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Post by farmgirl on Jan 5, 2024 18:57:16 GMT
I thought I'd start a thread on favorite chickens and their characteristics.
Brahma chickens: I like the light, buff, and the dark. They go broody, are very laid back, and they are good layers. Ours are even good foragers.
Buff orpingtons: good layers, good disposition, good foragers, and they also go broody. My husband wants to try lavender orpingtons, so I ordered him some. From what I've read, they are supposed to be just like the buffs.
Australorps: really good layers, and good foragers.
Marans: I really like the color of their eggs. Such a beautiful, deep brown. The ones I had went broody as well, but the were good layers and foragers too.
Silkies: I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but these are the sweetest birds. They are a very broody breed, and I feel this attribute is extremely important on a homestead.
I really want to try Salmon Faverolle, Silver Dorkings. They are supposed to be good layers and go broody, so I'm hoping to try them eventually.
Anyone else have any must have chickens?
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Post by woolybear on Jan 5, 2024 19:53:57 GMT
My buff orphs have never been broody, nor the barred rocks, nor any of the big breeds. I don't know what their problem is, wish I knew so they could do the egg hatching, but will have to order an incubator. Right now my absolute favorite chicken is an ameraucana, very friendly, lays a blue egg and has consistently laid for the past 2+ years (other than when she was moulting this past fall). When all the other chickens went on strike and laid nothing that girl kept on giving 4-5 days a week. I have 4 cinnamon queens that are just starting to lay. They were some of the most flighty, nutso chickens when they were just chicks. You couldn't get near the brooder that they didn't freak out. Thankfully they've settled down now and I can almost pet them. Once all the new girls start laying most of the old gals will go to the butcher, except the ameraucana - she gets to live out her life here.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Jan 5, 2024 20:24:20 GMT
We've had a few breeds, started out with Wyandottes, then Buff Orpingtons, then Cinnamon Queens. Now were back to Wyandottes as that's all the guy had at "chick day" in the feed store. We've never had any good broody, I think the hatcheries breed that tendency out of them on purpose.
The Cinnamon Queens were the best layers, but also the shortest in their laying time. Two and a half years and they just up and quit. But they sure covered us up for those years.
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Post by farmgirl on Jan 5, 2024 21:32:39 GMT
One breed I do not care for and will not own is the Rhode Island red. The roosters are cantankerous, and the hens are bullies to the other chickens. I haven't noticed them laying any better than the orpingtons and definitely not as much as the australorps.
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Post by Jolly on Jan 5, 2024 22:54:28 GMT
For pure brown egg production, I like the Red Stars. For dual purpose, Buffs. But I'd be remiss in saying that I've always had to have a Dominicker or two...😊
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Post by farmgirl on Jan 6, 2024 0:39:30 GMT
For pure brown egg production, I like the Red Stars. For dual purpose, Buffs. But I'd be remiss in saying that I've always had to have a Dominicker or two...😊 Those are beautiful! I like variety in my flock, so I have a few of those too.
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Post by FeralFerret on Jan 6, 2024 1:33:47 GMT
When my wife had chickens back in Tennessee, she preferred the black sexlink chickens.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Jan 6, 2024 2:21:52 GMT
Had a lot of different breeds but if I had to pick one it would be Black Australorps. I also loved the Silkies personalities and they were great broody hens. Not the best layers but I always felt they were worth keeping around just to hatch eggs.
Love the dark brown Maran Eggs.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Jan 6, 2024 8:52:32 GMT
We've had a few breeds, started out with Wyandottes, then Buff Orpingtons, then Cinnamon Queens. Now were back to Wyandottes as that's all the guy had at "chick day" in the feed store. We've never had any good broody, I think the hatcheries breed that tendency out of them on purpose. The Cinnamon Queens were the best layers, but also the shortest in their laying time. Two and a half years and they just up and quit. But they sure covered us up for those years. Never had Wyandottes but the Buff Orps are nice birds.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Jan 6, 2024 13:13:20 GMT
wildhorseluvr, We've had Silver Laced and Gold Laced Wyandottes, and they're bigots. You'll look in the run and the silvers will be in one area, while the golds will be in another.
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Post by woolybear on Jan 6, 2024 18:15:35 GMT
farmgirl, when we first got chickens 40 years ago we started with RIR. Had a rooster in the group that was an outcast to the flock, so we named him Brewster. Whenever DH was working on a car, laying on the ground ole Brewster would come along and tell DH how to do the job. Poor guy would always sit at the coop but on the outside of the door cause the other hens wouldn't let him in. I could stand on my porch and hollar BREWSTER and he would come a running. Finally about 2 years later a predator got him one night, never had another rooster that was as friendly as Brewster.
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Post by paisley2 on Jan 6, 2024 19:39:48 GMT
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Post by Billy G on Jan 6, 2024 23:16:52 GMT
Broasted or fried, stuffing and bacon-fried green beans.
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Post by daw on Jan 6, 2024 23:48:46 GMT
I won't say the turkens are my favorite but they are good layers
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Post by BrewDaddy on Jan 7, 2024 0:50:15 GMT
When my (then) wife and I first got chickens (I actually wanted ducks, but....) we went with 2 buffs, 2 RIR and 2 golden sex links...
RIR's just seem to have that 'if you turn your back on me I will kill you' vibe to them if you ask me... they seemed to have an evil streak to them....
Buffs were great, and one was very very broody.... Most folks assume my avatar pic is a rooster, but it's actually of one of the buffs...
One of the Goldens was Top Girl and my favorite... I had her trained up well enough if t'wife and I had stayed together longer I think I'd have that hen doing the Moon Walk....
brew
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