what breed is best?

[hoping4better]

From what I've read there is a GREAT variety of personalities within ANY breed (except maybe the white leghorns). So, really there isn't a "best" breed becuase you can get a mean silkie or a friendly production red. I haven't had any purebreds and absolutely love the variety of my flock of muts and seeing the interrelations of them all. My favorite of them all is a barred rock that's half the size of the rest and has feathers down her legs - she also seems to go broody at the drop of a hat (3 broody sessions in less than a year and a half!).

I vote you get a rainbow pack or find a local farmer and get some from them.

 

[Johndeere96]

I like barred rocks and production reds

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Haha that's alright.

I wanted to get some EE, but my local chicken hatchery don't sell them.

 

[SIMPleChick]

OK! Well,I would say get one of each and just see what you like! That is what a lot of people do and if you really can't have that many, some WILL turn out to be boys and you will have to sell some! So....I started with 3....ended up with 11 and had at least 8 more in between! LOL! I wanted to see what breeds were like what and don't forget their is their individual personality! So where one breed in general might be nicer than another, you still might get one that is shy and jittery and doesn't like to be around people! But here is one thing I learned! If you don't have roos, RIGHT before they start laying they become more friendly! So even the chicks that are more stand offish when they are growng before they start laying they do the egg squat, want their booties rubbed and more treats! As they grow they become used to routines so if you go out once a day at 2 they will eventually start waiting by the door for you! LOL!

So! I ended up with these hens! 3 EEs, 2 Welsummers, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Barred Rock, 1 Black Sex Link, 1 Red Sex Link, 1 Cuckoo Maran! I had to sell my flock because we hit a really rough patch and I was diagnosed with lupus and step-daughter is special needs and we needed scrips... it was a whole thing! SOSOSOSOSOSOSO sad BUT we are moving and I am planning on getting more! And I will get these again! EEs are SO sweet, lay beautiful eggs and are easy to tell apart because they are Mutts and are super friendly! Welsummers are BEAUTIFUL, became more friendly when about to lay, in the way of letting us hold them and walk around with them. White Leghorn. Our Bugs was THE sweetest, my special-needs step daughter would swing on the swing with her and everything and laid practically EVERY day! She was such a skinny grl I don't know where she keps those eggs! We did get a white rock but it turned out to be a boy but he was a very sweet boy. Black Australorp did NOT like to be held or chased around until she started laying but then she went broody 2 months after laying! Then she mellowed out and was SO comical! She stole eggs from other nests to put them ALL in hers! She was SO pretty andher feahers were like silk, my husbands favorite! Our Barred Rock was like our WLH! SUPER sweet! Heavy chicken, clumsy, LOVED to be held like a baby and laid every day! Our Red Sex link was So much nicer than the Black Sex link but both amazing layers! Our RSL laid a DARK terra cotta color egg! Double yolkers ALL the time! Maran was cute only one who DIDN'T lay in the nests! LOL! But did NOT like to be held. But not "flighty" or "mean" like some places describe them!

The ones we did have but turned into roos were Buff Orpington and White Rock, they were both beautiful and vey sweet. White Rock more shy and didn't like to be held as a chick. SO! Good luck and let us know what you end up getting!

 

[Guinea and Chicken raiser]

Barred Rock. or white rock, same breed, just different color, instincts should be the very same they also have buff rock and I find those interesting.

 

[SIMPleChick]

P.S. You can always request your feed store to order EEs! AND I would get a Welsummer! You will just LOVE he speckeled eggs! Different every day!

 

[pattyhen]

My favorite breed is buff orphington..

 

[Chicks Galore3]

P.S. You can always request your feed store to order EEs! AND I would get a Welsummer! You will just LOVE he speckeled eggs! Different every day!

OOOOOOO I might try that!!!!

 

[debid]

Chances are, your feed store won't know what an "Easter Egger" is. Ask if they can order Ameraucanas...

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Can I just say that I love my barred rocks, they have out layed all my other breeds. Good luck, I like your list!