I'm looking for chicks to start my own little flock, but I'm having trouble deciding on a final breed. Any suggestions? What I like in a chicken - good free-rangers - well tempered roosters - not too common, but not so rare that I will never find them if I want more - relatively good layers - Big (I would rather not clip their wings, but if I have too, I will) - quiet/er - They need to do well in cold wet climates
It sounds like you need a dual-purpose breed - the only requirement that will probably be hard to satisfy is a chicken that does well in a wet climate. It can be cool, they just need to at least have a dry coop to go in. Naturally I would say Dominiques, because I have them and love the breed very much now. I wasn't so enthused about them a few years ago until a friend gave me some eggs and chicks and now I couldn't imagine not having them. They lay very well and get to be about 5 pounds hens, 6-7 for roosters. Although that is the strain I have, hatchery Dominiques could vary. Orpingtons are friendly birds, pretty big too. So are Delawares, Australorps, Wyandottes and Buckeyes. Those are all ones that I can think of off the top of my head that are good dual-purpose birds. So if I were you I would look more into Dual-purpose breeds, see which YOU like the looks of and such, and maybe that will help you decide. But I would procure my stock from a private breeder if I were you if I could find one. Their birds are always better then the mega-hatcheries. Hope this helps, MW
