As chicks they were very hardy, quick to pick up on new things, they lead the flock. Mine are 2 1/2 years old and haven't been broody at all. Huge pale blue eggs that don't fit in the cartons- mine average an egg every other day. Good at foraging.
Sweet roosters. Of the 7 roosters all of them were friendly, protective of the girls.. crow a *lot* (the hens are quiet- but will chat to you.) Diligent about watching for predators (they learned from the paranoid guineas.)
Agile- easily able to clear our almost 6 foot tall fence to hang out on the back porch, hop on to my 6'4" husband's shoulder, invade the garden.
A few are rather timid and don't want to be handled- unless you have treats- in which case they will put up with anything and will follow us anywhere. One of our hens- Izzy- will jump on our shoulder or onto our forearm looking for attention. (She's an odd one though- very easily trained as she is food crazy and LOVES people. Best. chicken. ever. She knows her name- knows "step down"- and will let me use her to clean Japanese beetles off of the pole beans... which worked much better when she was a few ounces vs now at several pounds... walks the grape vines to clean off J. beetles.. will help herself to your drink if she can get at it- especially coffee. Sits on my husband's knee while he does the Sudoku puzzle in the paper. Blessed to have her... would take a million more just like her. Our roo is just as loveable, clever, & trusting.)
A **lot** of personality.
Sweet roosters. Of the 7 roosters all of them were friendly, protective of the girls.. crow a *lot* (the hens are quiet- but will chat to you.) Diligent about watching for predators (they learned from the paranoid guineas.)
Agile- easily able to clear our almost 6 foot tall fence to hang out on the back porch, hop on to my 6'4" husband's shoulder, invade the garden.
A few are rather timid and don't want to be handled- unless you have treats- in which case they will put up with anything and will follow us anywhere. One of our hens- Izzy- will jump on our shoulder or onto our forearm looking for attention. (She's an odd one though- very easily trained as she is food crazy and LOVES people. Best. chicken. ever. She knows her name- knows "step down"- and will let me use her to clean Japanese beetles off of the pole beans... which worked much better when she was a few ounces vs now at several pounds... walks the grape vines to clean off J. beetles.. will help herself to your drink if she can get at it- especially coffee. Sits on my husband's knee while he does the Sudoku puzzle in the paper. Blessed to have her... would take a million more just like her. Our roo is just as loveable, clever, & trusting.)
A **lot** of personality.