Breeds You Need
Start off right with the best birds for your situation for long-term success.
BY SUE WEAVER
All chickens aren’t created equal. It’s important to pick the ones who will meet your needs. There are countless varieties and hundreds of breeds from which to choose. With the passage of time, humans have designed chickens to fulfill every niche: cold-hardy chickens, heat-resistant chickens, chickens that don’t mind being penned up. We haven’t designed the perfect chicken — yet! All breeds have certain failings. For those seeking to implement more natural (or even organic) husbandry practices, breed will come into a play as well.
Before you can settle on the kind of chickens to buy, you need to determine what purpose they’ll serve and what environment they’ll live in. Do you want them for their eggs? Sunday dinner? Feathery companionship? Will they spend most of their time inside or out? Will they have to contend with sweltering summer days or frigid winter nights?
Next you must decide whether you want day-old chicks or full-grown birds as well as how many to get. What advantages are there to buying a pullet rather than a chick? Is it better to start with a small flock? If you haven’t already done so, find out what zoning laws may apply and how they affect your decision.
FOR EGGS OR MEAT
Birds with the greatest egg-laying capacity are not the same as those that plump up into the best candidates for the local chicken fry. Still different are the chickens that are the best choice for providing both eggs and meat.
There’s a discussion to be had of the benefits and drawbacks of each breed, especially for keepers seeking a more natural approach, but all can be kept successfully, depending on your goals.