What Breeds Do You Raise and Why?

[teddiliza]

As far as bantams go, I love d'uccles. They are very good natured and like to be petted (mine do) I don't have to worry about my d'uccle roosters around my kids-- I cull any that show aggressive traits. Plus it's a hoot to watch them run around the yard with their feathered feet looking like snowshoes. They are friendly and fun to watch and easily to tame into a lap chicken. Plus their fluffy chins are so cute They have turned out to be fair layers, but don't start till 6 or 7 months of age, and quit in the winter months. My mature hens lay small sized eggs that impress me with their size for such a small bird. They also want to go broody and try to hatch their chicks, and the two hens I've let do so have been good moms-- one was very protective of her babies and the other didn't mind me handling them. There do not seem to be many d'uccles at shows, and so I'm hoping to help promote the breed, as it seems quality show d'uccles are hard to find. They are easy to transport, and the roosters crows aren't too loud-- if high pitched. The mille fleur pattern is very popular, and gorgeous, but I am also partial to the porcelain color. The roosters seem to fight less, and tend to do a 'dance' around each other before they get to the pecking point and usually somebody backs down before getting to that point. They know to run for cover when there's a hawk as my 'watch rooster' d'uccle gives a growl if there's a shadow on the ground. They are good foragers also, better than the silkies I tried, you don't have to worry about a crest getting pecked off by the other birds or frozen in the winter.

I haven't quite decided on a large breed yet, but my favorite large rooster was a cochin/favorelle mix. I had to sell him though because he was too big to be mating my bantam hens.

 

[rilly10]

SILKIES - I LOVE my silkies. They are so sweet, cute, and I have always loved them since I was little. They lay for me all though the winter, are very cold hearty. They are awesome broodies and love to be pampered. They are my passion in the poultry world and I hope to start showing them soon. There is also nothing cuter than a silkie chick. I love all of the colors they come in too!

WYANDOTTES- I am raising blue laced red wyandottes to fill the void from my silkies. They are a great dual purpose breed, in a color that I think is just stunning! They are docile, large, good layers of brown eggs, and meaty enough to eat the extra roos. They are also very cold hearty and I like the rose comb which is better for my temperature against frostbite. I also like that wyandottes are a heratige breed but also a challenge in this new variety.

I think that between these two breeds I can produce all of the things I want and need in a flock. Good luck finding your perfect breed! If I were able to add another breed I think it would be Ameraucanas. I like their muffs, personality, and blue eggs! I would need another coop first though. Silver Pencilied rocks are amazing too! Great bird in an amazing color!

 

[jarcoo0153]

I've got so many different breeds that I raise, but my favorites are:
Naked Neck: I have had several, Great layers, I had one that lived to be four and a half years old and still was laying until she died. They are very friendly, with one exception My rooster Colonel Sanders. He has attitude problems!
EasterEgger: Love the colored eggs, and their disposition!
White faced Black Spanish bantam: Very comical breed, I have a rooster (named Cortez) and he has three girlfriends. I could sit and watch them all day! Cortez thinks he is a Jersey Giant ( I bet he weighs close to a pound!). He tries to be the bigman!

 

[catdaddy66]

The reason I chose my breeds is easy...for laying purposes. But that is not all that went into my decision. I wanted a calmer, more docile hen that could do well in confined spaces. I wanted hens that are better behaved around children and could make a good pet. Mostly, though, I wanted a good/great layer! It seems that all of the breeds I have are also good dual purpose birds, which is a plus so that they will be more valuable at the end.

My breeds are (currently) Black Sex Links, Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Easter Eggers; I have 3 of each. My next batch that have been ordered are Delawares, Gold Sex Links, Buff Orpington, Black Australorps, and Ameracaunas (which tend to be Easter Eggers from hatcheries, which these are from Ideal hatchery). I ordered 4 of each of these.

The first EE's I got for my son, but they are pretty awesome girls so I wanted more. I also love the green hue on the eggs!

 

[EweSheep]

Welsummers-------for their egg colors, good production, good disposition/temperment by both sexes, non aggressive breed, beautiful plumage, good table fowl,, easy and fugal keepers and good for city living.

Spitzhaubens-----great egg production, sweet/good disposition all around, very eye catching, personable and curious nature, easy keepers, not nervous or flighty and rare breed.

Ameraucanas-------beautiful birds, beautiful eggs, various/wide range of disposition and temperment, good egg layers, good table fowl but they do talk LOL! I like EEs too for the colorful eggs and colorful plumages.

 

[eatmorechicken]

I grew up with hy-line, babcock, and pearl leghorns. So as boring it sounds, I just love a good flock of white leghorns, and could watch them all day (leghorn channel in HD and 3-D). A close second would be the new hampshires. they're just a great dual purpose breed with a great dispostion, and an attractive color.