A step towards knowing where your food comes from.

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

If you're looking for a friendly, dual purpose (meat and egg) breed, I'd suggest Buckeyes. They are almost too friendly and fantastic with kids. You can read some owners and breeders' feedback on them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/803253/the-buckeye-thread/2940_30#post_14220790

Enjoy the site and your new venture!

 

[InvertedKitty]

Wow, I love the responses and advice! I had read the bigger breeds were typically less flighty. Bedding wise how many of you guys use sand? (Construction variety) I am mulling over starting that way since I live in a wetter climate. I have read some really good things about sand vs pine shavings

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

For an all-around good chicken, I would recommend the Wyandotte. Wyandottes are hardy in both heat and cold, are docile and kid friendly, lay 300+ brown eggs a year (in my experience), and come in many beautiful color varieties. I've never had a Wyandotte that I didn't like.

 

[Blueface]

Hi all,

I breed and raise Buckeyes.....they are a wonderful dual-purpose fowl that have a series of useful traits including great meat and brown egg production. They are fairly low maintenance, friendly, very docile, self sufficient and are very hardy that easily produce a 6 lb carcass at 20 weeks and a 7 lb carcass at 24-25 weeks if fed properly and you start will a good strain of fowl. My pullets are usually laying by 20-22 weeks of age. As for appearance, a brilliant deep glossy reddish mahogany. They are a good all around breed of poultry to have.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

So glad you could join our community!

Make yourself at home here and we do welcome you to our flock!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Welcome to BYC. You've gotten some great suggestions. I agree that you can't go wrong with Orpingtons (my personal fav kid friendly breed) Wyandotts, Brahmas, Austrolorps and Cochins. I didn't see anyone suggest Favorolles though. As mississippifarmboy said hatchery birds can be more aggressive, even the docile breeds. You might try to find a local breeder, or consider starting with older pullets to insure you don't get a rooster (sexing is never 100%). Good luck, picking out your flock is the beginning of the fun!!!!

 

[InvertedKitty]

Being new to the area and new to chickens, I wasn't sure where to start and my local nursery had a huge variety. .. and were super helpful in formation wise. If I pick up from a local breeder, what should I look for with their birds to ensure good stock?

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Being new to the area and new to chickens, I wasn't sure where to start and my local nursery had a huge variety. .. and were super helpful in formation wise. If I pick up from a local breeder, what should I look for with their birds to ensure good stock?

Check the birds eyes (should be clear), legs (check for small scabs which could indicate mites), and feathers (some loss could be molting, but most breeders will tell you up front if birds are in molt). I mostly look for cleanliness and overcrowding. Check here on BYC too, scammers are everywhere but in this community reputations are easy to check!

 

[BantamLover21]

Check the birds eyes (should be clear), legs (check for small scabs which could indicate mites), and feathers (some loss could be molting, but most breeders will tell you up front if birds are in molt). I mostly look for cleanliness and overcrowding. Check here on BYC too, scammers are everywhere but in this community reputations are easy to check!

x2 on this advice.

 

[Blueface]

Being new to the area and new to chickens, I wasn't sure where to start and my local nursery had a huge variety. .. and were super helpful in formation wise. If I pick up from a local breeder, what should I look for with their birds to ensure good stock?

When contacting breeders, the real ones won't make excuses...so if you find one that likes to make excuses on anything (especially appearance or health!)...pass them on by. Be sure to ask for their recommendation on how to breed the birds you receive (if receiving mature stock), as well as information regarding the future breedings for the next couple of generations. A true breeder will understand what you are asking and provide beneficial information. In my mind, anything less is unacceptable. Beginners usually have to learn the hard way, but it's important you actually learn from it. Hatcheries are in it for $$$$ and most breeders are in it for the birds; unless you bump into a peddler and its right back to the hatchery scenario (they just mask it better). It is important to research the breed and people who are selling so do your homework. Times are tough, money is hard to come by and you (as a buyer) should be proud of / happy with what you spend it on. But at the same time, good brood stock is the cheapest thing that you'll invest in a new flock so make sure it is well invested. Ask other people's opinions....it never hurts to ask because you'll often get points of view that you didn't realize.

What I’m trying to convey is when selecting a breeder to buy birds from, make sure you look at the flock in person or at least see pictures (more than two or three). If there is a lack of uniformity (look at the station, tails, color, heads, and combs), what would make you think you wouldn't have the same problem? Make sure to ALWAYS look at the overall health of the flock, condition of the fowl, the environment in which they live in, and check how clean the water/waterers are (assuming there is water in them). These little details will speak volumes to how well the breeder respects and cares for his fowl. You would be amazed on how bad some practices are. People that care for their fowl well often do have fowl that represent the breed well.