What is the largest breed of chicken?

[iajewel]

Im wanting to raise something different. I have always had practical farm chickens. You know, the old stand bys. Like Orpington, RIR, Barred rocks and the like. My boyfriend has built me some great pens and I have extra room to try something different. I like BIG birds. can anyone suggest a bird that may not be so common, and is HUGE?

 

[Mahonri]

The biggest birds I've had are: Giant Partridge Cochins, and French Black Copper Marans. I also hear that Jersey Giants are huge.

I've also seen some nice sized Rhode Island Reds.

 

[DTchickens]

Malay, Shamo, and Saipan. But they can require some extra care, for more common breeds I'd go with Brahma, and Jersey Giants.

-Daniel

 

[jeremy]

English type Orpingtons, they put the American variety to shame.

Or, Jersey Giants.

 

[iajewel]

I love Orps, my orps are huge. My friends call them dogs LOL. I also have the old old RIR that are probably taller then standard excepts. shhhhhh..

I will google the other breeds I haven't heard of them. I would actually like something that needed a bit extra something. My birds are so good on their own they really don't need me. I have an Akbash that stays with them so they are watched 24/7 they have food and water and don't really care what I do. Something that would require a bit of care would be fun. I would be more involved with the birds. As is.. my dog basically does all the work.

 

[ultasol]

Try some LF cochins. Too few people raise them, and they have wonderful temperments. Start with good stock, as hatchery LF cochins can't even begin to compare in size and type.

 

[iajewel]

I just googled the other birds and nothing personal but I think the Shamo is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. I defiantly love the jungle fowl, but with their special diet I don't know if I could pull it off. They all looked very much like game birds, so I wonder if the special care you talked about wouldn't be keeping each bird separate from the others? If a game cock got loose and got in with my old strain of RIR and killed my roos I would not be able to replace the RIR. so.. no game birds.. I assume they are the largest so I better find something else fun and exotic to raise? or am I wrong?

 

[iajewel]

Quote:
I love cochins, and used to show the blues. I don't even know where to get them anymore. Im sort of tired of the same ol same ol and you have to remember I have Orps, they look like cochins with out the leg feathers and mine are very large.

 

[silkiechicken]

A hint to finding "huge" birds is to also look for show quality birds. They are chosen for their looks instead of their egg production.

 

[iajewel]

Gott'cha silkiechicken all I raise is show quality birds. Im just ready for something new and something that will challenge me a bit.