Anyone who had Browns as pets-only

[chicknhawaii]

The hatchery that donated eggs to my daughter's preschool lists White Leghorn pullets and cockerels as well as Browns as breeds they sell aside from Cornish X.

What are Browns and what are your experiences? Would 2 Brown hens get along with our Cornish X hen?

 

[patandchickens]

Not sure whether you mean generic brown sex-links, or (quite possibly) ISA Browns. Not that there is necessarily going to be a huge difference between the two

I have 2 (formerly 3) ISA Browns that I got at about 4 1/2 months old from the feed store. They're great. Started out a little skittish but quickly became very tame and used to us, with consistent handling. Very friendly and personable. Almost guaranteed an egg per hen per day, with next to no drop in laying during the winter. We did lose one last fall to eggbound/internal-laying issues, which *may* be a little more common in high production breeds like this. But in general I quite like them.

I did a page on ISA Browns at https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-ISA_Browns . Generic brown sex-links aren't all that different.

If that helps any

Pat

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I agree with Pat. They are good layers and if you handle them they will be fine as pets. It's what half of my flock is. We had one white leghorn and I wouldn't have one for a pet.

 

[chicknhawaii]

TY so much for your replies!

I can't tell you much else about them except they're "Browns", that's what they're referred to as on the hatchery website. However they also say these are mellow birds perfect for family pets and excellent for backyard chickens.

There's a hatch this coming week and I'm contemplating getting 2...although legally we're only supposed to have 2 total chickens on the property...

 

[Farmer Kitty]

That's the way mine were labled too! After researching I decided they were the sex link type.