Hi Everyone, I've currently got two Warrens for eggs and last year I kept three different varieties for eating (these were bought at 6 weeks and kept till about 14 weeks). The hens have free roam of the garden but I kept the chickens enclosed in the pen which is about 20m x 20M. When the Warrens go I'm thinking of buying a trio of Wyandottes and raising chicks for eating. An ideal situation would be to eat the eggs until a hen goes broody then let her hatch a brood which I could raise for the table. Would Wyandottes be a good choice for dual purpose? Jen
They are a medium sized bird and can be used as dual purpose. My personal preference would be a Sussex for dual purpose. I have the bantam variety of Wyandottes, so, in my case, they are for eggs only (and the dark one is one very broody girl who much prefers to sit on eggs than lay them )
No, not much eating on a bantam I would have thought. Sussex is what my head says too but the Wyandottes looks so beautiful...
True - unlike the bare necked Transylvanians no problem seeing the back of them! Never had a rooster before - I'm supposing it's the luck of the draw re temperament/noise level.
Re: rooster, they are *all* noisy and they are *all* on the protective side (it's their job, after all). And don't be fooled into thinking they only crow in the morning *any* time of day, or night, or whenever takes their fancy. Also, do *not* be conned into believing that if you put them in a box, with the lid shut, a blanket thrown over it and it a dark, dark room so not even a chink of light can get in that they will just quietly settle down? Think again! I had one - once! If I lived far, far away, with no neighbours, I would have one again. Otherwise, not.