What's Your Favorite Breed of Chicken and Why?

[JaeG]

I love Old English Game bantams. They are just the cutest little things and our little rooster is the sweetest - he's so patient with our kids. We have some young ones running around at the moment and one is so tiny we've called her Thumbelina. She's super tame and doesn't mind me scooping her up for a cuddle. She'll even perch on my boot waiting for attention.

 

[Callender Girl]

I love all my chickens, and my favorite individual chicken (Dottie, the accidental house chicken) isn't a member of my favorite breed, if in fact, I have ONE favorite.

But, the Cochin Bantams are the funniest! They are lively, curious little jewels. Gabby, a red frizzle who clearly has always had a lot to say, may be the Eeyore of the chicken world. All of her conversations are one-note and sound slightly depressed, while her barred sister, Sally, sounds like she's on the verge of hysteria with a high-pitched, excitable tone. Any mention of a treat gets them both dashing across the yard at top speed. I love to watch them "gallop" with their feathery feet flying.

I also have runner ducks and American Buff geese and absolutely adore them, too.

 

[Justicedog]

I've only had 11 breeds for awhile, I've got 4 new chicks of different breeds. I get different breeds as I have to be able to tell them apart. I do a ton of research on the breeds our Feed Store has coming in and then pick whichever I fancy who I think will get along with my others. I don't know if I can pick a favorite breed. You'd think it was the Americauna as I got one in each of the 3 batches I got, but they're all different looks, so I don't really consider them the same.

First Batch (2012)
Americauna - Baby and Whitey- I've gotten one in each of the 3 batches of chickens I've had. The first one was my favorite. She was a crooked beak chicken whom I'd hand fed, so she was the one who would run to me and fly up to get in my arms. She was grey and looked like a hawk. She was a bit of a pain to care for as she needed a bowl of crumbles rather than feed. She basically needed to stick her whole face in it to be able to eat. She lasted my 2nd longest of my first batch and was a pretty good layer. My second Americauna is all white, she's pretty. My third Americauna is a chick, so I'm not sure what she'll look like. I was hoping she'd be grey like my first, but I'm thinking I'd made a mistake when selecting her and she'll turn out to be brown.

Barred Rock - Zebbie- this was my daughter's favorite from the first batch. Pretty, docile, zebra looking. She gave me nice large eggs.

Brown Leghorn - Leggy- This was my longest living of the first batch, and the most productive. Lots and lots of white eggs.

Black Australorp - she was a beauty, black with a green sheen in the light. She was "Big Mama" and seemed to take care of the others. Nice eggs. Though one day she just went missing (while free ranging). My guess is that a hawk got her

Buff Orpington - Blondie/Goldilocks. She was pretty too - Gold. She was my party girl. She was always the last one to wander back to the coop/run in the evening. She was big and waddled. Loved running for treats.

Light Brahma - Dirty Snowball- She was a decent layer, but she was my first to die, so I don't have positive thoughts for Brahmas. She maybe lasted for about 2 years.

My second batch (2016)
- this was the group that got all my chickens grounded to the run and no more free ranging in the back yard because they hopped the fence, wandered across the street and pooped in my neighbor's yards. So their behavior got them all grounded. My first group never hopped the fence - maybe they were too fat. This group as a whole were not as friendly with me. Perhaps I'd not spent as much time with them as the first. Only one of them is laying eggs. Not sure if it's the winter break, or if they're just done. I don't even know which of them is laying. I know it's not the americauna.

Americauna

Buckeye - Buckie - She was the first to die of my second batch, though I'd thought it was the golden comet who died as their life span is shorter.

Golden Comet - Jessie - She's a pretty color with light tips.

Speckled Sussex - Suzie - She's my most beautiful chicken now. I love her speckled look.

Rhode Island Red - Red - She's got a very rich color.

My new chicks: I don't know enough about these breeds to comment. I've not even really settled on names. My daughter's friend has named them all, though I don't recall what. I just know that one she named George. I hope I don't have any Georges, so right now, I'm worrying about having a Roo in my chicks. I keep fighting the urge to go back an get more. I'm already over my 6 chicken limit. But I'm having to buy eggs.
Americauna
Blue Rock
French Black Copper Marans
Lavender Orpington
Partridge Rock

 

[FreeRangeChickens]

My favorite chicken breed is a silkie, they are so fluffy, kind, and loving!