What is the best breed that will grow its population the quickest?

[JacinLarkwell]

If there are too many broody hens and some die won’t they eventually select for flock balance?

Do you mean will they not brood when the flock is large? Animals are all about passing genetics on. That's why broody hens sometimes won't take foster chicks that they know aren't theirs. They want their genetics to go on, not the hen eating next to them. Those hormones cause a hen to go broody, not them thinking 'the flock is getting smaller, we need more chicks'

 

[BecaHawaii]

My question is for the purpose of creating a self-sustaining meat bird/survival chicken... What chicken breed has the broodiest hens and multiplies themselves the quickest? Population growth is a key aspect for survival... which breed does it best? Opinions? Thank you, God Bless!

I have jungle fowl. Won't find a more hardy breed or a more broody momma. The Roos are protective.

 

[SunflowerKing]

I have jungle fowl. Won't find a more hardy breed or a more broody momma. The Roos are protective.

Jungle fowl definetly seems like a good start for my chicken. What about jungle fowl cross x australorp x Cochin?

Can I achieve size and survivability? I plan to totally free range these chickens on 50 acres.

 

[rascal66]

Aside from heritage pure breeds, I really love easter eggers. Theyre, in my opinion, great all around. The ones I got at the hatchery are large, meaty, and highly egg productive. However, its a hit and miss with broodiness. I found that crossing them to a more broody breed, has really helped in that dept. Not a true breed, but a great option I think.

 

[Solanacae]

Look into Dominique and Speckled Sussex breeds. My Dom isn’t big but she’s solidly built and would probably dress out well. She frequently goes broody but lays well in between. My SS was slower to start laying (got them at the same time) but she’s also a hefty bird and lays well, also goes broody just as often.

 

[SunflowerKing]

Aside from heritage pure breeds, I really love easter eggers. Theyre, in my opinion, great all around. The ones I got at the hatchery are large, meaty, and highly egg productive. However, its a hit and miss with broodiness. I found that crossing them to a more broody breed, has really helped in that dept. Not a true breed, but a great option I think.

Haha, so much input from everyone!

what about Easter egger x jungle fowl?

 

[cherrynberry]

I don’t mind the slow growth so much so long as they can reproduce themselves quickly enough to make it inconsequential.

What about australorp x Jersey giant x Florida bullfrogs liege x aseel.

Too much interbreeding? Or could I achieve my goals with something like this?

Okay, so you are looking for:

- Dual Purpose
- Go Broody
- Meaty
- Protective
- Reproduce fast

In all honesty, I do not believe you can achieve this with one breed or hybrid. My best bet for you would be to keep several broody/lower production birds (wyandottes, silkies, cochins, brahmas, orphington) to be the "incubators". Your rooster should be an EE (which is the "middle breed" which lays good, smaller to medium sized and sometimes go broody) or a gamefowl (which lay poorly, but are great flock protectors).

And then, the rest of the flock should be the layers, the ones that breed and reproduce with the EE and Gamefowl. Should not be a RIR, leghorn, sexlink, etc. Which do not go broody and are sort lived. Why? Because they were bred to just be egg layers and to be switched out often. I would choose a breed like (EEs, ameraucanas, marans, etc.)

How many chickens are you going to start off with?

 

[WonkierZulu]

If you worry about comb frost bite wyandotte. Otherwise austrlorp for one of the best dual laying breeds marans also especially frech marans if you have cold winters.

 

[WonkierZulu]

If you worry about comb frost bite wyandotte. Otherwise austrlorp for one of the best dual laying breeds marans also especially french marans if you have cold winters.

 

[BecaHawaii]

Jungle fowl definetly seems like a good start for my chicken. What about jungle fowl cross x australorp x Cochin?

Can I achieve size and survivability? I plan to totally free range these chickens on 50 acres.

I have know idea. All my girls ana boys are jungle fowl.