What is your favorite breed of all time and why?

[Alexandra33]

This topic is highly subjective, and depends entirely on individual needs/preferences/experiences.....as you can probably tell! I have many favorites that fit under different categories.

Best layers: Welsummer all the way! Not only are they heavy producers, but their eggs are stunning. Speckled, terra cotta, chocolate; you never know what shade they'll pop out. Docile, too, as well as pretty. Downsides? These birds never know when to shut their beaks! Leghorns come in close second. Mine are incredibly personable, and certainly don't live up to breed stereotypes. Cream Legbars would compete with Leghorns, if it weren't for their lack of personality.

Most striking: this is between Silver Spangled Hamburg, Speckled Sussex, or anything of Mille Fleur variety. Male Creles are easily one of the most beautiful sights you'll see.

Friendliest: Speckled Sussex, easily.* Not only do I personally adore this breed, but so does nearly everybody who has experience with them. I have yet to read a negative comment (regarding hens, not roosters).....talk about overall consistency! Affectionate, engaging, curious, and intelligent. Plymouth Rocks share similar tendencies, and therefore are rivals. Only reason they weren't listed first alongside Sussex, though, is because there seems to be a little more debate.

*Not to say SS trump my all-time favorite breed in this category.

Favorite bantam: d'Uccles - affectionate hens with plenty of personality to go around. Old English Game bantams - greatest likelihood of well-behaved roosters. Ameraucanas- docile personalities with lovely little blue eggs. Easter Eggers - colored eggs, and incredibly personable. Salmon Faverolles - gravitate towards small children.

All-around favorite: Marans, hands down. Not only are they decent layers of incredible eggs, but they're available in endless stunning varieties, friendly as one could hope for, and hardy. As far as cons go, I haven't encountered any!

Breeds I'll never consider owning again: Black Australorp, Buff Orpington, Production Red (some call them hatchery-grade Rhode Island Reds), and Isbar. Didn't like any of these for various reasons.

~Alex

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Barnevelder. Gorgeous gentle quiet birds that give you and occasional dark egg, well the hens at least.

 

[Alexandra33]

Sorry, just realized I added in way more than was needed.

~Alex

 

[mrskenmore]

This topic is highly subjective, and depends entirely on individual needs/preferences/experiences.....as you can probably tell! I have many favorites that fit under different categories.

Best layers: Welsummer all the way! Not only are they heavy producers, but their eggs are stunning. Speckled, terra cotta, chocolate; you never know what shade they'll pop out. Docile, too, as well as pretty. Downsides? These birds never know when to shut their beaks! Leghorns come in close second. Mine are incredibly personable, and certainly don't live up to breed stereotypes. Cream Legbars would compete with Leghorns, if it weren't for their lack of personality.

Most striking: this is between Silver Spangled Hamburg, Speckled Sussex, or anything of Mille Fleur variety. Male Creles are easily one of the most beautiful sights you'll see.

Friendliest: Speckled Sussex, easily.* Not only do I personally adore this breed, but so does nearly everybody who has experience with them. I have yet to read a negative comment (regarding hens, not roosters).....talk about overall consistency! Affectionate, engaging, curious, and intelligent. Plymouth Rocks share similar tendencies, and therefore are rivals. Only reason they weren't listed first alongside Sussex, though, is because there seems to be a little more debate.

*Not to say SS trump my all-time favorite breed in this category.

Favorite bantam: d'Uccles - affectionate hens with plenty of personality to go around. Old English Game bantams - greatest likelihood of well-behaved roosters. Ameraucanas- docile personalities with lovely little blue eggs. Easter Eggers - colored eggs, and incredibly personable. Salmon Faverolles - gravitate towards small children.

All-around favorite: Marans, hands down. Not only are they decent layers of incredible eggs, but they're available in endless stunning varieties, friendly as one could hope for, and hardy. As far as cons go, I haven't encountered any!

Breeds I'll never consider owning again: Black Australorp, Buff Orpington, Production Red (some call them hatchery-grade Rhode Island Reds), and Isbar. Didn't like any of these for various reasons.

~Alex

Thanks Alex!

Your post is so thorough and informative- I really appreciate that! I agree with you on the barred rocks and easter eggers! They make up my current flock and both breeds are extremely personable, friendly, smart and great layers. I am definately going to add a speckled sussex to the mix as the last one I had turned out to be a roo that needed to be rehomed. I am curious as to why you would never own a BO again. I had one I absolutely adored- but she died suddenly one day at one year of age. So I question if they are being overbred. I had a black sexlink who would scream her head off daily and was never content so your comment (and many other peoples) about the welsummer being loud dismays me as well. I wish I could get a maran- but don’t think they are offered in the cackle hatchery city pack.

 

[Alexandra33]

Thanks Alex!

Your post is so thorough and informative- I really appreciate that! I agree with you on the barred rocks and easter eggers! They make up my current flock and both breeds are extremely personable, friendly, smart and great layers. I am definately going to add a speckled sussex to the mix as the last one I had turned out to be a roo that needed to be rehomed. I am curious as to why you would never own a BO again. I had one I absolutely adored- but she died suddenly one day at one year of age. So I question if they are being overbred. I had a black sexlink who would scream her head off daily and was never content so your comment (and many other peoples) about the welsummer being loud dismays me as well. I wish I could get a maran- but don’t think they are offered in the cackle hatchery city pack.

Glad you weren't put off by the length!

I've only owned two Orpingtons - a Buff hen, and a Lavender cockerel. Zero personality whatsoever between the two. The hen quit laying at around 2 1/2 years of age. The cockerel became human aggressive and certainly was delicious. While my own experience with the breed may seem rather limited, a close family member has kept 5-7 BOs, and might I say the exact same about them? Not a friendly bird in the bunch. Unexpected as it may seem, my 4 Leghorns are cuddlier.

Ah, so you're going with Cackle! Sadly, that's correct. I'm assuming your required minimum is low?

~Alex

 

[yickenscarf23]

I only have three so far but my favorite is my blue Wyandotte. She's smart and easy to catch. My leghorn is the breed I wouldn't buy again. She's got an anxiety problem lol

 

[ChickNanny13]

Following to see what you all have to say, I'm researching what to replace my BOs with later this year.

Have had Australorps, Wyandottes, EEs, RIRs & BOs .... Limited to 6, the Chicken House is 8x12x7 and keep mine confined (neighbor's dogs are too interested, sitting at the fence). Orpingtons are my favorite followed by BLRWs (puffy/fluffy butts), presently have 4BOs and looking for a change.

RIRs were Hubby's choice but I didn't care for their personalities and they got pretty nasty. EEs were fun, Australorps were ok but prefer "lighter" colors as my thinking is the darker colored birds get heated. Have had 2 sets of Wyandottes, the BLRW were great and pretty but the 5 Blues had 3 that kept going broody on me. Haven't had any BOs go broody on me , have had 3 sets of them.

 

[mrskenmore]

Glad you weren't put off by the length!

I've only owned two Orpingtons - a Buff hen, and a Lavender cockerel. Zero personality whatsoever between the two. The hen quit laying at around 2 1/2 years of age. The cockerel became human aggressive and certainly was delicious. While my own experience with the breed may seem rather limited, a close family member has kept 5-7 BOs, and might I say the exact same about them? Not a friendly bird in the bunch. Unexpected as it may seem, my 4 Leghorns are cuddlier.

Ah, so you're going with Cackle! Sadly, that's correct. I'm assuming your required minimum is low?

~Alex

Not at all! Yes after numerous months of research, I have come to the conclusion that any breeder I want to go to won’t sell less then 6, won’t sex them and won’t allow local pickup. The middlemen in my area require a minimum of 6 and I had a not so stellar experience last go around (out of three chicks one was a roo and the other died suddenly after she turned 1. the third one remaining is flighty). So I decided if everyone else in the country is doing mail order maybe I should give it a try. After doing hatchery research I found that Cackle was the highest rated and had many good reviews!

There are several articles written on hatcheries- see below link for one of the helpful ones I came across

https://www.communitychickens.com/how-does-your-favorite-mail-order-hatchery-stack-up/

So when it comes down to it I am looking for friendly, docile and quiet egg laying hens for backyard production pets that can handle a cold climate!

I am looking for 3-4 this go around as I am adding to my existing flock. I prefer sexed chicks as I cannot have a roo in suburban Long Island.

The good news is that I did some research and it looks like cackle offers cuckoo maran a little later in the year. I like getting a variety of breeds to keep it interesting! Have you ordered from Cackle before? I have spoken to them on the phone and they are very helpful so far.

 

[mrskenmore]

Following to see what you all have to say, I'm researching what to replace my BOs with later this year.

Have had Australorps, Wyandottes, EEs, RIRs & BOs .... Limited to 6, the Chicken House is 8x12x7 and keep mine confined (neighbor's dogs are too interested, sitting at the fence). Orpingtons are my favorite followed by BLRWs (puffy/fluffy butts), presently have 4BOs and looking for a change.

RIRs were Hubby's choice but I didn't care for their personalities and they got pretty nasty. EEs were fun, Australorps were ok but prefer "lighter" colors as my thinking is the darker colored birds get heated. Have had 2 sets of Wyandottes, the BLRW were great and pretty but the 5 Blues had 3 that kept going broody on me. Haven't had any BOs go broody on me , have had 3 sets of them.

I LOVE my barred rock- she is friendly, smart, a great layer and great temperament/personality. Quiet when she should be, chatty when she needs to be and takes both the heat and cold well. Oh and she poses for pictures lol

 

[troyer]

Cubalaya are heat and cold tolerant, and have pea combs. In the true bred lines the temperament is curious and friendly without much handling. With handling they are almost excessively friendly and underfoot. This is without question my favorite breed and I've had them for 20+ years. They are medium egg layers and typically excellent broodies. The most common color is wheaten as the single hens pictured are.