***Your Opinion, and a Question Just for YOU****

[CMV]

I love my Jersey Giants. Big, beautiful, docile, friendly, dependable layers, able to handle both heat and cold. They have few health problems because even though they are large, they grow slowly. If you are looking for a meat bird these guys are not it because of the slow way they put on meat, but they are lovely for layers and living lawn ornaments. If given a chance I would have a whole flock of just them. They are my favorites.

 

[cybercat]

Plymouth Rock size is 9.5 for males and 7.5 for females. They come in many colors like barred, white, partridge, buff, columbian, black, blue, splash and silver penciled. The first four colors you can get at hatcheries. The others some hatcheries carry. They are good foragers and lay great. Very friendly and heat and cold tolerant. I have pics on my blog with them in snow. My are not penned and free range all day.

 

[sydney13]

a jersey giant is the largest of all chickens and weighs 10 and a brahma is second largest weighing 9.5 lbs. im getting chicks coming next week and they are jersey giant, brahma, cochin, and orpington, because those are all hardy, friendly and quiet.

 

[Neilette]

No one's mentioned the Australorp!

Big, friendly, black beauties who lay dependably all year long. Not as big as the Giant, but a fantastic backyard large fowl.

 

[cicene mete]

Now that I know what you're looking for, I have to second the Australorp suggestion. Big, sweet birds that are hardy and docile. Jersey Giants are also lovely birds.

You asked about "feed conversion rates." It just means how much food you have to give them compared to how much food you get from them (eggs, or meat). Naked necks are very efficient. They don't need much and still lay a lot of eggs. Jersey Giants are not nearly as efficient. They eat a lot, crap a lot

, and grow slowly. However, if you are looking for some nice hens to have for pets, JJ are great.

 

[patandchickens]

Orpingtons, and remember they come in different colors and have good temperaments!

IME sussexes are not in general all that large, although you may be able to find some individual lines that are better-sized.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Gonzo]

Why are you wanting a larger breed? I have both cochins, and brahmas, Great sweet birds, but they only lay medium size eggs, and don't lay daily. My Australorps are awesome birds, I think they fall into the large breed catagory, and they lay almost daily these huge monster eggs!

 

[cicene mete]

Gonzo makes a good point. If you're looking for large eggs, you're not necessarily going to get them from the biggest breeds. My RIR lays enormous eggs. Her average egg is among the biggest I've ever seen. Leghorns are not very large, but they are also known to lay very large eggs.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Quote:
I have one Black Australorp hen! I love her! She is my favorite chickie!

She's dependable with those eggs all winter! Never misses a day.

 

[markb816]

This is all so very interesting. Although, I enjoy my chickens on more of a pet level, I do pride myself on their "every once in a wile" eggs. I would think that larger size birds would produce larger eggs. Is this not the case?
And to change the subject a little bit, I went to a chicken meet Saturday in Dickson TN, and noticed some chickens with what looked like their feathers on backwards. They were so beautiful and fluffy, with their feathers seemingly going the other way and feathers on their feet. I would have gotten one but they only had roos left and I've got one established roo already and don't want another.
I looked on the breed page here on BYC, but I thought I would ask you guys on some insight.
Thanks