What chicken breed is best for me

[beagleman77]

So I am wanting chickens and wondering the best breed for me I am not new to chickens I've had mean and calm chickens only one mean one he was a 10-13 pounds big one he could almost knock me over
1 good egg layer
2 good meat
3 doesn't matter if they go broody (I have a incubator

 

[Michael OShay]

Based on your criteria, I would recommend going with one of the better laying, docile, dual purpose breeds. Keep in mind though that broodiness and high egg production do not go together as broody hens do not lay. The best laying dual purpose breeds (Australorps and Rhode Island Reds) only infrequently go broody, and the broodiest breeds (Silkies and Cochins) are typically poor layers. I would recommend going with one of the good laying breeds that have a reputation for being calm and gentle (good lap pets) such as Australorps, Orpingtons, Faverolles, Sussex, or Brahmas. These breeds will typically give you 3-4 eggs per week per hen (5-6 eggs in the case of the Australorps). Of course keep in mind that there can always be an exception with any breed. If you don't mind hybrids, Sex Links are the best brown egg layers in the world, consistently churning out more than 300 large brown eggs per hen per year. I especially love the Black Sex Links (Black Stars) which are very friendly and hardy, egg laying machines and are especially persistent layers in really cold winter weather when most other breeds have stopped or virtually stopped laying. Whatever breeds (or hybrids) you decide to get, good luck with your flock.

 

[beagleman77]

Thank you but I did think about the sex link but I thought about the red sex link or is the black better would it be better to breed my own or get them straight

 

[dekel18042]

Thank you but I did think about the sex link but I thought about the red sex link or is the black better would it be better to breed my own or get them straight

You might try a few of several different breeds and see what you like best. You might surprise yourself. Ones you think or hope you might like you may find you don't while others that weren't really on your radar become your favorites. Depending on where you live is weather a factor? Do you need heat or cold hardy? You can go to www.mypetchicken.com and fill out a short questionnaire and based on your answers get a selection of breeds that might suit you.

 

[Pork Pie]

You might try a few of several different breeds and see what you like best. You might surprise yourself. Ones you think or hope you might like you may find you don't while others that weren't really on your radar become your favorites. Depending on where you live is weather a factor? Do you need heat or cold hardy? You can go to www.mypetchicken.com and fill out a short questionnaire and based on your answers get a selection of breeds that might suit you.

I agree - can't be a better reason to mess up with chicken maths

CT

 

[beagleman77]

I live in florida so i need a heat hardy chicken some cold hardy how bout a delawere or partridge rock

 

[Michael OShay]

Thank you but I did think about the sex link but I thought about the red sex link or is the black better would it be better to breed my own or get them straight

You're welcome. I've had both the Red and Black Sex Links and personally prefer the Blacks as my Blacks have been friendlier and hardier, laying longer than my Reds, however I don't think you can go wrong either way. However if you're going to breed chickens you may not want Sex Links are they are hybrids which will not breed true. The offspring of two Sex Links will not be sex linked and you will not be able to tell the gender of the chicks by their color.

 

[Michael OShay]

I live in florida so i need a heat hardy chicken some cold hardy how bout a delawere or partridge rock

You might want to consider Australorps which do really well in both heat and cold and will outlay either the Delawares or the Rocks. I raised Australorps in the Corning, CA area where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (sometimes more) and while my other dual purpose breeds were listless, panting, and holding their wings out from their sides, my Australorps were going about their normal business like troopers.