Reviews by teach1rusl

I got my first serama pair in February, and have since added a few pullets. Mine range in weight from 10 oz. up to 14.5 oz., although I think my cockerel will probably eventually reach a pound. I love them! My husband loves them! Ours had not been handled much when we got them, but they tamed down really quickly with treats (mine LOVE raisins) and gentle handling. Of course now they're all terrible moochers...lol. Two of mine (Lucy and Lacy) are especially loving and will go to sleep in my hands when I'm petting/grooming them. One (Lucy) will run up to me and fly up onto my shoulder. They're just so danged CUTE!! Although the roosters aren't as loud as LF roos, some of them can still be pretty loud, so don't count on a tiny crow from a tiny rooster...lol.
Pet quality seramas can be had for around $25 - $35. Better quality $50 - $100. I've seen really nice birds sell for several hundred dollars each.

D'uccles are a tiny, pretty, docile breed. I only have mille fleurs, but all the color varieties are beautiful. My rooster was a two year old farm chicken when he came to live with us in 2010, so he was nobody's "pet." But he will take treats from my hand and will hop up to sit beside me when I sit outside with my flock. His profuse foot feathering gives him a rather clownish look when he runs. My female d'uccle (was a TS chick) is just under a year. She is a sweety, very easy to pick up and cuddle. When she's not molting (which she currently is), she generally lays about 5 tiny cream-colored eggs per week. This would be a good breed for children because of their calm nature and small size. It should be noted that they can fly very well, so containing to a run without a roof/cover could be a challenge.

Of all my LF birds, people comment on my gold laced wyandotte the most when it comes to beauty. Whether gold or silver, they're simply lovely birds. Mine is the least friendly of all my birds, and she can be a bully sometimes toward other (lower) chickens. Because of this, I've been put off adding any more wyandottes, although I think SLWs are stunning. She's a strong layer of medium sized light brown eggs, and is the only one of my original flock of LF to ever go broody, although only once so far. I also have found her to be quite smart, although her intelligence generally hasn't been used for good....lol. She is a hatchery wyandotte, so maybe that has something to do with her temperament???

My buff girl is a big marshmellow, and the only true lap chicken of my original flock. She'll peck at your pants leg until you pick her up, and has been known to chase other birds off my lap so she could hop up there for some lovin'. She looks like a fat chicken, but it's all fluff (proven by getting caught in a rain or molting). She's just a big, fluffy pillow. Other than their size, I think they'd do well around children, because they're pretty gentle. I think the buttery coloring is beautiful. When she was younger, she laid 5-6 eggs per week (usually 6), but since molting, she's taking this winter off.

I love the looks of Easter Eggers, their puffy cheeks, beards, and the variety of colors/patterns they come in. I've even seen a fairly wide range of body styles/shapes, I suppose depending on what was mixed to create them. And of course I love the variety of eggs you get from them. Mine have always been friendly, some of them lap chickens and some not. I've only had four EEs, but they were all inquisitive. They fly better than any other LF chickens I've owned, which could be a plus if you free range, a con if you contain them in an uncovered run. If you want variety of looks in a single "breed", the EE is the way to go, since they could be gold, black, grey, white, etc. I would consider them average egg layers at 4-5 eggs per week.

Silkies make excellent pets! Their small size and docile nature make them very easy to handle and socialize. Mine are very quirky little things, making them entertaining chickens. My little girls generally lay about 5 eggs each a week when they're not broody. The eggs are about one step smaller than store bought small eggs. They're such pretty little birds, and are hardier than I would have ever anticipated, but their furry feet feathers tend to collect gunk if it's muddy or messy outside. And their feathers don't shed water like hard feathers do, so they look like drowned rats if/when they get caught in a rain. My girls enjoy free ranging; of all my birds, my silkies complain the loudest about wanting out of the run if I'm not out there early. However, they would do fine contained. Due to their limited vision (crests block a lot), I would consider them more at-risk than crestless breeds when it comes to free ranging. This pic is of my dual broody silkies.

I would recommend barred plymouth rocks to just about anyone, from folks brand new to chickens up through old time chicken farmers. I've found the breed to be quite friendly and outgoing, curious about everything and everyone. They can be quite the characters, with very distinct personalities. Mine lays a pinkish brown, medium sized egg, anywhere from 5 - 7 eggs a week when of peak laying age. Enjoys free ranging, but seems to do okay when contained to the run as well.

I love my australorp! She's a gorgeous bird (love the contrast of a bright red comb/wattle against the glossy black feathers). Plus she's just an easy keeper - calm and easy going with people and other chickens. She's friendly too, and very responsive when I talk to her. Lays a large, pretty, light brown egg. She enjoys free ranging, but would do fine contained as well.