Unlike the other reviewers, we only have 3 hens. No roosters and no plans to breed. Ours come from Privett Hatchery, 2012 brood. They are smaller in the body and their eggs, likewise are smaller than we had anticipated, but they are only 8 months old right now. Love these birds though! They don't seem to be any more flighty than any other bird. In fact they are quite the explorers. Very adventurous (there isn't anything they won't climb onto and investigate) and usually the last ones back into the coop from free-ranging. The 3 IB's hang together and were raised with 2 Polish, 3 Exchequer leghorns and 1 Chantecler. The IB's rule the roost and I've seen one IB who, honestly looks like she's part Sumatra, take on the Polish rooster. He's since won that battle as I saw him mate with her the other day. But these girls are bad a$$es. They can certainly take care of themselves. Their black feathers with the birchen neck and bright red combs are really beautiful.
They haven't gone broody but so far they are consistent and ardent egg layers. I like, for a brown egg layer, that none of them seem to have the issue of blood or tissue appearing in the egg. We've seen it with the heavier European brown egg laying breeds.
I wouldn't call this a "touchy feely" or affectionate breed, but they know who holds the treat can and respond readily to being called from across the yard. Bright, alert, and confident, we're really glad we gave this breed a try.
They haven't gone broody but so far they are consistent and ardent egg layers. I like, for a brown egg layer, that none of them seem to have the issue of blood or tissue appearing in the egg. We've seen it with the heavier European brown egg laying breeds.
I wouldn't call this a "touchy feely" or affectionate breed, but they know who holds the treat can and respond readily to being called from across the yard. Bright, alert, and confident, we're really glad we gave this breed a try.