[Railside Rooster]

Moving on from the housing questions now........  Can't make our minds up which chooks to start with - think we want large purebred dual purpose (possibly!)

Have narrowed it down to Sussex, New Hampshire and Wyandotte so far but open to opinions on these or others please?

Thanks!!

Lucy
 

[nnbreeder]

Well my favorites are of course the Naked Necks. Disease resistant, stand heat and cold very well and 50% less feathers at plucking time. 

But all three of the breeds you have listed are very good breeds and if you get them from show quality stock chances are they will be larger then those bought from a commercial hatchery.

[kimT]

Orpingtons and faverolles...................

[woodburner]

It all depends on . . .

As you are settling on dual purpose breeds I would gather that you want eggs and meat. I only have experience of LS, so am a bit biased They lay well, starting at about 6 months and the cockerels grow fast. I don't know what they are like for eating yet as I don't have enough to have spares yet.

I have seen Orpingtons, and they are gorgeous to look at but I suspect not as good a utility breed as it used to be.