I could use some breed suggestions or a reality check.

la dee da

Crowing
16 Years
Dec 18, 2008
686
187
351
Missouri
Hey everyone! I’ve been thinking a lot about what breed of chicken I want to try next, but I keep hitting snags. I want birds that have been bred to meet the breed standard, rather than from a big name hatchery (Sandhill is an exception if they have a breed I otherwise cannot get, or if they have good birds of a breed). This is the list of what I’m looking for:

- Not aggressive; preferably roosters are known for not being aggressive.
- Not flighty. They don’t have to be super friendly, but flighty will get them culled immediately.
- Not broody. After having Orpingtons, Australorps, and broody Rhode Island Reds, I am DONE with broody hens.
- Great layers of large brown eggs; I would love birds that lay 230+ eggs per year, but 200+ is a happy number too.
- No crests, feathered feet, or other fancy feathers.
- Good food efficiency. My (admittedly hatchery stock) Buff Orpingtons ate a lot and laid few small eggs (when not broody); I cannot find much information on food efficiency with different heritage breeds, but anything better those Orpingtons would be worth looking into.
- Small to Medium single comb. Large single combs always get frostbite, and I cannot heat my coop. I don’t want the fertility problems of rosecombs, and other types trigger my anxiety and gag reflex if I look too long (I don’t know why). Buttercup or v-shape would probably be okay if they can handle hot and cold weather, but I don’t know anything about them.
- Can handle hot and cold weather. Our summers get up to 95 for extended periods, with some jumps to 100. Our winters get down to -4 every year for several days, but sometimes even lower (last year we had ten days of below 5 degrees, and several below -7).
- Not stupid. My red and gold sexlink birds were too stupid to hide from a hawk that sat on an fencepost for ten minutes before diving at them or being chased off by me, and it happened nearly every day. I do not want stupid birds again.
- Good at free ranging. Very important as my birds free range on our 12 acres.
- For color, I’d like to try something other than black or white. Black birds with green sheen are lovely, but I just want something with a bit more color. White I worry about being boring and also being preyed upon. Some black and/or white on a bird is fine. Color and size are is the last things on my list, as they’re for aesthetics.
- Big birds, like 9-10lb roosters and 7-8lb hens. This is strictly for aesthetic purposes; I just really love to look at and handle big chickens. I will consider a smaller breed if it fits the other criteria.

I thought about getting Welsummers, but they’re smaller (does that make them more food efficient?), and people seem to disagree on both their flightiness and egg-laying. I also admittedly prefer a more medium brown egg, rather than their dark brown. Still, Sandhill says theirs lay extra large eggs, so maybe a medium sized bird that lays a lot of large eggs would be better?

Any help (or reality checks) would be really appreciated!
 
My Welsummer was not a small bird, she was 7lbs and BEEFY, looked more sturdy than my feedstore cochins 🤣 What the others said, however I have some suggestions for breeds!

- Cream Crested Legbar: Personality that I've experienced sounds like what you'd like, both my own pet raised and our farm friends barely-touched egg flock. They have been good foragers, good survival instincts, just flighty enough to stay alive on that friends farm but not insane to the point that you can't get near one if you tried. The rooster out there seemed chill to me. The combs can vary, some may get bigger than you'd prefer, however the crest doesn't usually get dirty the way beards/feathered feet get, & I love the partridge & crele colors they come in, I can't help it, the boys are stunning.

- Barnevelder Delaware & Plymouth Rocks imo have been hardy but my experience as those of mine were from breeders, not hatcheries, so quality may vary (and mine aren't perfect but were nice enough for 4H). The rock got broody occasionally, the Barnevelder maybe isn't my smartest bird BUT she's got great survival instincts and awareness, but doesn't understand a 1 foot gate on the patio smh. But otherwise were fairly mild, barne was a bit antisocial but not flighty, solid hens good layers!

- For hardiness, you can try finding birds near you, ones who have survived living outdoors in your winters. Backyard barnyard mixes have pros and cons but even just connecting with locals you can hear what's worked and not worked with them in your climate/weather! :D
 
Thank you everyone for both the reality checks and breed suggestions! I was interested in the Sussex and Rocks, but read they’re very broody. Since they aren’t in your experiences, I’ll give them a second look.

I know personality traits depend on the individual bird, but starting where the breed is known for one of the traits I want would be a good start!
 
Try a Beilefelder. The only boxes I don’t know if they check are the comb type and broodiness. I’ve hade them for maybe two years and had one go broody this year. I don’t pay attention to combs, so I don’t know on that one. I don’t free range mine, but I’m pretty sure that they’ll do fine.
 
I’d have to agree about recommending the Speckled Sussex. Although, I’m partial to the Sussex breed.

-Very friendly
-My SS Roos have not been agressive.
-Not overly broody
-Lay good amount of brown eggs
-Sussex are a larger bird than production breeds.
-Very good foragers
-Beautiful colors
 
...
- Not flighty. They don’t have to be super friendly, but flighty will get them culled immediately.
...
- Not stupid. My red and gold sexlink birds were too stupid to hide from a hawk that sat on an fencepost for ten minutes before diving at them or being chased off by me, and it happened nearly every day. I do not want stupid birds again.
- Good at free ranging. Very important as my birds free range on our 12 acres.
...
Reality check on this. They are essentially opposites. Like wanting to have a large bird that is small. Or a fluffy bird that is sleek.

Flighty birds are the ones that are reactive enough to have a much, much, much better chance of surviving while free ranging. Part of being reactive is being aware of surroundings - like hawks on fenceposts.
- Good food efficiency.
...

Big birds, like 9-10lb roosters and 7-8lb hens. This is strictly for aesthetic purposes; I just really love to look at and handle big chickens. I will consider a smaller breed if it fits the other criteria.
...
This is a little the same. Food efficiency is most closely related to body size. Activity level is also a factor. And quirks of body chemistry but I don't think that has been selected for in any heritage type breeds so it will vary within breeds more than most traits.
 

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