the best breeds

many people who want to get chickens ask me what breeds are best. well, i say, there are many breeds that are best for different tasks for the chicken. when i say different tasks i mean either egg producers, table/meat/broiler chickens, pet chickens-which are based off of personality, show chickens-who's more fancy, brooder/breeding chickens-if you want your hens to have chicks, weather hardy chickens-hot or cold, and many more..i got my chickens based on personality who will get along with who, and egg production. i currently have six different breeds in my flock of seven: Light Brahma (there are also Buff and Dark colors), Rhode Island Red (abbreviated as RIR, there are also white rhode islands), Red/brown Ameraucana (be sure to always spell it this way, not with an "i"; there are also blue, buff, partridge, black and more), Buff Orpington (very common, most Orpingtons are buff, but some are black or brown), Black Jersey Giant (a rooster can get up to 15-20 pounds--thats turkey size! the hens are very big too; there are also white jerseys), and Barred Rock (this is really just a color, most breeds are Plymouth and Dominique barred rocks).

all of these breeds, at least in hens, get along well together. Brahmas are usually the alpha breed because of their confident and calm personality, and are bigger. but they also make the best pet chickens for children because of their confidence. RIRs are usually more skittish, but submissive. Ameraucanas can be flighty (also called "playful"), but make great pets too and lay blue/green eggs. and barred rocks & buff orpingtons are commonly know

n as garden

buddies and are usually very friendly. jersey giants are usually bred for meat because of their size but not in commercial farms because they are "slow growers" compared to others commercial breeds, they are friendly and good natured.

breeds i recommend as friendly backyard chickens:

-wyandotte*

-sussex

-faverolle*

-australorp*

-delaware

-dominique

-easter egger (not recognized as pure bred)

-java

-maran

-new hampshire red

-plymouth rock*

-brahma*

-jersey giant

-ameraucana*

-rhode island red*

-star ("sex-link")

-polish

-cochins*

-silkie*

-sultan