If you could only keep one breed of poultry....

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 1:26 pm

i had dark cornish (not show quality) years ago (and getting some again this weekend from WLlady) and I enjoyed keeping those more than anything else so far. They do well on free range and are decent mothers: egg laying is ok, and fairly self sufficient (and will go feral), not to mention a great table bird.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 7:48 pm

This is a very hard question, and really not answerable, I can't have just one. So OC I,'m going to cheat and say ameraucana, love love love those blue eggs, exchequer leghorns, they are beautiful calm and non stop layers. But I also will add my showgirls, more like pets, cuddley , lots of variety and can stand to live in smaller pens.
I know you said just one, I can't do it.
I've sold breeds in the past thinking if I ever decided I wanted that breed again I could get some from them, only to find out... They no longer have them, sold them all...A predator killed them all....etc.

Some breeds are so rare finding good ones are practically impossible, look at yourself OC with your Wyandotte's, where would you find those again? They are rare and beautiful, yes a bit more work to maintain genetic diversity but well worth it.

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 7:59 pm

kenya wrote:QR_BBPOST This is a very hard question, and really not answerable, I can't have just one. So OC I,'m going to cheat and say ameraucana, love love love those blue eggs, exchequer leghorns, they are beautiful calm and non stop layers. But I also will add my showgirls, more like pets, cuddley , lots of variety and can stand to live in smaller pens.
I know you said just one, I can't do it.
I've sold breeds in the past thinking if I ever decided I wanted that breed again I could get some from them, only to find out... They no longer have them, sold them all...A predator killed them all....etc.

Some breeds are so rare finding good ones are practically impossible, look at yourself OC with your Wyandotte's, where would you find those again? They are rare and beautiful, yes a bit more work to maintain genetic diversity but well worth it.

OK we will make an exception for you Kenya...............
But for me realistically speaking, darn I hate being realistic, this old bod doesn't have that much mileage on it left, so here is my thinking, if I have a smaller flock, lets say 20 hens and 2 roosters, I could stretch my time a bit, rather then being forced to make some drastic decision
But that would mean one breed which would have to be sustainable.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:11 pm

Well I feel for you,its an amazingly hard decision but I understand, when looking after them becomes too much like work you have to downsize.

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:25 pm

For me personally, hands down it would be Euskal Oiloas. They are crazy friendly and curious, great foragers, decent layers of large to extra large eggs and the extra cockerels are a decent bird for the table

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 1:15 am

IF I had the time and resources to breed better laying ability into my black Giants without sacrificing size, it would be them hands-down. I've never lost an adult to any predator, ever, even when completely surrounded...I can let them range when the mixed layer/easter egger pen is in lockdown because 3 or 4 have gone missing daily. I think their colour and size intimidates carnivores, I have no other explanation. But any way, as it is, I cannot pick just one breed. I have the Giants for meat and eye candy, and the mixed flock for those two reasons plus lots of eggs, plus they don't break eggs when broody as the giants tend to do. But the drumsticks aren't nearly as big!

Suelanthier · Post by **Suelanthier** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 8:10 am

So it's very clear I'm not the only addict lol....I would say Cochins...standard and all the colors...I'm maybe the bantams too

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:11 am

Jan, very impressed, I expected a thesis why it can't be done :)
Still seems to be many breeds, without any very obvious favorites, interesting.

Post by **Killerbunny** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 10:14 am

I think a lot depends on the person keeping the breed and also the lines. When starting out I had always wanted Australorps, loved the shape and glossy colours in the sun. When Mama Bird went broody I was lucky enough to get eggs from good lines. I don't know what the problem was but I killed the first rooster at 5 months when he ripped up a hen and chased her to continue tearing her. The second went when he attacked a broody girl and chicks. The third was a hen but very aggressive to all other hens and a loner. She was a fabulous broody however. I didn't like her behaviour to the others and Jan has her now where she had a strong flock leader to amend her bad thoughts. So I 'm not sure it's just breed you can take into account but the situation too.

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 10:31 am

I hear you Gill, I think if I had a new breed I hadn't raised before and came across that kind of aggression I would probably write off the breed and never try again.
If I had an aggressive Wyandotte, a breed I am very familiar with and came across "some" aggression, I would probably look for a cause and try to deal with it on individual bases, before writing off the entire breed.