Needing info on non-hybrid chicken

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by rachel whetzel on January 19, 2011 at 11:57pm

I've heard that Freedom Rangers are great meat birds, and can't find a lot of information about them as layers. I love my Rhode Island Red for a layer... (My golden Sex Links are the best layers... but I think you would consider them hybrid...) At any rate. I've seen alot of posts about heritage meat birds, and those posts usually show Buff Orphingtons. I love mine, and they are a larger size than my RIR. They are also good layers, and have a reputation for going broody once in a while (mine never have) so you might even luck out and not have to hatch your own eggs!!  Personally, I think if I were going for a one breed fits all, I'd choose the BO. They are fairly decent size wise for meat, and good layers. They are one of the breeds I have that I believe are still laying here in the winter.

For a family of three, you'd most likely be getting an egg a day in the summer. If you account for an occasional broody/molting hen, you could probably plan to have 3/4 hens and have plenty of eggs for your family.

Permalink Reply by Kim Hutcheson on January 20, 2011 at 12:00am

WOW!  Thank you for the info!  Greatly appreciated :)

rachel whetzel said:

I've heard that Freedom Rangers are great meat birds, and can't find a lot of information about them as layers. I love my Rhode Island Red for a layer... (My golden Sex Links are the best layers... but I think you would consider them hybrid...) At any rate. I've seen alot of posts about heritage meat birds, and those posts usually show Biff Orphingtons. I love mine, and they are a larger size than my RIR. They are also good layers, and have a reputation for going broody once in a while (mine never have) so you might even luck out and not have to hatch your own eggs!!  Personally, I think if I were going for a one breed fits all, I'd choose the BO. They are fairly decent size wise for meat, and good layers. They are one of the breeds I have that I believe are still laying here in the winter.

Permalink Reply by rachel whetzel on January 20, 2011 at 12:01am

You're welcome!! I added a little bit about numbers in case you didn't see that, and edited to say BUFF orphingtons. Not Biff. lol

Kim Hutcheson said:

WOW!  Thank you for the info!  Greatly appreciated :)

rachel whetzel said:

I've heard that Freedom Rangers are great meat birds, and can't find a lot of information about them as layers. I love my Rhode Island Red for a layer... (My golden Sex Links are the best layers... but I think you would consider them hybrid...) At any rate. I've seen alot of posts about heritage meat birds, and those posts usually show Biff Orphingtons. I love mine, and they are a larger size than my RIR. They are also good layers, and have a reputation for going broody once in a while (mine never have) so you might even luck out and not have to hatch your own eggs!!  Personally, I think if I were going for a one breed fits all, I'd choose the BO. They are fairly decent size wise for meat, and good layers. They are one of the breeds I have that I believe are still laying here in the winter.

Permalink Reply by Lesley Weaver on January 20, 2011 at 8:29am

 Check out the Livestock breeds conservancy. http://albc-usa.org/ for heritage breeds.

I raise Delawares and previously Buckeyes, both dual purpose heritage breeds in danger of being lost forever. Both breeds are now in quite a few of the hatchery catalogs, though the supply is often limited.

There are a lot of dual purpose breeds out there, and depending on your situation there are different breeds to suit your set up and area. I chose the two breeds I've had for cold tolerance and mild manners as I live in OH and have kids.

Here's a decent breed chart

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

We have seven hens (started with 12, lost a few along the line) that in the first year laid almost an egg a day. This is their second year and we average an egg every other day (per hen) which is perfect for my family of four. We occaisionally build up  an extra dozen or two that are begged for by family :o)  Though I'll give you some advice I wish somebody told me...in early fall use an ice cube tray to freeze seperated eggs as they will stop laying while they molt and you won't get any eggs for a few weeks to a couple months. Hopefully my girls go broody this year as I want MORE ;o) Which is another good thing about hertage breeds, they all will often raise their own as compared to a lot of newer breeds that it has been bred out of.

 

@Rachel,  RIR's are considered a dual purpose breed too, and were believed to be one of the parent breeds of Buckeyes who look a lot like them only they have a rose comb for better cold tolerance. Not sure about RIR's, but Buckeyes are very dark meat. Flavor is great, just very dark. RIR's are definitely the most popular around my area though for both meat and their dependable laying. I've just heard the roo's are often very aggressive.

Permalink Reply by rachel whetzel on January 20, 2011 at 12:19pm

I've heard that about the roosters too. I have a mutt rooster right now... lol He's a sweetie pie. I have heard amazing things about Delawares too. Good to hear from someone who has them that they are good layers. I had about the same results with my BO. So far, none of mine have gone into full molt, they just shed a lot, but keep laying. Just at a little slower pace. Good tip with the ice cube trays, especially for those of us that don't use artificial lighting to force winter laying.

Lesley Weaver said:

 Check out the Livestock breeds conservancy. http://albc-usa.org/ for heritage breeds.

I raise Delawares and previously Buckeyes, both dual purpose heritage breeds in danger of being lost forever. Both breeds are now in quite a few of the hatchery catalogs, though the supply is often limited.

There are a lot of dual purpose breeds out there, and depending on your situation there are different breeds to suit your set up and area. I chose the two breeds I've had for cold tolerance and mild manners as I live in OH and have kids.

Here's a decent breed chart

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

We have seven hens (started with 12, lost a few along the line) that in the first year laid almost an egg a day. This is their second year and we average an egg every other day (per hen) which is perfect for my family of four. We occaisionally build up  an extra dozen or two that are begged for by family :o)  Though I'll give you some advice I wish somebody told me...in early fall use an ice cube tray to freeze seperated eggs as they will stop laying while they molt and you won't get any eggs for a few weeks to a couple months. Hopefully my girls go broody this year as I want MORE ;o) Which is another good thing about hertage breeds, they all will often raise their own as compared to a lot of newer breeds that it has been bred out of.

 

@Rachel,  RIR's are considered a dual purpose breed too, and were believed to be one of the parent breeds of Buckeyes who look a lot like them only they have a rose comb for better cold tolerance. Not sure about RIR's, but Buckeyes are very dark meat. Flavor is great, just very dark. RIR's are definitely the most popular around my area though for both meat and their dependable laying. I've just heard the roo's are often very aggressive.

Permalink Reply by Amika Cook Ortiz on January 23, 2011 at 8:40pm

I would add Welsummers to the list for an "old" breed that is considered multipurpose.  They are one of the breeds that lay a very dark egg, almost chocolate brown.

 

We have a mixed flock with Buff Orpingtons, RIR, Rocks, Wyandottes and Silkies.  We recently added Delawares and the Welsummers in September. 

Permalink Reply by Kim Hutcheson on January 25, 2011 at 1:16pm

THANK YOU RACHEL AND AMIKA!!!!

Permalink Reply by Kim Hutcheson on January 25, 2011 at 1:16pm

AND LESLIE!!!!!