As some of you may know I am working on an on-line poultry club for beginners. This club will also be ran in conjunction with the 4-H poultry club in Pike County Indiana. It is hard for me to find a day that all of the 4-H'ers can meet so I am trying something new.

My question to you is, What is you favorite breed of poultry and why?

I am posting this same question on other boards and I will show everyone the percentages and the most common answer

Are you looking for a hard to find breed of bird? Tell me what you are looking for. 95% of the time I can find you a breeder here in the USA. There is no fee, Just trying to share my knowledge. (My wife says I don't have that much to share.)

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), July 23, 2001

Answers

My favorite is the Plymouth Barred Rock with Buff Orpington, Gold Laced Wyandottes and Dominiques following behind.

I like the Rocks because they forage well, are hardy, and with a decent strain they have a good rate of lay. I've never experimentally confirmed this but I'm told that they have less predation by hawks because their black and white barring gives them something of a camouflage pattern in the black and white vision of predatory birds.

If you know of some hatcheries who carry a good production oriented strain of Barred Rocks I'd appreciated hearing of them. Show birds are nice but the shows seldom put an emphasis on the practical aspects of poultry keeping and I'm thinking of putting in a small-scale egg operation next year.

Thanks.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), July 24, 2001.

Cast my vote for the Brown Leghorn. Absolutely beautiful birds that forage well, are very good layers, and exhibit no where near the flightiness of their cousins the White Leghgorns. They are also quite alert for predators and can "fly" well enough to have a chance of escaping the fox.

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), July 24, 2001.

I prefer the Barred Rock also, they consistantly do well here where we have a serious predator problem and are the best "mamas" I have ever had other than banties.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 24, 2001.

My vote goes to the Rhode Island Red and Dominick (sp). And the Sebright Bantam for decoration.

-- Linda at peaceful valley (peacefulvalley3@yahoo.com), July 24, 2001.

We like Buff Orpingtons for being good "all purpose" chickens and for their looks. Also, Light Brahmas (which we have now) for doing well in cold temperatures and the amount of eggs they lay.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), July 24, 2001.

Australorps. I've had some for 2 years now with a few other breeds thrown in. They lay well, seem to tolerate both extremes in temperatures, are good brooders and mothers and are very gentle and calm. I had one Barred Rock that was good layer but she ate her own eggs and all the others she could find. Well, we finally cured her with a hatchet.

I was in the right place at the right time last spring when a hatchery sent a duplicate order of New Hampshire pullets. The feed store owner offered them to me at half price if I took all 25. Two have turned out to be roosters and only one of the batch died so I'll see how they do for me. Anyone with experience with the NH's?

-- marilyn (ra inbow@ktis.net), July 24, 2001.

I agree with Brad on the brown leghorns. They are such heavy layers that they pay for their own feed, plus supply us with good quality eggs for free. I let mine range free all the time and have lost very few to predators.

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), July 24, 2001.

Are you limiting this to chickens? Or will the new board include waterfowl? Good Luck with it. :-)

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), July 24, 2001.

I have always had Rhode Island Reds, but am willing to try other breeds. My mom always gets a light brown sex-link, which she can never remember the name for. They are calm and good layers. Anyone have any ideas as to what their name would be? Also, any suggestions on what other breed besides the Rhode Island Red would be a heavy layer of large brown eggs, and forage well?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 24, 2001.

We love our buff orphingtons,beacause they are so curious and friendly.They love to be right with us whenever we are outside!

-- julie (nelson3@bright.net), July 24, 2001.

-- daffodyllady ........I bet your mom had Isa Browns, my next favorite after the Barred Rocks. Almost ALL my Amish neighbors have them and they are very good layers. They are a RoadeIsland Red cross of some kind....Redish with buff underpinning and around the tail and neck.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 24, 2001.

I like the Polish and Salmon Faverolle... great dispositions, easy handling good egg layers. and Beautiful to look at.

-- MicheleRaePadgett (Michelesmelodyfarm@yahoo.com), July 25, 2001.

Guess I'm the odd ball in the bunch. I like most bantams as they are easy keepers, good mothers, can forge well and predetors don't seem to get them. Tried the Sebrites but they are too nasty mean and the orientals are too flighty, that has been my experience. Just wish they had white meat.

-- Corrinne (horse@gilanet.com), July 25, 2001.

Barred Rocks and Cochins. I like the Barred Rocks because they just seem to look right running around on a farm and they're good sized for meat and are good egg layers and great mammas. I just think the Cochins are pretty. Sharon

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), July 28, 2001.

Grant I think what you are doing is great. People think that I am crazy because I have the Murry Mcmurry cataloge memarized. i get made fun of alot. I am currently raising chicks to sell eggs, I am trying to get a variety of beutiful egg collors. i dont have a favorite but I have a long wish list. Do you know of a chicken that will lay spotted eggs. I would like to have some. I am keeping Americana roosters and leting them father chicks from many diferent breeds of good layers. This should produce some hens that lay very collerful eggs. I will be selling thees speacial chicks and the eggs. What do you think of my Idea???? Love to hear from you. My computer is not working well right now I do not know if I can resive e-mail or not at this time. Lisa

-- Lisa in TX (westexas@ev1.net), July 30, 2001.

I am drawn to Barred Rocks and Chanteclers...just can't make up my mind. Had a gorgeous Salmon Faverolle rooster and Araucana cross hens once....the hens were kinda grouchy and pecky but Samson was big sweetheart and looked after his girls very well. Had a buff orpington that was a marvelous mama and that sweet! Would definitely do them again but they are so plain looking.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), August 10, 2001.

my favorite is the white leghorns and rhode island reds

-- drew (ata1hunt@aol.com), August 21, 2001.

My favorite breed is Buff Orpington 'cause they are calm and friendly - even the rooster! I have a bunch of bantams that were given to me and I like them just because they're cute.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), August 24, 2001.