Why do you choose the breeds you have?

[Delighted]

I'm somewhat new to chickens, and the ones I have, I didn't choose--I co own them with my neighbor. There are some beautiful birds on this site! I want 'em all!

But I'd like to know why you choose what you have. If you have small chickens-- bantams, etc, they're TINY! TINY eggs, Tiny meat bird. Why do you get them? Cuteness factor? Do you bother to eat the eggs? Is it worth the effort if you wanted to eat them?

What about quail? I'm guessing for meat, but do you ever bother with eating their eggs?

Then there's the fancy birds--the ones with fuzz or fancy hairdo's or all fluff are all for the cuteness factor--I'm guessing no one eats them? Or their eggs cuz they're more valuable to sell for others to hatch?

I hope I'm not coming across demanding or sounding judgemental or anything--I'm actually thinking about getting some of the fancy looking pretty birds--and quail, but then I wonder, would I be wanting them for their eggs/meat, or just to have 'em sashay across my yard, looking beautiful? LOL!

I'm considering guineas cuz I hear they'll eat all the bugs without destroying the garden--and read some where that if I got all males I wouldn't have the noise factor?


Tell me many wonderful and amazing things! Thanks!

 

[kelseygirl707]

I know a lot of people like having a colorful egg basket, so they have chickens that lay white, brown, medium brown, and dark brown/chocolate eggs, as well as chickens that lay blue, green, pink and olive eggs.

I chose BLRW, because they are gorgeous, and Polish, because they make me giggle.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I love questions like yours, because I get to go on and on about my Faverolles!!

Just remember, you asked for it! haa haa

Anyway, Faverolles are amazing birds! Yes, they are fancy, feathered legs, beards and muffs, but they are so much more than that! The roosters are awesome! So docile, I NEVER have to worry about sending kids into my coops to collect eggs, and my son even sits in their run sometimes. The roos would never dream of being naughty! Even the goofiest one I ever had would just dance around making a bunch of noise when I got "too close" to his girls, but one step toward him and he would run the other way - they've all seemed to just know that I was in charge, and I have never been challenged by one. While Favs are "fancy" and used mainly for exhibition in the states, they are fantastic layers, and are known for laying all year long, and not stopping in the winter like many other breeds will. They can also lay quite an array of egg shades, from light tan, deeper tan, to even a pinkish color. AND to top it all off, they were originally bred for meat in France, and while I've sold out of all the chicks I've hatched this year and haven't gotten to try one yet, I hear their meat is absolutely amazing. The males get pretty broad, and would definitely be worth the time it took to clean them.

For the bantams, I have Ameraucanas that I show, but their blue eggs make quite the addition to the egg basket, and (unless you have super tiny bantams like seramas) bantam eggs are totally worth it! When you break them into a pan, they are nearly as large as a regular large egg, only they fit on an english muffin better!

And, bantams take less coop space, so you can have more of them!!

 

[Mahonri]

I had chickens as a kid but didn't get them again until about two years ago.

I started out with a wide variety and then I waited to see which ones I liked. I am big on a colorful egg basket.

So what am I sticking with.

Leghorns & Polish for white eggs,

Black Stars for brown eggs.

Marans for dark brown

Ameraucanas for blue eggs

And then I'll be doing some interbreeding to get some green and olive eggers.

 

[lizardz]

Very good questions you ask! I chose mine because I want eggs! and many colours of eggs! Although most of mine could be used for meat, I'm not planning on using them for that purpose. I have some of the standards - Buff orphs, Blue orphs, Barred Rocks, Marans, Ameracaunas, and one that we have no idea what kind of weird cross she is, but she's cute and lays well. I also ordered Favorelles this year, and Dorkings, because I'm interested in moving more towards the Heritage breeds. It makes for a very colourful egg basket and chicken run! Have fun figuring out what it is YOU want!
Liz

 

[leslierf]

Good question.
I chose my chickens for pets. I took a look at the parents and said " I want some of those." I am going to end up with an interesting egg basket.
As for the Bantum eggs, they are great! Perfect size for the Grandkids. And I love making recipes with tiny eggs on top.
( I'm a closet Foodie.)

 

[popcornpuppy]

I'm a practical person who has practical pets. Rabbits to make pellets for fertilizer, cats to hunt mice, dogs to help keep watch over the other animals we have, and chickens for eggs. We chose duel purpose breeds for their hardiness and egg laying ability. Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Delawares and Orpingtons. All of them also make good meat birds if that's what we decide their purpose to be. The Reds and Rocks may be common and ordinary, but the well bred ones that don't come from a hatchery are really beautiful birds. I don't care about egg color because all of the fresh eggs taste the same to me. I see beauty in simplicity and don't need chickens with feathered legs or poofball heads to appreciate the beauty of chickens. So I guess a fair question to ask would be: what do you consider to be a pretty chicken?

 

[DTchickens]

American Gamefowl
I've had them forever, since my Great grandfather, Grandfather/Grandmother, and Father all raised them. We have always had a least a couple hens and a cock running the yard. The history involved in these fowl, beauty, cocky/confident/gentle nature, the talkativeness and bravery are just a few keys to why I love them. I have always told people - Gamefowl owners can only tell you why they love them partially, to really understand you have to experience some good gamefowl and then you understand why it sticks with them for life. Plus they're decent layers, in my opinion the best mothers, and can pretty much take care of themselves if given the chance.

Old English Game Bantams
The OEGBs I guess you could say pretty much the same for the American Gamefowl, but what really got me into them is in 2007 we did stop raising the American Gamefowl for a short time (money issues), before we started raising the large games again I got the OEGBs as I had never had bantams and these were like miniature versions of the fowl which have been in my family four generations. After that, I just kept them.

Shamo
The Shamo other than many of the same reasons as the other, I would say it is due to them being so different. And compared to my other fowl I have had (ranging from hatchery orders, to flea market mutts, to game/silkie crosses, you name it) I have never had a bird like them, literally acting like dogs as I open the door for the Shamo stag (cockerel) to get out of his pen and he follows me all over the yard, hangs out with my German Shepherd (never ran from him like the other birds). And if I sit down he will walk up to me, and stand there for as long as I rub him under his beak and on the top of his comb. Very confident, and gentle birds indeed as I was always told (which is another reason I had to try it, I didn't believed he would be as gentle as is). Another thing I would have to say is the rarity of them in the US, I've always been into preserving rare breeds, especially when they're gamefowl as many people will not.

Too many people see gamefowl and think of them as vicious- though is true to other roosters and hens sometimes to other hens they're very gentle towards people usually, though you do get some as in every breed in which case lets them fall through the cracks. When actually if it weren't for them, you wouldn't have many of the production and other breeds since they've been domesticated longer than any other breeds. But anyway, before I get to rambling this late at night I'll say "To each their own" and go to bed

.

Gamefowl aren't for everyone, they require a lot of space and attention. But if given so, make the best birds around. Kind of a "Once you go games, you don't go fluffy."

 

[Beekissed]

I have dual-purpose layers and I choose breeds by certain characteristics like hardiness, egg laying capacity, brown egg layers only, heritage breeds for the most part, foraging abilities and predator wary types. I've found that my chickens are more wary of predators if they are a little flighty and haven't been handled much.

I have now and am getting next month:

Dominiques
New Hampshire Reds
Black Australorps
White Rocks
Red Stars~these were free but not very hardy or wary and are disappearing to hawk predation.
Partridge Rock
Speckled Sussex
Rhode Island Reds
Barred Rocks

The various Plymouth Rock breeds can't be beat for all around great birds!

 

[chickerdoodle]

I chose my birds for pets that happen to donate eggs

. I wanted friendly, hardy, dual purpose hens with decent laying ability. I also like the "eye candy" of some of these hens. I didn't want hens that would be broody often as I do not have a rooster and am not breeding chickens. Dual purpose birds are fine for meat but my gals will never be eaten.

I chose:
Speckled Sussex
Barred Plymouth Rock
Easter Egger
Blue Laced Red Wyandotte