So you’ve decided to get chickens? Great! Great, great, great. Really powerful decision there! I mean it. Chickens provide one of the easiest, in my opinion, and quickest ways to self sufficient food production.
Getting right down to it, there is a lot of information about chickens to consider, from housing, maintenance, dietary needs and so on, but in this article I will focus on what I consider to be The Best Chicken for Self Sufficiency.
Regarding self-sufficient food production. As a believer in Maximum Utility I prefer goods that serve more than one purpose and serve them well.
Chickens provide 2 main goods, Meat and Eggs. Keeping this in mind, I give you my selection for Best Chicken for Self Sufficiency.
..drum-roll… The New Hampshire Red Chicken!
These birds are great in every important way I can think of, easy to acquire and a great starter bird. As well as A FINISHER BIRD!
Take a look at the stats, this bird covers all the bases in terms of effective production of meat and eggs.
Eggs: Up to 200-220 Eggs per year (with the very High end for chickens being 250-300+ eggs per year)
Egg Color Brown, variations of spotting
Use Eggs + Meat (Dual purpose)
Skin Color Yellow
Comb Type Single
Weight Male Standard: 8.5 lb (3.9 kg)
Male Bantam: 34 oz (965 g)
Female Standard: 6.5 lb (2.9 kg)
Female bantam: 30 oz (850 kg)
Temperament Generally calm, though some are aggressive.
Country of origin United States
This bird flirts with the top 10-15 birds in both meat production and egg production. It has a series of other characteristics that make it desirable as well.
The following is a showcase of The New Hampshire Red Chicken;
Development of The New Hampshire Red Chicken:
Originally developed around 1900 as a 30 year project between local farmers and The University of New Hampshire, this chicken was a product of selectively breeding only one breed.No other chicken breed was introduced.
This was accomplished exclusively using Rhode Island Red Chickens with a focus on the traits of rapid meat production,size and feathering. Eventually resulting in
The New Hampshire Red Chicken, although it is slightly less red then the Rhode Island Red from which it comes. This new bird was officially recognized in 1935. These chickens remain relatively easy to find in 2022,and I can testify to many sellers in my area having them available.
Meat Production:
Maturing to a good broiler weight in only a few weeks, these birds are perfect for the individual seeking to feed themselves and their families.
A flock of these birds, managed correctly, can ensure plenty of meat and eggs for a long time. With the introduction of a rooster you have access to your very own chicken production facility, ensuring production for you and your loved ones.
Quickly producing broiler sized chickens is possible with The New Hampshire Red chickens. Please note here, that if you intend to raise these birds for both meat and eggs, it would
be wise to separate the birds per their use, and adjust their diets appropriately to their respective uses.
Egg Production:
The New Hampshire Red Chickens lay about 200-220 medium sized, brown eggs per year. With a flock of 5 birds you can expect an average of 3-4 eggs per week per bird.
That’s around 20 eggs per week. Depending on your egg consumption this can be tailored up or down with a few more or less birds.
The eggs are light brown in color with occasional speckling.
Medium in size, these eggs compare to some store bought eggs. My Reds also produce around 2 double yolk eggs per month, which are always great to find!
In regards to broodiness these chickens do show a certain broodiness and this is promising for those looking to breed them for long term self sustainability.
Temperament:
Mostly docile. I have not had any instances of wild aggression with these birds. They will occasionally peck with each other and do have one chicken that seems to be the outcast of the group.
I have been able to handle these chickens just fine and do not consider them an issue for children or pets. They hens are quiet, emitting a slight coo from time to time.
However, they do recognize me when I come around and raise their voices. It is nothing that would be considered a problem, even in residential areas.
These chickens seem content to
stay within confined areas, but obviously love to access green fields for fresh foraging opportunities.
Conclusion:
Personally,I am very satisfied with my decision to acquire a flock of New Hampshire Red Chickens. They are the perfect mix of high egg production, quick and meaty production, and ease of management.
They also have a certain beauty to them, as all of God’s creatures do. They are a blessing to any chicken farm, homestead, or off-grid living situation to be sure.
These birds provide a point of Maximum Utility and I hope you consider getting some yourself!
If you have any thing to say regarding chickens, I’d love to hear. Leave a comment below!