What chicken breeds should I have in my future six hen flock?

something that true backyard flock people should consider, but i don't ever see it mentioned is whether the breed tends to be broody. You likely are not looking for hens to go broody, since you have stated you want eggs. I find broody chickens a real hassle, You will need a separate place to house them during these spells, which can be very frequent, which cuts into egg production considerably too. Most heritage breeds will have some to considerable tendancy to be broody. If you want to avoid this, your hatchery production breeds are best. Any of the sex link varieties, EEs, Australorp, and Barred Rock would be best. Production RIRs can be a little aggressive and not as gentle, leghorns are a little too easily spooked for me. I love a lot to the heritage birds, but don't wish to run a maternity ward in my backyard. I saw where someone had 7 Swedish Flower pullets and 4 went broody the first year. They are such a treat to look at but I don't know I could deal with that. Just food for thought.

Oh, maybe I'm misinformed... thanks for bringing it up! I assumed that the hens wouldn't go broody unless there was a rooster with them. Now I have to go over all these breeds and reconsider. I wouldn't have any separate place to put a broody chicken. o_o Unless it wanted to live in a plastic tub for a while...
 
Okay, so someone mentioned the more popular breeds of chickens should be avoided, something about being bred for productivity or bred poorly? Now I have a bit of a challenge for you guys, and it would be a great help to me.

This isn't quite true. In fact, I would say the inverse can be true. Rare breeds tend to be more expensive and can attract unscrupulous folks trying to make a quick buck. From these people you may or may not end up with the breed you think you purchased. If you really like and want a popular breed then go for it. The quality of the chickens are determined by the breeder. Hatcheries in general use large breeding groups and breed for egg production. (More eggs = more chicks = more sales) Hatchery chicks are good to learn with, produce a lot of eggs, but will likely burn out by year two. Since they're not selectively bred, you may or may not have conformation or temperament issues.

Breeders can run the gamut from folks cross breeding chickens to see what pretty colors they can come up with to dedicated poultrymen who are focusing on improving/preserving one or more breeds. The latter are the people you want to find if you prefer purebred chickens that are consistent in correct type and temperament. That doesn't mean mutt chickens won't produce eggs for a good number of years or be healthy --- Olive Eggers produced by crossing good Marans or Welsummers and good purebred Ameraucanas can be great chickens too. And I don't have anything against nice Easter Eggers either.

As for broodiness, some breeds have been selectively bred to not be broody, but each hen is an individual. I've also noticed this year has been a "broody year" for hens that have never gone broody before. Broody hens are not a big deal - just shoo them off the nest and gather the eggs. Without a rooster she isn't going to hatch anything anyway so you won't need to separate her to protect the chicks. You can try to "break" the cycle by putting her in a crate where she can't set for awhile, but I find removing the eggs usually works after a week or two. Silkies are VERY broody in general (though I've had two that weren't interested) so if you don't want broody, don't get them.

I don't know where you are located, but try to find a show coming up soon and visit. You can see a variety of the best examples of breeds near you and get advice from the breeders. Some shows even have sales areas and raffles.
 
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This isn't quite true. In fact, I would say the inverse can be true. Rare breeds tend to be more expensive and can attract unscrupulous folks trying to make a quick buck. From these people you may or may not end up with the breed you think you purchased. If you really like and want a popular breed then go for it. The quality of the chickens are determined by the breeder. Hatcheries in general use large breeding groups and breed for egg production. (More eggs = more chicks = more sales) Hatchery chicks are good to learn with, produce a lot of eggs, but will likely burn out by year two. Since they're not selectively bred, you may or may not have conformation or temperament issues.

Breeders can run the gamut from folks cross breeding chickens to see what pretty colors they can come up with to dedicated poultrymen who are focusing on improving/preserving one or more breeds. The latter are the people you want to find if you prefer purebred chickens that are consistent in correct type and temperament. That doesn't mean mutt chickens won't produce eggs for a good number of years or be healthy --- Olive Eggers produced by crossing good Marans or Welsummers and good purebred Ameraucanas can be great chickens too. And I don't have anything against nice Easter Eggers either.

As for broodiness, some breeds have been selectively bred to not be broody, but each hen is an individual. I've also noticed this year has been a "broody year" for hens that have never gone broody before. Broody hens are not a big deal - just shoo them off the nest and gather the eggs. Without a rooster she isn't going to hatch anything anyway so you won't need to separate her to protect the chicks. You can try to "break" the cycle by putting her in a crate where she can't set for awhile, but I find removing the eggs usually works after a week or two. Silkies are VERY broody in general (though I've had two that weren't interested) so if you don't want broody, don't get them.

I don't know where you are located, but try to find a show coming up soon and visit. You can see a variety of the best examples of breeds near you and get advice from the breeders. Some shows even have sales areas and raffles.

There IS some kind of chickenstock in my area coming up in the spring. I live in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Outside city limits, even if for some reason I can't make the Chickenstock, there are plenty of farms around here. I guess I'll just have to do some research.

Just so you guys know, I've narrowed it down to the three breeds I want, and I really hope they're in my area. I'm wanting the black Australorps (I've heard nothing but good things about these guys, and I love their color), Swedish Flower hens (Very good reviews, and unique coloring), and Buff Orpington, which look a lot alike but I've also heard they're very sweet. I think I can handle broody chickens so I'm not worried about it. I can either take the eggs out (like Laingcroft said) or buy a wire cage and let the broody hen sit in there for a while. Either way, it's not a really big issue unless they do it everyday. Even then, what can you do?
 
If Lincolnton is anywhere near Smithfield, the Cape Fear Poultry Assn show is next weekend (Dec. 14th) at the JOHNSTON COUNTY LIVESTOCK ARENA, SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA 27577

You wont' see Swedish flower hens there because they are neither standardized nor recognized by the APA, but you should find a good number of the other breeds you are interested in.
 
Speckled Sussex. They are beautiful! I've only ever had one, but mine is super sweet, sticks up for her self with the other chickens but isn't mean. She lays pretty well, too, but again I only have one. For some reason they are not popular, of course all the hatcheries sell them (that is where I got mine) but trying to find SQ from a breeder is nearly impossible. Everybody loves the orpingtons but Speckles is fluffier, prettier, and sweeter than any hatchery orpington I've ever seen.
 
Speckled Sussex. They are beautiful! I've only ever had one, but mine is super sweet, sticks up for her self with the other chickens but isn't mean. She lays pretty well, too, but again I only have one. For some reason they are not popular, of course all the hatcheries sell them (that is where I got mine) but trying to find SQ from a breeder is nearly impossible. Everybody loves the orpingtons but Speckles is fluffier, prettier, and sweeter than any hatchery orpington I've ever seen.

I'm going to try really hard not to get any chicks from a hatchery, mainly because I want to make sure the ones I get have the right temperament. It's important that they be friendly. Although I am planning on getting day old chicks, so I hope that hand raising them will make them friendly.
 
I'm going to try really hard not to get any chicks from a hatchery, mainly because I want to make sure the ones I get have the right temperament. It's important that they be friendly. Although I am planning on getting day old chicks, so I hope that hand raising them will make them friendly.
Okay, I was asking for a SS breeder, and I found some.

~~Quote: Originally Posted by Coopacabana View Post I really like Speckled Sussex, but I can't find a breeder anywhere.

Not a problem. Go to the Sussex Breeders of America website. http://americansussexbreeders.webs.com/ For show quality large fowl Speckled Sussex Tony Albritton in ID; Gary Overton in OH; Walt Reichert in KY and folk who bought birds from these three show strains. For show quality bantam Speckled Sussex: Skytop Bantam' in PA; Gary Overton, OH; Adam Loeffel in KY; Rob Mongold in OH ...and folk who have birds from these strains. Contact info on the internet and in Poultry Press newspaper. http://poultrypress.com/ Write to them for a $3.00 sample copy. Best, Karen and the Light Sussex in PA, USA Edited by 3riverschick - Today at 8:01 pm
 
Here ya go. LF= Large Fowl. BF = Bantam Fowl :

FEATHERHILLS FARM (LF)
Tony Albritton
509-995-7284
email Us
16405 Orchard Ave, Caldwell, ID 83607
All bred to the Standard of Perfection. Large Fowl: Speckled Sussex,
White Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red. Bantam: White Plymouth Rock,
White Leghorn. Narragansett Turkey, Pilgrim Geese. NPIP#91-121.
Tony Albritton of Idaho has excellent large fowl has Speckled Sussex .
See his ad here on Page 3 : http://www.exhibitionpoultry.net/downloads/ep3-5.pdf

ABA, APA Judge Gary Overton ( Mr. Sussex ) (LF)
1436 Wolf RdW Alexandria, OH 45381-9339
Phone number 937-839-5626

Walt Reichert (LF)
Simpsonville, KY
502-722-2951
[email protected]
Speckled Sussex

Skytop Bantams (BF)
http://www.skytopbantams.com/sussex.html Jackie Koedatich in PA
The Speckled Sussex that we started out with (Freckles & Dottie)
were purchased from Rob Mongold .Lilly & Trigger were purchased from Gary Overton
Jackie Koedatich, 47 Cottage Street,
Belchertown, MA 01007. 570-269-4666,
[email protected]. Bantam Chicken
http://www.todaywebsitedesigns.com/files/ffusaexample2.pdf

Adam W Loeffel (BF)
4297 Greenmount Ave
Memphis, TN 38122-2626
Phone number 901-682-3812
BYC profile: https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/1111/herechickchick
Has bantam Speckled Sussex from Skytop

Rob Mongold (BF)
[email protected] had some lovely bantam Speckled Sussex,
as I remember. Here is his 2002 website via archive.org. http://tinyurl.com/la3ov69
Note: not sure the geocities email is still valid.

Rev, Paul Ashbrook (BF) created at lovely line and just a while ago, sold it .
Painted Feathers Farm )BF) http://www.paintedfeathersfarm.webs.com
obtained some and are crossing it with Overton :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631078/bantam-speckled-sussex-chicks

Best Regards,
Karen in western PA, USA
 
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