When keeping chickens , provender monetary value can certainly add up quickly . The good intelligence is that by raising sound forage breed and letting your flock devoid - kitchen range to find their own sources of protein and greens , you’re able to help keep that feed flier under control .
While the following six chicken breed are excellent forager , there are a few things to view when allowing them to free - range . The first is camouflage : As you choose your stock , opt for feather colors that will facilitate your birds flux into the scope , making it harder for predators to assault them . Some of the strain below are only uncommitted in one vividness , while others have several magnetic variation . secondly , carry in mind that most inheritance strain are good forager , so do n’t occupy if you do n’t find your favorite strain on this list . Many of the most pop dual - purpose heritage poulet can wear labor or accommodate to a free - range surround .
1 . Buckeye
call for the Buckeye state of Ohio , where this bird originates , the Buckeye crybaby sports feathers of a deep reddish - copper chromaticity with icteric legs and skin , and a reasonable pea cockscomb , lay down the bird ideal for cold mood . The Buckeye is a treble - purpose chick , and the hens lie a moderate number of intermediate - sized dark-brown eggs . This breed not only jazz to scrounge , but prefers it — in fact , it does n’t bear confinement well at all . The Buckeye can be teachable , funny and friendly , but it ’s very active and wants to be on the move . Be sure to give this bird passel of space .
2 . Egyptian Fayoumi
The Egyptian Fayoumi is pocket-sized and saucy . While this stock is practically unheard of in the United States , it has been breed and raised in Egypt for C . It suppurate very young and pee-pee a fairish table bird , though its testicle yield is rather lowly compared to some of the product breeds democratic in the U.S. Fayoumis can be lively and flighty , find confinement difficult . They are hardy petty wimp that do exceptionally well in hot climates . Their black - and - white barring color is beautiful , and of course , they ’re adaptative , frugal feeder .
3 . Minorca
This Spanish stock is another hot - weather favorite . Available in stock and bantam size , the Minorca will conform to confinement if necessary , but it prefer to lay out freely . Some fancier have take down this breed can be rather flighty and take to avoid humans . biddy are excellent layer of large , white nut . Minorcas are usable in Black , Buff and White .
4 . Plymouth Rock
As far as American heritage breeds go , the Plymouth Rock has it all : They ’re unfearing but teachable , fare well in colder atmospheric condition , produce an excellent number of brown eggs , and have swell personality . Plymouth Rock hens are typically good setters and make swell mothers . This inheritance breed is listed as find on the The Livestock Conservancy ’s Priority List .
Named for the placement where the Pilgrims purportedly made landfall , this two-fold - purpose bird was once the most democratic chicken in America , only to be dethroned by the Rhode Island Red , as you ’ll see below . In my free - ranging flock , my Barred ( a elusive black - and - blanched feathering practice ) Plymouth Rock hen are the only ones to have survived every vulture attack ( so far ) , though I conceive that to be assign more to their will and smart , rather than plume pattern . While many colors are accepted for the breed standard , the barred variety was the original and remains the most recognizable for the breed today .
5 . Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red is a barnyard and backyard classic . well the most democratic American chicken and the most well - experience domesticated fowl around the world , the Rhode Island Red is in all likelihood the best egg layer on this list . The common Rhode Island Red available today through most hatchery is a clean brownish - red than the older , non - production strain , which has recoup status on the Priority List . Either tense up you terminate up with , this bird is a bang-up addition to a foraging flock .
The breed was developed in its namesake body politic of Rhode Island and is now their official state razzing . hen lay large , brown eggs and are incredibly curious , friendly and personable . rooster can become aggressive , however , and are not recommend around children . Although the Rhode Island Red is a heavy breed that eats heartily , it ’s an adaptable forager and , in my experience , has been the most recollective when catching hemipterous insect and insects while on pasture .
6 . Welsummer
In the interest of bring favorites , I ’ve bring through the best for last . Of the excellent costless - rangers on this leaning , my top pick would be the Welsummer — this stock has many of the same characteristics as other inheritance chicken ( for example , moth-eaten hardiness and great pose power ) , plus exceptional foraging skills . The Welsummer is a first - rate forager , but also a beautiful hiss : Its red partridge coloring is attractive and very camouflaging . hen are above - medium bed of gorgeous dark - brown , average - sized eggs , especially for a more petite bird . All around , this chicken stock has a brisk personality , though some can be calmer and some can be more flighty . This is a chicken I ’ll always keep in my hatful .
