Topic of the Week - Which Breeds Are Best For….

Correct me if I'm wrong.
Because I haven't started yet, & will appreciate the info.
We're a family of four living in Southern California.
Here's our needs / wants, in raising chickens.

1. Healthy eggs for the family to eat. (not to sell)
2. Friendly (I know interaction at an early age, will accomplish this, to the degree I take it.)
3. Strong (To deter, or survive predators, such as Cats, Hawks, & Raccoon)
4. Looks (Majestic / Beautiful / Large / Uncommon / Desirable to others.)
5. Sales (Breeding up for excellence in stock, I'll be selling all chicks that aren't; "Cream of the Crop")
6. Meat (Again, not for sale, but for our family's healthy eating, and to cull old stock appropriately)
7. Quiet (Respecting my daylight wasting neighbors, who have no need to wake at the crack of dawn.)

Considering these personal conditions,
and being recognized by the American Standard of Perfection,
the overall #1 Best Backyard Chicken, in my opinion, is the;
Light, Buff, and Dark Brahmas.

Again, am I short sited, or does another breed combine these qualities?
Thanks for your opinions in advance.

Bird Mimic said:

Correct me if I'm wrong.
Because I haven't started yet, & will appreciate the info.
We're a family of four living in Southern California.
Here's our needs / wants, in raising chickens.

1. Healthy eggs for the family to eat. (not to sell)
2. Friendly (I know interaction at an early age, will accomplish this, to the degree I take it.)
3. Strong (To deter, or survive predators, such as Cats, Hawks, & Raccoon)
4. Looks (Majestic / Beautiful / Large / Uncommon / Desirable to others.)
5. Sales (Breeding up for excellence in stock, I'll be selling all chicks that aren't; "Cream of the Crop")
6. Meat (Again, not for sale, but for our family's healthy eating, and to cull old stock appropriately)
7. Quiet (Respecting my daylight wasting neighbors, who have no need to wake at the crack of dawn.)

Considering these personal conditions,
and being recognized by the American Standard of Perfection,
the overall #1 Best Backyard Chicken, in my opinion, is the;
Light, Buff, and Dark Brahmas.

Again, am I short sited, or does another breed combine these qualities?
Thanks for your opinions in advance.

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@Bird Mimic The answer to that will of course depend upon personal preference and appeal.

I would suggest with the criteria in mind that you consider the Buckeye. (See the interesting history below).

The hens are decent layers (if you get a good breeder line) and the boys are really good for meat.

They are overall, as a breed, friendly and personable, and quiet. (Of course all roosters will crow).

They are both heat and cold tolerant.

They are overall, as a breed, very savvy foraging birds. Their beautiful mahagony coloring is stunning and it is good camouflage. (White birds can be seen more easily by birds of prey if you have issues with them).

Buckeyes have been known to be good mousers (although some proclaim that is an exaggeration for the breed, others state they have seen their birds excel at that).

They develop more quickly than Brahmas, who are slower to mature, so you have less feed to get the boys to table. A good quality Buckeye rooster, fed appropriately (meat bird feed at 22% to 24% protein), will come to table, with lots of good meat, by 16 to 18 weeks depending upon how well you care for it. A Brahma may not be ready until at least 20 to 24 weeks, if not longer. I've had heard some raisers state their Brahmas don't mature until almost 7 to 9 months. Buckeye hens lay by 6 months latest (assuming early spring chicks coming to maturity during summer).

My boys were relatively quiet, as roosters go, not flighty, and because they came to table more quickly, it gave them less time to crow before processing. The skin and pin feathers are such to avoid unnecessary dark pins. (Important for processing and purposely bred for the breed). The girls averaged 3 to 5 eggs per week, but I did not have a line that was better for laying, which I believe the Schumaker line is. (See the BYC Buckeye thread, be aware that there are some who are very "passionate" about their thoughts about the breed. There is a good facebook page from one of the breeders which I used to belong to. If interested PM me.)

It is a fine breed that is in need of more breeders, so therefore would be higher in demand with higher chick prices.

We need more Buckeye breeders on the west coast...most are back in Ohio or the east coast.

My thoughts.
LofMc

History of the Buckeyes
http://americanbuckeyeclub.blogspot.com/p/breed-history.html

Thank you so much Lady of McCamley.
Those are very insightful and considerate suggestions.
This is really good information, and directions.
You have my interest refocused.
I'm going to research this breed.

Bird Mimic said:

Thank you so much Lady of McCamley.
Those are very insightful and considerate suggestions.
This is really good information, and directions.
You have my interest refocused.
I'm going to research this breed.

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You are welcome. Good luck in your search for the right breed for your family.

LofMc

Which breed is docile, layer, not flighty & not so broody?

Looking for Pets with Benefits, I have 5 Wyandottes; one went broody 2x since March, now working to break (wire cage) my 3rd! They're 13 months, started laying Dec 2016 and so very SWEET! Love them & don't mind not getting eggs but not when they loose weight, it's a major concern. I'm at my limit and no roos allowed here. Ideas would be appreciated.

ChickNanny13 said:

Which breed is docile, layer, not flighty & not so broody?

Looking for Pets with Benefits, I have 5 Wyandottes; one went broody 2x since March, now working to break (wire cage) my 3rd! They're 13 months, started laying Dec 2016 and so very SWEET! Love them & don't mind not getting eggs but not when they loose weight, it's a major concern. I'm at my limit and no roos allowed here. Ideas would be appreciated.

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I've never had Wyandottes but they're adorable and I want to get some. My recent chickens aren't laying yet but I grew up on a farm with a chicken addicted mom.

When we had hens who wouldn't get off their eggs to eat or drink enough we used a couple of sturdy little dishes or cans for food and water in a corner of her nest box with her. Just prop them in there tightly so they don't spill. We did that with OCD hens in the past and they loved it.

Also we would put a couple baby chicks (of whatever breed you've been wanting to try) and pop them under her at night after she's set long enough. We did that with new moms that had trouble hatching chicks and didn't want to give up. It worked with ours. The success should make her happy enough to move on instead of continuing to try to set on eggs. Though she'll be busy with chicks for a couple months, but you said you didn't mind the lack of eggs, and a happy hen with chicks is such a joy to watch. Hope that helps.

Which breeds are suitable for 24/7 free ranging in predator-dense environments and can mostly take care of themselves?

The gamefowl.

In my experience with my current breeds...

Silkies/polkies- eye candy, not great layers, only one of mine enjoys a cuddle, they have lovely and docile personalities and are fun to watch

d'uccles- not bad layers, eye candy, cuddle lap babies, lovely docile personality, fun to look at and to cuddle!

(Silver) sussex- great layer, beautiful, docile, doesn't mind being handled

cochin/cochin mixes- alright layers, especially my cochin mixes, very fun to watch, don't mind handling, docile

I’m so new I know very little. But I do appreciate all your advice and comments. the one question I have right now is whether you find a difference in friendliness if you start with baby chicks or pullets?

JCT said:

I’m so new I know very little. But I do appreciate all your advice and comments. the one question I have right now is whether you find a difference in friendliness if you start with baby chicks or pullets?

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Not really. One of my hens was bought as a 6 week old, and she is friendlier than a hen that I raised feom a chick. It depends on their individual personality and how they were brought up.
If you want sweet chickens, don't buy POL hens, unless they were raised being used to handling. The adult hens I've bought are all skittish, even though they trust me enough to eat out of my hand. But I recently got a 3 year old hen who is very friendly, because she was raised with kids and being used to handling.
The younger you get them, the more time you have to build a relationship with them, but some chickens grow to like attention, and some don't