Best Chicken For...

[dnsnthegrdn]

What do you guys think would be the best dual purpose chicken for free ranging? I know there are some that are more hardy than others, any suggestions?

[Candice_17]

If you mean dual purpose as in layers/ eaters, I like the Rhode Island Reds. They lay very well, and get plenty big enough to butcher. They set well too.

[dnsnthegrdn]

Yes, that is what I mean. I know my husband doesn't want those, he has all kinds of horror stories from his childhood about being tortured by those breed of chickens.

My little book, Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens has a list of self-relient chickens - Ancona, Aseel, Campine, Dominique, Hamburg, Leghorn, Minorca, Old English Game, Orpington, Sussex, Wyandotte. Anyone know?

[hillbillyin]

I think orpingtons are good "dual purpose" chickens. From my experience, they are very hardy, lay good size eggs, and get to a fair size for butchering. I believe dominiques get a bit larger.

[mart]

Personally, I like the Rhode Island Reds !! I used to raise them !! Hens are big babies and roosters are very docile !! Your hubby must have been tortured by a cross of some kind !! RIR`s are pretty non aggressive !! Now leghorns are about the most aggressive chicken I know !! Although the hens of most breeds are pretty laid back, its the roosters at about 8 to 10 weeks old that are a pain !! They will attack your legs !! And usually its when you have several roosters at about the same age !! One rooster by itself learns pretty quick after a few swift kicks !!! Not that hard of course but hard enough to make it turn and run !! They are like anything else,,, they have to learn who is boss !!

[ReverendRider15]

I have a blend of chickens- Frizzles, Barred Rock (this little hen is a sweetheart! My husband taught her to jump for the feed scoop and when she does, he feeds her!) Buff Orpington (very sweet and docile- good layer!), Game Hens (very sweet, but a bit shy) Rhode Island Red (very sweet),Leghorn (sweet to us, but like to pick on the quieter, gentler hens) and Americauna (really sweet to humans but those roosters love to fight one another!)

When I was about eight or so, my folks had this HUGE Barred Rock rooster that had a real penchant for attacks. One day I made the mistake of going out to feed the chickens wearing shorts and a t-shirt (bad idea!) I turned to leave the coop and he attacked the back of my legs.... Scratching me up to bits. I ran bleeding and crying into the house and told them about the mean 'ol rooster. Needless to say, we enjoyed a nice chicken dinner that night.

[Mistersmomma]

We raise the buff orphingtons, they are very sweet and docile birds, they are good layers and the also are good for the meat as well. I have the light brahmas as well and they are a very sweet gentle bird, and they are good if you have children. They won't get aggressive. We are work with dom's now. Building a chicken house for them now. They are just now getting the spots, and starting to look like chickens.

I too have had horror stories as child with aggressive chickens, I had a white leghorn rooster chase me down as a child, He hit me in the back of the legs with those spurs, I triped and fell and he gave my back side a good flogging. My behind might have been sore, but my mom made my favorite dish, Chicken and Noodles.

[dnsnthegrdn]

Thanks! I think the barred rocks are so pretty. I'd love to have some of those. I was looking through the McMurry catalogue and seen Silver Laced Wyandottes, they said that they were a hardy breed and excellent layers during the winter. Any experience with these? There is a poultry swap next week I'm going to see what they have.

I with all of you, mean rooster equals chicken for dinner!

[hillbillyin]

I had a barred rock rooster that was so tame, he loved to sit in my lap and be petted! We took him and our black australorpe rooster to a swap meet to sell them, and people walking by could not believe they were roosters! They were both huge and beautiful---I really hated to sell them, but we had too many roosters. Needless to say, they sold within half an hour of the swap opening!! My hubby needs to hurry up and build me a coop---I may end up just bringing some chicks home anyway!!

[Mistersmomma]

Well thats what I had to do to finally get my coop. My finance had been promising me to build me a coop for 2 years. and then he was suppose to build it this winter, well winter is over. So I went to a hatchery and bought some chicks. Needless to say, My coop is almost finished now. we have to put the roof and tin on and then put the pen around it. But he is finally getting it done.