochins.

I also like my black sex links

 

[bacres]

I like my Rosecombs and Silkies!

 

[CMV]

My favorites are my Jersey Giants. Gentle, lovely, grand birds that allow my 5 y.o. to carry them around the yard. She can barely lift them, but they let her haul them around. My least favorites have been my Wyandottes. They tend to be a bit grumpy and hard to get along with, but they lay like troopers and are lovely, so I put up with them. I have quite a mix of other birds, so I have lots of variety- BRs, RIRs, BOs, EEs, JGs, GSLs, and GLWs. All lay brown eggs (except the EEs) and are great production layers. They are also all winter hardy breeds which is important where I live. I would recommend any of these breeds.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Of all my chickens, I like my Ameraucanas the best! They are the only ones I raised from chicks and are by-far the friendliest! They will lay beautiful blue eggs (soon

). I love their fluffy beards and muffs!

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Quote:
If you are only getting five chicks you should do some research on which ones can be color sexed at birth. Unless of course you don't mind ending up with 1 or three possible roos!

I believe that Dominiques fall into that category as far as sexing, and lay brown eggs. They also are very productive layers and can be used as a dual purpose bird if and when you get hungry for a chicken dinner

I myself like the puffy cheek breeds, or ones that have contrast such as Brahmas or Deleware. Oh, okay I love them all! Good luck picking just five!

 

[The Fairy Godmartyr]

Quote:
If you are only getting five chicks you should do some research on which ones can be color sexed at birth. Unless of course you don't mind ending up with 1 or three possible roos!

I believe that Dominiques fall into that category as far as sexing, and lay brown eggs. They also are very productive layers and can be used as a dual purpose bird if and when you get hungry for a chicken dinner

I myself like the puffy cheek breeds, or ones that have contrast such as Brahmas or Deleware. Oh, okay I love them all! Good luck picking just five!

I buy hatchery sexed birds. Of course, I know this isn't a sure thing. I got 13 chicks this past summer, 10 of which were supposed to be sexed as females (4 were sex links). I did end up with one rooster in the bunch (my favorite Easter egger

), but the rest were correct. I'm willing to deal with it if I get a rooster so that I'm not limited to sex linked birds (not that I don't like the four that I currently have--they are my friendliest girls!).

 

[ddroland]

I have Cochins, Barred Rocks, Australorps, Americaunas, Silkies, and by far my favorite is my OEGs.

 

[ninjascrub69]

My fovorite breeds......

1.Black australorp
2.Buff orpington
3.production red
4.Easter egger
5.Rosecomb phoenix
6.Cochin
7.BLRW
I have alot more, but its to much to list

Edited to add BLRW (great egg production, and very cold hardy.)

 

[SilverPhoenix]

This won't help you with your choice as my two favorite breeds are not layers, but my two favorites are seramas and old english game bantams. Small, great personalities, colorful, cute, and they make great pets! I love a lot of breeds, but those two are my overall favorites.

 

[Kansaseq]

My two Speckled Sussex girls are very friendly, sweet, and talkative. They lay a nice, medium sized egg almost every day, and are nice eye candy.
My Barnies are also pretty laid back, and are very good layers of darker brown, medium sized eggs.
I recently added 2 Red Sex links, and am liking them very much for their friendliness and laying ability.

Of course, I am also in love with my Easter Eggers, who lay fabulously and are beautiful, though not near as beautiful as my Ameraucanas, who haven't started to lay yet.