Finally!

Good Morning BYC campers. Our township FINALLY has "approved" the keeping of chickens. So excited to start. So my questions

We would like a breed, hens only (roos not allowed ) that are of meduim producers, VERY friendly, and will b ok with little to almost none of free range space. From researching I think the ORPINGTON may suit our needs. We have Lil ones that would b visiting often, I would like hens that will help them understand just how fun, silly and useful a good breed can be.........TYIA for input.

mrsmaryd said:

Good Morning BYC campers. Our township FINALLY has "approved" the keeping of chickens. So excited to start. So my questions

We would like a breed, hens only (roos not allowed ) that are of meduim producers, VERY friendly, and will b ok with little to almost none of free range space. From researching I think the ORPINGTON may suit our needs. We have Lil ones that would b visiting often, I would like hens that will help them understand just how fun, silly and useful a good breed can be.........TYIA for input.

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Congratulations!

Climate is another consideration. There are so many cute breeds, you'll be able to find one or two that suits your situation fine.

After that, maybe consider egg color.

So happy your town will now allow you to get chickens. I have 3 BO hens and they tolerate the Georgia heat quite well. They are cold hardy as well. Mine don't free range and are very happy girls. They lay large to ex-large light brown = pinkish eggs. But the breed does tend to get broody often. 2 of my 3 get broody at least twice a year thus far. When any breed is broody, their personality has a dramatic change and during those times, your visiting little ones will need to leave them alone. I love my buffs, one is my favorite of the 6 hens I have.

The Barred Plymouth Rocks are also friendly, cold and heat tolerant and do well in confinement. I have 3 BR and 3 BO and they get along well together.

I don't know your location, but you can look at the threads to see if there is one in your state to get some input on what does well there.


Good luck on your new endeavor, I am certain you will love raising your flock. Feel free to ask questions. Explore the learning center articles to get prepared.

Welcome to BYC!!! The members here are great and so are their chickens!!! This is the BEST CHICKEN KEEPING FORUM ON EARTH!!!!



Hope you have fun and if you need anything we are here to help!!

Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you.

Thank you everyone for the welcomes & sharing of knowledge!! I did forget to state we are in central PA and in researching did take into account climate. Sunflower I did look up broody and although at this moment I feel a little "intimated" when it does happen I am looking forward to be able to show, share & explain to our Lil ones yet another marvel of farm life if even on an extremely small scale. I am starting to take a shine to the ORPINGTON breed yet still reading, researching and asking questions........so happy to have found ya all

Glad you joined us!

From the hatchery birds we've got here, personality and friendliness and even broodiness don't seem to depend as much on the breed as on the individual birds. They say hatchery birds have likely been crossed with multiple breeds, which might explain why. What we've observed is if we feed our flock special treats a couple days in a row, then they will all come running when they see us and will follow us around like we're having a parade and make us feel "loved." Even the "flighty breeds." Not all birds want to be cuddled even with a lot of positive human contact ... but then I don't tend to handle my birds very much so I'm not a good judge of that. I have had a few special birds that ask for cuddles and it is very sweet. Mostly I am pretty satisfied just watching them. Chicken TV is the best entertainment. Our coop is out my kitchen and bedroom windows, so I get to do a lot of good chicken peeping. Good incentive to keep those windows clean.

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Buff orpingtons are my personal favorite breed. They are affectionate, dual purpose, great layers and cold hardy. Black australorps, speckled sussex, barred rocks, wyandottes, easter eggers, rhode island reds, sex links and brahmas are all other great breeds.

Black australorps are basically the same as buff orpingtons although they tend to be better layers. Speckled sussex and barred rocks are both super curious and docile. They are egg-cellent egg layers and cold hardy. Easter eggers and sex links are more on the independent side but still can be very friendly and are great egg layers. Rhode island reds and wyandottes tend to be more on the aggressive side and are great egg layers. Brahmas are cold hardy and good layers. They also make great, cuddly pets.

All these breeds are great foragers as well meaning they are good at finding food if they free range.

Here is a link to our breed area and learning center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

Good luck and glad you joined!