Whats the best breed of chickens?

[BarkerChickens]

I LOVE my Barred Rock and Jersey Giants!! They have proven to be VERY hardy, friendly and great layers! The Buckeyes and Delaware excess roos were great for meat and the hens are great layers, but they are shy and not they most social with us.

As for why I didn't list the rest of my breeds: salmon faverolles have been less hardy compared to the rest of my birds (though they have a fun, friendly and quirky personality and great layers), I love my Easter Eggers, but they won't lay from Oct-Mar, my Delawares are a blast, but they like to get into EVERYTHING (they are like toddlers!), and my Welsummers are great layers, but on the shy side.

However, I will add, that while BRs and JGs will always have a home here, I would expect us to always have EEs and Buckeyes....and who knows what else. Our salmon Faverolles, JGs, BRs, and Javas are our BEST layers (so far anyway)!

 

[95yj]

i like my bantam OEG's, there wikid friendly and tiny, and there's tons of competition in shows and always people to swap birds with but their worthless when it comes to eggs and meat. dominiques are great if you can find them, as are barred rocks and dorkings.

 

[briarpatchfarms]

Cochins!!!!!

 

[roostercruiser]

Cochins or Brahmas

 

[BlueMottie]

Haha, I always find it amusing that everyone posts the breeds they raise and therefore the OP ends up with a bajillion different breeds to pick from (of course, I'm going to do the same thing too

)

So, I would say Cochins or Wyandottes. But also, for what you're looking for, australorps, jersey giants, orpingtons, plymouth rocks, sussex, any of those dual purpose breeds that lay good eggs and dress well.

 

[MonkeyZero]

Silkies
All the way

 

[Overeasyplz]

you know, my groovy birds are the black australops. they are almost troublesome when they are out, they wanna follow me into the rabbit barn and into the house, into the car...

 

[rirluvr]

I might be late to the party.. but if you want them for eggs and maybe for meat as I believe you quoted earlier.. then get red stars.. they start laying earlier than others and are dual purpose you can eat them when they stop laying to your satisfaction. I have rhode island reds. I recommend them too, but they take longer to start laying.

 

[Bantimna]

You are asking me a very difficult question, I would say Cochins, Dutch Bantams, Polish and Branbaters, Marans, Ameraucana,

ETA: to add to my list

 

[Chris09]

Well I would say Rhode Island Reds.
I have Rhode Island Reds, Giants, Wyandottes, Silkies, EE, Orpingtons, Australops, American Game and Brahamas. All are good breeds but RIR's to me are a far better all round breed.
Good layer of Brown eggs, they have a good amount of meat and do very well on the ground free ranging they also do very well in the cold and heat..
Coming in at a close second would be the American Game. Excellent egg layers and the best broody/ mothers you could have...

Chris