We want to raise a nice white dual purpose chicken. The main purpose would be eggs, but want the males to mature to a decent weight in a decent amount of time. I've ruled out White Rocks since every Roo I've seen has been mean and I refuse to have another huge mean rooster. Anyone raise white orpingtons or wyndottes and can tell me the disposition of the rooster? (general, I know each individual will be different). Decisions decisions!!! Any advice which would suit my needs best? I'm leaning towards the white orpingtons right now. OH, and whatever I decide on must be white. After butchering some dominique roos I have a real aversion to those black spots on the skin! Thanks for any advice. Mina

I haven't had Orpingtons, but Wyandottes are as agressive as Rocks which aren't as agressive as many other breeds. I've had Leghorns and Polish that were meaner than any Rocks that I've had. I think that the only thing that keeps the Polish from being King of the barnyard is their size, the fact that they can't see very well and their Leghorn like flighty behavior. Light Brahmas seem to be pretty docile. The males have a huge frame, but they are mostly bone. The females are pretty good layers.

Hi Mina. I'm glad Rokimoto posted.

We had a line of meat birds that was actually based on our line of Sil-Go-Links. We selected for size and color (white). I finally gave up the meat line because my family almost won't eat home-grown poultry and I struggle with the butchering. But, we still have the main breeding cock from that line. He is very nice and has escaped the rooster house once to go take up residence in the hen house! LOL! He was so funny, he tried to hide from me when I came to feed the hens! I truly believe that chickens can think and have ideas!

Here's what the Standard of Perfection says about Wyandottes: "Economic Qualities: Medium wieght, dual purpose fowl for the production of meat and eggs. Color of skin, yellow; color of eggshells varying from very light to a rich brown, depending on individual, strain, and the stage of production." It does not say anything about temperment.

Here's what the Standard of Perfection says about the Orpingtons: "General purpose fowl for heavy meat production and for eggs. Color of skin, white; color of eggshells, light brown to dark brown."

Mina, the Orpington is a bigger bird. So your eggs will cost you more feed than those from a smaller bird. But, you will get more meat on the cockerels. The SoP doesn't say anything about the temperments. If it is a toss-up between the two you mentioned, I believe the Orpingtons might be more what you want!

One more consideration. Wyandottes have rosecombs, Orps have straight combs. It is said RCs are better cold weather layers. Reasoning here is less stress from frozen combs. Of course, if you order from McMurray you will likely get both comb types on either breed.

We raise chickens in South Dakota. We USUALLY see temps of 30 below and often see temps of 40 below in January.

Whether or not the birds get frostbite on their combs depends on how they are housed and et cetera. (to the vacationer into latin, I want to emphasize that the phrase is "ET cetera" (with a "T" rather than "EK (wrong!) cetera").

The birds we keep with smaller combs are less likely to get frostbite on their combs. This is really true. A pea or rose comb bird is much less likely to get frostbite on their combs than is a single-comb bird! At least here in SD, that is true! The large comb varieties we have get some frostbite on their combs and the frostbitten part dies and sloughs off ...

We keep both large comb breeds and small comb breeds.... There will be frostbite here in SD on large comb breeds, but we don't believe that ANY of our poultry have suffered any setback from frostbite... this is just our opinion from having raised poultry in South Dakota for 10 years.

Issues like these are always a personal decision! You make the call! (Thankfully, we live in a free country!!!!)

Marsa

I live in Louisiana so comb type is not an issue. Just temperment, size and eggs. We really want a large egg layer so it does look like the orpingtons are what we are looking for. Thanks for all ya'lls help. I'll let you know what I finally decide on (have to order in a few weeks-ack!) Mina

I started back in mid October with 30 chicks, most important to this thread, 10 are barred rock hens, and 10 are gold laced wyandotte hens. At this time I can speak to temperament, but not egg laying as the birds aren't old enough to start. Both groups are a pleasure to deal with. The Rocks are perhaps the friendlier of the two, as the Wyandottes are a little more standoffish. There are four Wyandotte roosters in the crowd and all seem to get along fine with no disputes, or acts of agression toward each other or me. Hope this helps