The Best Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds for the Hobby Farm

Some chickens were bred to be good egg layers. Some were bred for meat. But the best breeds for many hobby farmers and homesteaders are those that do both well. Steve & Brian talk about what makes a good dual-purpose breed and give their top 10 list.

#HobbyFarm #backyardchickens #homestead

[greggmcclelland]

The speckled sussex is my favorite. these birds are calm and trusting and good with kids.

[CFarnwide]

I can confirm RIR are a great choice in Utahs climate 😎

[crrc]

Thanks for the info! As a kid, my folks had plymouth rocks and Dominique. I wasn't fond of them, kids, wanted to pet, interact, not the friendliest of birds. Mom killed a mean rooster with a coffee can upside his head when he attacked her one morning, at noon, Dad dispatched the dizzy bird. Maybe Dad had these on purpose so I wouldn't get attached to pets at butcher time.
50yrs later, I'm starting over, we have 4 ISA browns and 3 Silver laced Wyandottes. The ISA are friendlier ones at the moment, 6weeks old. Also have 16 Cornish and have recently lost 2 to some stifling Ga. heat. Surprised at how fast they grow, even on lower protein feed and only daylight feeding to slow them down a bit, but disappointed at the same time, I didn't know about the heat intolerance so they get a fan every day to help them. We were I guess, following the crowd when we bought those. Next year, a different more upright better foraging meat bird will be grown. But I love the dual purpose. I wasn't considering Australorps but after your info, if some are still available at TSC next visit, I may just get some for harvesting next Spring. I like the big fat typical farm hen look and it's why I chose Isa and Wyandottes first. Wish I had added Sussex when they were in too.
Love your informative vids guys :)

[mikereid]

Another interesting and informative video guys, thank you

[Beaguins]

I'm slightly surprised the New Hampshire didn't make the list.

[lauranglover]

Great vid, thank you! Question: If most start laying around 6 months, and they're ready to process about then, they can't be very dual purpose- or can you wait longer to process...what's the most you want to wait to get as many eggs before you process them?

[malaysiaseramasusa]

I have seramas too . They are sooo adorable the extreme tipe . 😊

[wildedibles]

We also have barred rock mixed with silky lol
The roos are maturing quicker than the rest of mixed silky chicks

[CleoBurbach]

whats a good roaster?? mine is a plymouth rock and chases me out of the coop every day!! want one thats calmer.. he needs to go after spring and after i get chicks chick..

[martykuhn]

#6 Dominique is a good forager. Would these or any breed be better at stirring up deep litter?

[karleggers]

Thank you for the video. On our 17 acre farm we have 45 assorted hens. Australorps, Buff Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds as well as Americaunas, and a few Leghorns. All are 2 year layers. We like the temperament and size of the Orpingtons to try our hand at meat birds. We also want to breed the Orpingtons to have a continuous supply of meat/ layer birds. Is there better time of year to start a broody Orpington? Or, would you recommend a good quality incubator? Hope things are still going well for you guys.

[CFarnwide]

Episode suggestion… clipping chicken wings. Would you recommend doing it and if so, how to properly do it.

[levibaer]

Why does it seem that everyone has different numbers for eggs layer per breed?

[wildedibles]

We have Dominique hens and rir mixed hens
They are bigger birds
Our buff Brahma are bantoms so meat birds they have no meat lol but I'm sure they are still edible but tiny birds

[firewheelfarm]

I really thought the Turken would have made the list.

[slowtaknow]

Well no new Hampshire, but I guess they're the same as Rhode Island reds to some degree