What's Your Single Breed Flock and Why

[jxp]

From reading various posters on here it seems most people have mixed flocks - probably because there's so many to explore. What I'm interested to find out with this thread is those of you who have but one single breed is ... What's your breed of choice? Why'd you choose it? Have you in the past raised other breeds? Do you in the future plan to change? What's the best thing about your breed? Has anything surprised you about your breed (good or bad)? Etc. etc.

Here's your chance to crow about your breed of choice. And since I and others are still learning about all the various varieties, feel free to add a picture of two.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't have a single breed flock, but I do favor bantam cochins, and polish. I personally am interested in the looks and behaviors, more so than egg or meat production.

 

[Ext 918]

I have RIR's. They are my favorite based on what I've in the past. Heat tolerance was a huge factor in choosing them too. Egg production was the 2nd most important trait.

 

[troyer]

Cubalaya in standard and bantam size. They’ve been my favorites for 25+ years. I’ve had almost all the color varieties out there.
Here are several examples:
Bantam rooster.

Bantam rooster:

Bantam rooster:

Standard rooster:

Standard rooster:

Standard rooster:

Standard hen:

Standard rooster:

Standard chicks:

Standard rooster, odd color:

Bantam pair:

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I've always had a mixed flock BUT I'm planning and working on switching to Ameraucanas. The mixed flock was partly experimental, to try out different breeds to decide what I liked and what I didn't, and partly financial: Ams don't come cheap! But now I can start to gradually indulge myself, so that's where I'm headed. I think Ams are beautiful, I hear good things about their disposition, they seem to be both cold and heat hardy, good foragers (my chicks certainly are!), and ... blue eggs!

 

[Sally PB]

I too have a mixed flock, but was considering moving to Bielefelders for the following reasons:
They do well in my set up (coop and run, no free range)
They lay large/extra large eggs
They are social and people friendly
They are auto-sexing, should I decide to hatch. (This is what drew me to trying them.)

The only downside I knew of going in was that they ate a lot, being a big bird. The big bird part would be a plus should I ever use them for meat.

Well... Things have not gone as well as I'd hoped. The birds are very nice, fit well with my flock, do well in my set up. But of four Bielefelders, they have had the MOST health issues and laid the fewest eggs.

Sunny, one my favorites, died suddenly and for no known reason (I'm going to guess it was a heart attack). Pip, another one of my favorites, had coccidiosis (it happens), salpingitis (related? don't know), but lived 15 months after her first lash egg. Robin has spurs and stopped laying months ago; not sure what is going on with her, as she is otherwise fine. Squeak has had thin shell issues, stopped laying months ago too, and is molting, so she's done laying until spring.

When I get more chicks, sad to say, it won't be Bielefelders. They are lovely, friendly, and two of them have broken my heart this year.