Campine

We have two bantam that need to have their own area from our 60+ orpingtons
Will follow with photos - check www.diastolealpacafarm.com under chicks
Our goal is to raise them with the alpacas for fly control - once the livestock guardian dogs accept them into their "herd".

From the day I got my tiny little Golden Campine chick, she was very curious and assertive. She approached me without fear and of that batch of mixed female chicks, she was the first to do everything. She follows me around, eats out of my hand (or plate, or fork, or coffee mug) but she does not like to be picked up and handled. She is a good flyer and can get over most any fencing, so I agree with the other reviewer about the problem of keeping Campines in a city backyard. I do live in town, but I'm on 1/2 acer and my neighbors don't mind if she occasionally pays them a visit. Ziggy does her own thing and is rather independent of the flock. I'm always amazed at the size of her eggs compared to body size. She is an efficient eater/layer and forager. She surprised me last year by going broody at age 2 1/2. I've never noticed her to be especially noisy although she always talks to me. Stunning feather coloration with blue slate legs, small sized body with good sized eggs, outgoing personality if a bit independent, I love my Campine and would recommend the breed to someone who has room for them to forage.

I received two campine chicks as part of a " layer collection" (or something similar). From the very beginning, these birds were flighty and skittish. They could be handled (and were... DAILY) when small, but as soon as they were transitioned from the brooder to the coop, they wanted nothing to do with people. In comparison to my plymouth rocks, they could be considered quite anti-social!

Then, they approached the point of lay... and our silver campine started screeching at such a high volume as to concern our neighbors on either side of us. They thought it was a baby crying! She would shriek and screech throughout the day--sun up to sundown (and no, she was not a rooster- just a wannabe).

It is perfectly legal for us to keep our hens, but out of consideration for our neighbors, I quickly rehomed our campines. As far as urban backyard flocks are concerned, I consider them to be a poor breed choice. Especially if your goal is to raise hens "in secret" and/or want to stay on friendly terms with your neighbors;-)

I have raised a few through the years and always enjoyed them. Decent layers of white eggs. Can be hard to confine if you don't have a top on your lot. They love to forage and are good flyers.