What breed should I start out with?

[Laura78]

From what I understand and remember growing up, RIR roos are mean. I also hear that Ameracana roos can be mean. If I was going ONLY with the breeds you mention in the OP, I'd pick my roo to be a Buff Orpington. I know my BO pullet is sweet. The breed of the roo won't be too big a deal as long as he's big enough for the ladies and not so aggressive that he attacks you for collecting eggs. I hear that Cochins are sweet too, not sure about their eggs and quanity of eggs. A site I use to just look up egg color/quanity and purpose of the chicken is... http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

I'm sure it doesn't list all the breeds, but I like the way the chart is laid out.

 

[KinderKorner]

I have a very mixed flock. And I find Mutts are the best chickens ever! lol I will give you my suggestions from experience.

I LOVE light brahma's. They were my main breed, but now I have a few amount of different ones. They are sweet, lay big brown eggs all year around and they are beautiful. Mine also made very good gentle broodys.

Rhode Island Reds lay the biggest brown eggs, but they are more standoffish, and kind of plain looking to me. I have a couple. I still like them though. They are great layers, but mean, the rooster are mean.

Buff Orps. Everyone says they are so calm and sweet. Which is weird cause mine are one of the most indepentent breeds I have. They don't care to be petted, and if you reach for them they run. Maybe I got strange ones. lol They are pretty, good layers, usually sweet. One of mine hatched some chicks this year. And she is very agressive. She bites and growls, unlike my brahma broody who loves to show us her babies. She also likes to perch and leave her poor cold babies on the ground.

My silly Buffs. They aren't breed correct as temperment wise. lol

Wyandottes are cool, and come in lots of beautiful colors. They are more on the wild side. But they are probably the prettiest chickens. Lay nice eggs.

I really like EE's/Ameracaunas they are my favorite. But you don't want green eggs. EE hens are very sweet. But I did have a rooster that was agressive.

I would go with the Brahmas. No actually I would pick a few of each breed to try out and see what you like. Later you can sell your not favorites, and buy more of the ones you like.

It's always good to experiment.

 

[pattyjean73]

Kinder and Melissa (and all the others) thank you for your suggestions. I've read and considered all that has been said so far and done more research as well.

Here is the idea I've come up with. I'd like some feed back on what you all think.

I really love the appearance of the brahmas so those are a definite. (If I can find a breeder somewhere which seems to be more difficult). They are somewhat docile and friendly... lay eggs consistently, make decent mothers, and are pretty fair meat producers as well. And take cold weather OK. Sounds like they meet my criteria.

The Orpington are a bit larger than the RIR. They're decent layers, provide good meat and are quite friendly (in most cases). They lay all year round. They seem to be a good specimen for my purposes. They're pretty popular in this area so would be easy to locate.

I also really like the barred plymouth rock. They also seem to fit within my criteria. And pretty easily located. However a bit smaller than the Orps.

I had almost eliminated the RIR due to their "smallish" size. But they are routine layers and add color to the flock. So maybe a few thrown in would ensure egg production. They seem to be pretty popular in my area and would be easier to locate. So I've added them back to the considering list.

I'm thinking....
If I got 4 hens of each (Bra, Orp, and BPR) It would give me a good solid flock of egg and meat producers and eye candy as well. And a somewhat friendly and docile flock. If I can't locate the brahmas that I'd really like I'd get the RIR instead as a back up.

I'm still undecided about the cock though. I'm thinking the Orp might be the friendlier of the cocks but I'd also like to keep a pure strand of the Bra. So.... any feed back on my thoughts?

 

[Dogwood Farm]

This is a great post I think I have learned more in this post then I ever expected to. I have diffently decided to go with the Bugg Orpingtons over the RIRs. I like the Light Brahmas, Husband has been chatter about Jersey Black Giants, and maybe instead of 3 breeds go with 4 or even 5. I like the Barred rocks also.

 

[Momo]

Mahonri, I'm curious: why did you suggest a *white* Ameraucana roo? (I have one and am curious what colours his babies might be...)

 

[pattyjean73]

I think I made my pre-final decision. Pre-final because... well, LOL... I have plenty of time to change my mind. I won't be getting my first flock for a couple of months at least.

Pre-final decision:

drum roll please....

Blue and Buff Orps and Dark and Light Brahmas. (Maybe a buff or two thrown in there as well).

 

[cybercat]

If you want these for meat you will need to increase your numbers big time. If you eat as much chicken as you imply then 10 hens will not even begin to be enough. One bird will feed you one night if you want enough to feed you all year you will need alot more birds. It take 14 weeks to grow out to butcher size with these chickens. Just about the time the are starting to lay. So if you want 10 hens just for eggs you will need others to grow out just for meat.

If you feed chicken once a week that comes to 48 chickens for the year. Now you will want to grow them out all year so you do not have to butcher all at once. maybe a months supply at a time. So you would need to be growing out 4 to 5 chickens each month. If you want to grow them all up at same time and butcher them at once do you have the frezer space for that many. Some thing to think of with your planning.

 

[pattyjean73]

How many would you suggest to feed a family of 8 3x a week? We will only need 1 bird per meal because we only eat small portions of meat at a time. And yeah, we have freeze space so we only plan to butcher once a month.

 

[cybercat]

You will want to hatch out or buy chicks 3 months before you butcher unless you buy meat birds. But then you can only buy birds for so long in the year before you can not buy any more. Remember chicken take about 5 to 6 months to start to lay so you will not have hatching eggs for another month after they start. You will need to hatch 12 eggs each month to have a steady supply of meat to feed you 3x a week. Your first hatch will be ready to buther in 12 to 16 weeks for non cornishx chickens.