best chickens ???

Kstornado11 · #21 03/08/08, 11:49 AM

Easter Eggers/Ameraucanas. Mine laid like crazy all year round,even right thru snow storms! Also Buff Orps & RIRs get my vote.

stanb999 · #22 03/08/08, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.T. Hagan

White Leghorns for white eggs, Red Sex Links (sold under various names) for brown eggs.

If rate of lay is the most important factor.

.....Alan.

I totally agree. If you want eggs get a commercial chicken. They will lay more, larger, and on less feed. But they really can't be put into the pot. At least the ones we get. The breast is the size of a nugget. Just isn't worth the trouble.

DJ in WA · #23 03/08/08, 12:04 PM

Depends on what you are interested in. Number of eggs is different than feed efficiency. Your hen may lay big eggs frequently, but if she is a big hen, she will take more feed to support her body mass. Ideally, you'd have a small hen who lays many big eggs. The Leghorn takes the prize there.

However, Leghorns are known to be flighty (nervous), and the white ones obviously lack color for looking at. They are also not the best in cold weather - big comb can get frostbite, and small body has harder time keeping warm. But they'd do better in heat than bigger hens.

As far as I can tell, the next best thing is the Red Star/Red Sex-Link, which lay brown eggs.

My plan this year is to get some leghorns for feed efficiency, some Red Sex-Links for more winter hardy and for color, and some Auracanas for green eggs for fun.

THen I'll split a few of each into two pens and with different egg colors, be able to easily tell who's laying. I like to keep the non-producers weeded out, as feed isn't getting any cheaper.

Peacock · #24 03/08/08, 05:18 PM

As a chicken newbie -- had them just about a year -- I love my Buff Orps and Barred Rocks, I've got 2 of each. They're calm, easy, and lay like crazy. We never get less than 2 a day between them, and usually they each lay an egg a day. Right now I have six dozen eggs in the fridge; DH just gave 2 dozen away the other day. And crazy woman that I am, I am going to add some Aracaunas this spring just for grins.

willow_girl · #25 03/08/08, 05:25 PM

Free range - Americaunas. They are hardy, good forages, and adept at avoiding predators. They'll also go broody and raise up a nice clutch for you.

Coop birds -- Black stars. Red stars are good, too, but not as purdy!

Walt K. in SW PA · #26 03/08/08, 05:57 PM

I have had good luck with silver lace wyandottes. They're tough (not prone to sickness) and handle cold weather well.

DianeWV · #27 03/08/08, 06:55 PM

I like Golden Comets, Barred Rock, RIR.

Ravenlost · #28 03/08/08, 10:48 PM

Pekin Ducks.

My Pekin outlays the Barred Rock hens year round. We plan to get more ducks this Spring instead of chickens.

hotzcatz · #29 03/09/08, 04:51 AM

Another one of my neighbors has said the same thing about ducks. Hmm. Wonder if I can talk DH into a few baby ducks around the place? THEY wouldn't crow in the middle of the night!

How does the taste and texture of duck eggs compare to chicken eggs? Is there any detectable difference?

sammyd · #30 03/09/08, 05:31 AM

We had 30 of the brown sex linked and we're very impressed by them. Very easy keepers, large brown eggs. Free ranged very well.
We got a batch of mixed heavy brown egg layers from McMurray 2 years ago, not impressed at all. I think the older sex linked still outlay them and their eggs are not as dark brown or as big.
We'll be getting more of the sex linked this year.

We don't try to make them dual purpose, we get the Cornishx for meat. My buddy raises the sexlinked for sale to the area Hmongs and I've seen them butchered out...I think one breast of one Cornish will weigh more than the whole sexlinked.

CSA again · #31 03/09/08, 06:12 AM

I love the Orphingtons ....
I have black ,white ,buff , and many mixes fo the three. Fine looking big birds.
Large brown eggs
Do well in cold weather....Good winter Layers.
Good Mothers Very calm
I read somewhere a black Aussie Orphington is in the book of world records for the most eggs in a year.( 364 in 365 days)

On the other hand that eat a lot! And are slow to mature

ozarkcat · #32 03/09/08, 10:32 AM

Are you planning on eating the occasional chicken as well? If you're only looking for eggs, leghorns are the way to go; if you do want some chicken meat, go with a good dual-purpose bird like the orpingtons or Rhode Island reds already mentioned.

Jolly · #33 03/09/08, 11:47 AM

Another vote for the Red Stars....if you want both meat and eggs, I like the Buffs, too.

DJ in WA · #34 03/09/08, 12:58 PM

Quote:

If you want eggs get a commercial chicken. They will lay more, larger, and on less feed. But they really can't be put into the pot. At least the ones we get. The breast is the size of a nugget. Just isn't worth the trouble.

I would agree, however, there are people who hunt game birds with less meat than our leghorns have. I offer my old hens to such a guy at work and he loves them.

Otherwise I ususally bury their carcass in the compost pile. Occasionally I'll do a quick butcher - use axe to cut off head, legs, wings, then strip off skin and remove innards. Can do in about 2 minutes.

wolfhavyn · #35 03/10/08, 06:11 PM

Our duck eggs have no discernible difference in taste. A lot of ours tend to go to the dogs however, just because the birds tend to lay in the muddiest spot possible and I am a lazy egg cleaner! I have Americaunas, Australorps, and Rhode Island Reds. For egg production I'd say my Americaunas and Rhode Islands outlay the Australorps but the Australorps are more laid back and will brood anytime you let them!