What is your favorite heavy, good egg laying, cold tolerant breed?

[m00res]

I'm a new to chickens, but I absolutely love my Barred Rock. She is so sweet and inquisitive. She always wants to know what I'm doing. She is going to make me a chicken addict!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Just wanted to second the MMM Barred Rocks.

We also have MMM Barred Rocks and Orpingtons--my Rocks are very sweet and my Orpingtons are a bit stand-offish and aggressive. Might it be the MMM stock?

If it's just MMM's stock, then I'd say go with the Orpingtons, too.

 

[chicken_angler]

My NHR's love the cold, are a heavy breed, and lay nice big eggs everyday.

 

[cgmccary]

The top two breeds for cold tolerance are Chantclers & Buckeyes.

I have Buckeyes and live in Alabama. It cannot get cold enough here for them. They are out and active on our coldest days. This morning, it was 28 F and they were out running around like it was a spring day.

They also survive injuries and calamities that would kill the average chicken-- in other words: they are not fragile. Buckeyes are also very friendly and curious.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Mine are a little too friendly I caught one of mine making a snowball that I think it planned to throw at me, good thing I caught it I think the buckeyes were planning to ambush me if I turned my back on them.

 

[redoak]

Anyone say orpingtons yet

 

[Cottage Rose]

This is a very subjective topic.
The results you get depends on your climate, management and the strain of birds you get.
Some of the recommendations here have been very poor layers for me....but after 30 years of trying many, many different breeds...for our frigid winters, Isa Browns have been the ulitmate best.
Any of the brown egg production hybrids would probably be just as good such as Golden Comets, Sex-Links etc. if you can't find Isa Browns.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I've raised quite a few breeds in my life time...I prefer the LF Light Brahma as the favorite nice heavy bird, great layer in winter weather and very cold tolerant. Really an all around great bird in any season.

Orpingtons come in second.......

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Thats because you never had BUCKEYES, or you would have a new #1

 

[CHICKEN little 1]

Must say Australorps!

Never owned Buckeyes,but their suppose to be very cold tolerant.