Anyone have opinions on these breeds?

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Ok.. well, I've only had RIRs out of that list, so here's my take on my two:

Friendly and inquisitive. One lady is always wondering what I'm doing, the other is a "background" chicken. They aren't pets, but do have personality.

Can't beat them for egg laying. My first laying girl layed (not kidding here, I kept track) 28 eggs in 30 days. She was the sole layer at the time, so wasn't hard to be sure it was her. I'll always keep a few in my flock.

I will say I've heard the roos can be quite aggressive. Haven't had one, though, so can't personally comment.

Meghan

 

[KKluckers]

Silkies are like little lap dogs most of the time.
RIR good egg layers, but not much of personality.
I think of all the breed my bantams have a lot of personality.
They are always making me laugh.

 

[DoctorGoose]

ooh. I love my silkies. :-D The Roo is nice, the pullet is a indoor-outdoor chicken...

She lays fairly consistently, or she was, until she decided to go broody.

Oh yes--and I have a RIR, EE, and Maran, but they're not mature yet. You should look at Orps!

 

[speckledhen]

Ameraucana friendly, beautiful, great layer-mine are the blue true Ameraucanas and one is an absolute dollbaby who wants to be picked up all the time. Very sweet.
Barnevelder Dont have any
Brahma great layer, eggs take a long time to get large, mine are sweet, but not cuddly, although likeable.
Marans Dont have any
Rhode Island Red Great layers. One of mine is a complete lap chicken and comic relief, one is head hen, with a crochety personality, but a soft side, too.
Silkie Don't have any
Sussex Good layer, so far, pretty, sweet, but does not want to be picked up, big eater!
Welsummer Don't have any, yet!

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Ameraucana - I have EE don't want to be bothered!

Brahma - my daughter has these they are so sweet & she takes them every were!

Silkie - I think everybody should have at least 1 silkie most are lap chickens & they give the cutest eggs!

 

[Draconargentum]

Wow. I leave for one day, and two pages spring up. ^_^ Thanks for y'all's input. I know now that Ameraucanas are getting a definite place on my list, and silkies, too (I've only really heard good things about them, when not in jest).

Right now I'm just setting up a list (don't have my own place yet, and likely won't for awhile yet), but thanks for your time. ^_^ Everyone here is so nice.

 

[pattycake]

My Speckled Sussex eggs are the lightest of all my chickens. They are also slightly smaller -- could be the eggs'll get bigger, but they've only been laying for a few weeks.

They are quiet, shy birds who are very resistant to being picked up, but seem smarter than the average bird. I like mine! One was the runt of the litter who I never thought would make it -- she used to stand perfectly still under the heatlamp all day. But she made it and is laying right along with the rest of them.

Rhode Island Reds are awesome birds. I ordered a brown egg mix from Mayer and got two of them. One of them was my first or second layer, right at 20 weeks. She lays a big, beautiful dark brown egg almost every day, first thing in the morning. I love her!

The other RIR gave me a scare, because she was looking more and more roosterish: she has hackle feathers and some small curling tail feathers. But she started laying this week, at about 25 weeks. Phew!

 

[Draconargentum]

Well, I'm glad for all this input...But I'd like to get some more too, from other people. Really, this is just a covert, very wordy bump.

 

[claud]

Rhode island Red - I've had these for 8 years. My roo was the sweetest guy(he's passed on). I have 2 hens that are about 8 years old and I still get an egg about every other day in the summer. RIRs that I've had were always easy-going, friendly and easy keepers. Their eggs are large, light brown.
Marans - just got a flock this past spring. These are easy going birds. The roo is not as friendly as the hens but not at all aggressive. They just started laying - dark brown egg although not quite as dark as the ones you see in pics. These are hatchery birds and from what I hear breeder birds sometimes lay a darker egg.

 

[joanc]

I have 2 speckled sussex and they are my friendliest girls. They lay medium size brown eggs every 2-3 days.
I also have 2 RIR who are not as friendly but are consistently laying every 1-2 days.