I have actually had a majority of these breeds mentioned over the years. I will say that not all the chickens read the book about what they are supposed to do :-) you could get one breed of chicken from three different hatcheries and you might get three different results as far as egg size, frequency, and temperament. So just be prepared. If you have a bad experience with one breed, maybe give it another try from a different source next time around.
Any recommendations on where to purchase? I want chickens that lay eggs with a friendly temperament, I live in Hawaii so definitely will have to be shipped
If you have the Orpington among the top 10, then that's where the Australorp belongs; I have both. I have had the red hybrids, and they die young. Same thing with the Easter Egger. I also have a Wyandotte and an Ameracauna. Others owned in the past are Copper Marans and the black sex-link, so I've had a few to compare. If I could pick only one breed, it would be the Australorp, which I believe holds the world record for eggs produced in a year. My remaining beautiful black girl has earned every bit of her retirement; she is 6 years old, still lays, and is a model of behavior for the rest of the small flock. The Buff Orpington would be her VP if they had elections.
I had a blue Andalusian hen. Laid large white eggs regularly and a bit flighty, like a Leghorn. Smartest hen in the yard! My dog had cornered a few chickens that flew into the dog area. Then one day I noticed the Andalusian lying limp on the ground in front of my dog who was focused on the chicken. Ran over to see if the dog had gotten another of the chickens. Grabbed the dogs collar, and then turned my attention to the limp ... wait a minute, chicken jumped up and flew away!! 😳 That hen was playing dead ... smartest hen I ever knew!!
It makes my heart hurt to see all those caged birds. Nothing to peck & nothing to keep their interest. Nothing like my farm chickens who constantly run around to see what’s to eat and what new thing is happening. 😭 Chckens are very intelligent and curious, and they have personalities of their own.
White Rocks lay really well and are pretty friendly. They'll eat nearly anything and keep producing. I'm surprised this rather large egg layer isn't mentioned.
Ours also fly very well and they lay a lot more than 200 eggs a year, at least mine do. Mine free range and the roosters are great for protecting the flock.
You need to do a video on the buckeye chicken they are great good eggs and great meat plus your video could help the breed become more popular I love my buckeyes they're friendlier than any Rhode Island red could ever be
@tasheenaneary8049 Ours are in a very large paddock. They are technically inside a fenced area, but the area is so large that they haven't explored it all, and they have been in it for three years. I would not put them in a coop run. They are really big and strong and can dig large holes very quickly. They will quickly turn over all the soil and make a mess in a short time. I would do a large paddock or free range. If you have a light brahma rooster, you won't have any issues with cats. Ours isn't even bothered by the feral/farm cats around us. These guys are massive. If you get a large brahma rooster, you have to make sure you get larger hens. He will get so big that he can tear up the hens without meaning to.
I remember a study in the 70's/80's (here in the UK) into how many more eggs would be produced if the hens were given artificial light. At the end of the study found that half an egg was produced per week. No doubt light will have been studied again, but I never kept up with science. What are the results of the other studies?
Let’s be honest, laying egg after egg after egg, never having the chance to hatch a clutch, two or three times a year and raise a family naturally, is never going to be a happy chicken. It’s quite exhausting and shortens the bird’s life by half at best. Especially knowing at the end of the road is the pot. But it certainly much much better than a chicken farm.
#1 looks like my brown shaver and hyline chickens get huge brown eggs but dont lay during winter. I love light sussex chickens best as hyline/shavers while friendly to people are naughty and nasty. Had a barred rock cross she hardly ever laid and had small white eggs. My orpington cross goes broody all the time and only pays small peachy eggs and isn't tame at all and if you try catch her she will scream bloody muder for the whole world to hear lol 😂😂 my road island reds aren't as friendly as the sussex and hyline either
My Orpingtons, in the beginning of winter they all went broody, one did it first and the others just followed. And one has been obsessed not long after getting out of it that time, she did it again. Just got out of that cycle for second time and is laying again.
@@janicefisk5207 because layer feed isn't the best for all chickens of all life stages. It's not good for young ones before laying age, not good for roosters, not good for your hands while they are in molt. Grower feed, gives them the extra protein that they need to make an easier malt, lay more eggs, and it's so much easier to just have one kind of feed around. Oyster shell on the side gives the hens that need it the extra calcium. The ones that don't need it don't eat it. i've been feeding the grower food for years and I very highly recommend it. i've suggested it to other people and everyone of them are very happy with the results. Give it a shot for a year and see what you think. I started out with my baby chicks the day I get them and that's what they eat their whole lives.
Home boy needs to do more research then what Google tells him. This is the worst advice I've ever listened to on chickens or chicken breeds. Half the pictures shown are not even the correct breed 🤦🤷
