If you are planning to raise chickens for eggs or meat, then the best chicken breeds for free range will be the ones that can thrive in your climate and environment. However, there are a few general rules that apply to most chickens, no matter where they’re from or what their purpose is.
The first thing you should consider is whether or not you want to keep your chickens as pets or as food animals. If you want them for eggs and meat only, then any breed will do, but if you plan on keeping them as household pets too, then some breeds are better than others at this task.
Some breeds do well in cold weather while others don’t, so make sure that if you live in an area with cold winters that your chickens are able to adapt to it.
You also need to make sure that the breed doesn’t have any genetic defects or problems associated with them before deciding which kinds of chickens would be best suited for your needs.
Best Chicken Breeds For Free Range
The best chicken breeds for free range are generally the ones that are hardy and adaptable.
They don’t mind the cold or the heat, they can fly and they are good at finding their own food.
There are a lot of different breeds of chicken out there and they all have their own characteristics. The best chicken breeds for free range will have several characteristics in common, but will also be different from each other in some ways.
These are some of the best chickens for free range:
Hampshire
This is a dual purpose breed that can be used for meat or eggs. They’re known for being very friendly and easy going with people, which makes them great pets as well as working animals. They come in several colours including black, white and red-golden colouring. Hamps are good layers too – an average hen will lay about 180 eggs per year!
Here are some of the best chicken breeds for free range:
Buff Orpington. Buff Orpingtons are large, dual-purpose birds with a lovely, docile temperament. They’re easy to tame and make great pets. The Buff Orpington was developed in England in the late 1800s by crossing Indian Game bantam chickens with Light Brahma chickens. It was first imported into the United States in 1873, but didn’t become popular until the early 20th century when it won awards at poultry shows throughout Europe and North America. This docile breed is easily tamed and makes an excellent pet for children.
Leghorn Chicken. The Leghorn Chicken is one of the most popular breeds for backyard flocks today because it’s a high producer of large white eggs that taste wonderful when cooked or baked into an omelet or frittata! Leghorns are known for their friendly temperament and willingness to please their owners. The Leghorn chicken is also very active and will spend much of their time running around your yard looking for bugs and worms to eat! They are small birds (only weighing between 2 ½ pounds – 4 pounds), so they don’t need much space to live in compared to other
Here are some of the best chicken breeds for free range.
Dominique
The Dominique is an American breed, which originated in New England in the 1800s. It’s a dual-purpose breed that’s known for laying brown eggs and having a docile temperament.
Cornish Cross
The Cornish Cross is a commercial breed developed in the 1950s to produce large amounts of white meat at high speed. The birds grow very quickly and are slaughtered at six weeks old when they reach their maximum weight of around 6kg (13lb). They’re often used as broiler chickens or for laying eggs.
Buff Orpington
The Buff Orpington was originally bred as a dual purpose poultry bird but has since become popular as an ornamental fowl too. It has a docile temperament and lays brown eggs, but it can also be used as a meat bird.
Rhode Island Red (RIR)
The RIR is another American breed, named after Rhode Island where it originated in 1872. It’s known for being good layers of brown eggs, but it’s also raised for its meaty carcass too.
These breeds have been specifically selected for their ability to forage, and will do well on a free-range farm. They are also hardy, reliable and easy to raise.
Egg-Laying Breeds:
Leghorns
Leghorn hens are the most popular breed of chicken in the world. They are small, prolific layers that can produce up to 300 eggs per year. These birds make great mothers, as they are protective and attentive of their young. Leghorns come in many colors, including buff, black and white, golden duckwing and silver duckwing (pictured).
Rhode Island Reds
This breed is known for its high meat production and egg production. The Rhode Island Red is a dual-purpose chicken that yields brown eggs with a reddish tint. The hen weighs up to 7 pounds and has a life span of 6-7 years.