1st time chicken owner - what breed to buy

[Pegs_eggs]

I'm still just a kid at heart, so I enjoy having a variety. Each kind of chicken has it's own personality and quirks, and if you were to get one each of three different kinds ( I'd go for a barred rock, an easter egger and a red sex link from your list) the kids would be easily able to tell them apart and name them

As an added bonus, each would lay a different color (or different shade of brown in the case of the barred rock/red sex link) and you would know who was laying and who was not. No matter what you choose, enjoy them!!!

 

[Chickenmaven]

My Ameraucanas are very, very stand-off-ish. They hate to be touched.

I have just hatched out some mixed birds (E.E.s) and they are nice! Go figure.

 

[phaethona]

we have production reds(which I understand is the same as RIR), and all 3 of my young daughters are able to pick them up and pet them whenever they want. they're friendly and social birds. And they're great producers, about an egg a day. If I were to go out today and buy a new flock, I would definitely lean towards RIRs.

I also have a Black Sex Link and she's a good bird too, good with the kiddos, basically has the same temperment as the RIRs

And they will adapt to their surroundings as they grow, if you handle them regularly and interact with them a lot from the begining, theyll be more comfortable around people.
my daughters and I spend a lot of time with our birds, where my husband doesn't really. If we want to go get one of the chickens in our yard, he runs around like a lunatic chasing them and never can catch a single one

, but for me and the kids, they stop and sit down so we can pick them up.

 

[lionessT]

Thank you ALL SO much for all your responses!! It is really helping me.
I'm going to look into the Buff Orpingtons as well. There is another place to get chickens that is a little farther away but from what I hear they have a MUCH greater breed selection.

Pegs_eggs - I didn't even think about the kids being able to tell them apart or knowing who was laying which eggs. So thank you for that!! I'm really hoping the kids all pick a different breed just so we can have a variety. But I'm basically narrowing down the breeds for them and letting them choose. So we will see what we get! lol

 

[usschicago1]

I would go with the rocks. Friendly duel purpose and will lay for a very long time. The others are all great but are much more iffy.

 

[woodmort]

The big advantage of getting the sexlinks lies in you will be sure of pullets (the name is derived from the fact that the color of the chicks is linked to the sex, with reds the pullets are yellow)--while the others can be sexed, there is only a 90% success rate. Better than the lottery, certainly, but still there's that off chance. As far as pets go sexlinks that I have had--both red and black--have been friendly although I have never gone out of my way to make pets of them. The good news/bad news is that while they'll lay consistently for about 4/5 years they will, for the most part, stop after that.

 

[happytxchick]

I love love love my EEs. I didn't see buff Orpingtons on your list to choose from. They would definitely be my FIRST choice, but I've had both go broody. Nothing is more exciting than a momma hen with her chicks! An amazing thing to witness.

I'm sure you will be happy with whatever breed you choose! Chickens are fabulous!! Beware, though...they are addictive!

LOL

 

[bigstack]

Orp's are GREAT! I had 3 roo's they were so sweet! I hated to cull them

But I had way too many and I only wanted My jersey Giants! They were used as packing p nuts from IDEAL. I know Rhode island Reds can be very energetic and a lil agressive. I am not sure about the whites! I have heard EE are really good too. Like I said I only keep my JG's They truly are Gentle Giants!!! The biggest key to calm, happy, gentle chickens is handling often and ALOT, did I say OFTEN? The more the better!!!! Slow gentle strokes and calm low mono tone cooing voices help too! High pitch and quick vocal pitch changes are very disturbing and mean alarm to a chicken. Hope this helps.

Good Luck and God Bless!
P.s. when picking them up, reach over-across the floor to them not over the top of them! They fear anything comming from above! I reach down into the brooder away from them. then across the floor and to them. that way they see me comming and most of the time they will jump up into my hand!( after a lil while)

But predators come from above and they are affraid of you reaching down over them. Just my experience. LOL

 

[fwschrom]

I second Buffs, and rocks are excellent too.

 

[justtoni44]

My first choice would have been buff orpington with children...but you did not have that as an option.
Barred rocks and an EE..............I have all of them...............RIR are great layers but mine are not interested in a personal relationnship.......