Arkansas folks speak up.........

[ArkGirl]

Hi Arkansas Chicken peeps! (See what I did there?)

I live west of Little Rock out in the Ouachita National Forest...and we are looking into building a small coop and having a little flock of 4 hens or so. Mostly for the eggs...and partly for the entertainment and bug eating. I ran across this site and it's fantastic! The hard part is going to be deciding on a design for our coop! There are so many great pictures and creative designs!

We both have some chicken raising experience. But not for personal hobby. I'd like to get my birds from a local source rather than mail order. What breeds would you all suggest that are decent layers and will respond to handling. I want to be able to hold them and have them be somewhat friendly. I know that will take consistent handling from a young age...but I also bet there are some friendlier or more calm breeds than others.

What sources would you recommend for purchasing our chicks when we are ready?

Thanks!
-Kimberly

 

[rayray983]

Woohoo 29 kahki Campbell eggs in incubator this is my first time incubating duck eggs lol hope I can stand the 28 day wait

 

[draye]

I have 39 Easter Egger and Naked Neck, along with just a few Black Jersey Giant and Light Brahma, and Blue Copper Marans set to hatch on March 7th.
Going to set again this Thursday, not sure of the amount though.

 

[rayray983]

I have 39 Easter Egger and Naked Neck, along with just a few Black Jersey Giant and Light Brahma, and Blue Copper Marans set to hatch on March 7th.
Going to set again this Thursday, not sure of the amount though.

lol sounds like chicken math I have 18 polish and 48 ee due to hatch the 10th just sat 29 duck eggs and will be going tnrw to pick up a dozen polish eggs and 2 dozen more ee eggs to set tmrw have a lot of people asking me to hatch out polish and easter eggers so supply and demand plus I'm addicted to hatching

 

[arcountrychick]

Hi Arkansas Chicken peeps! (See what I did there?)

I live west of Little Rock out in the Ouachita National Forest...and we are looking into building a small coop and having a little flock of 4 hens or so. Mostly for the eggs...and partly for the entertainment and bug eating. I ran across this site and it's fantastic! The hard part is going to be deciding on a design for our coop! There are so many great pictures and creative designs!

We both have some chicken raising experience. But not for personal hobby. I'd like to get my birds from a local source rather than mail order. What breeds would you all suggest that are decent layers and will respond to handling. I want to be able to hold them and have them be somewhat friendly. I know that will take consistent handling from a young age...but I also bet there are some friendlier or more calm breeds than others.

What sources would you recommend for purchasing our chicks when we are ready?

Thanks!
-Kimberly

You'll get mixed answers about what are best for layers. Personally, barred rocks are my favorite for layers. That being said, I raise mostly wyandottes--decent layers, not terribly flighty, and I love the body type and colors. You should check out some of the Facebook poultry groups. I'm sure you can find some chicks or older birds for sale in your area.

I think that any breed would respond with daily handling.My daughter has some bantam cochins (three roosters) and they are super friendly, but I think that's because she handles/loves on them every day.

 

[rayray983]

You'll get mixed answers about what are best for layers. Personally, barred rocks are my favorite for layers. That being said, I raise mostly wyandottes--decent layers, not terribly flighty, and I love the body type and colors.  You should check out some of the Facebook poultry groups. I'm sure you can find some chicks or older birds for sale in your area.

I think that any breed would respond with daily handling.My daughter has some bantam cochins (three roosters) and they are super friendly, but I think that's because she handles/loves on them every day. 

I have found some of the best layers and friendliest chickens I've seen have been barnyard mixes but again just an opinion and everyone has one

 

[caj1985]

RKGirl,

I live just east of Fort Smith and have Rhodebars, HRIR, & Arkansas Blues (thread here on BYC about this breed). The Rhodebar and the HRIR are both very fearless and non-flighty. The HRIR are just starting to lay so I do not know about their production rate. The Rhodebar lay fabulously as do the Arkansas Blues. Rhodebar are an auto-sexing breed which is another advantage and are a dual purpose breed. I have tried numerous breeds over the last few years. I agree that the way they are raised makes as much difference as the breed. If you have a flighty breed that is brooded with calm birds and handled or exposed to lots of noise and stimuli as a chick, they will be calmer even if not hand-tamed. The best choice would be to pick a breed with the looks and characteristics, whether for show, egg or meat production that you want. As a side note, if anyone would like chicks or hatching eggs from the Rhodebars feel free to PM me. I will have a limited number of the AR Blue chicks available also. I have a waiting list for hatching eggs.

 

[nayeli]

/@Rayray what do you mean the min rule is the mix rule? Does that mean I can get less than 6?

 

[TashaJD]

The mixed rule says you can buy 2 bantams, 2 ducks, 2 standards as long as your total is 6 or more you are good. It is in place to stop people from buying 1 or 2 chicks for Easter gifts. Hope this information helps explain a little better.

 

[ArkGirl]

ARKGirl,

I live just east of Fort Smith and have Rhodebars, HRIR, & Arkansas Blues (thread here on BYC about this breed). The Rhodebar and the HRIR are both very fearless and non-flighty. The HRIR are just starting to lay so I do not know about their production rate. The Rhodebar lay fabulously as do the Arkansas Blues. Rhodebar are an auto-sexing breed which is another advantage and are a dual purpose breed. I have tried numerous breeds over the last few years. I agree that the way they are raised makes as much difference as the breed. If you have a flighty breed that is brooded with calm birds and handled or exposed to lots of noise and stimuli as a chick, they will be calmer even if not hand-tamed. The best choice would be to pick a breed with the looks and characteristics, whether for show, egg or meat production that you want. As a side note, if anyone would like chicks or hatching eggs from the Rhodebars feel free to PM me. I will have a limited number of the AR Blue chicks available also. I have a waiting list for hatching eggs.

First...thank you all for the welcome and advice! I am spending a great deal of time looking at all of the creative and wonderful coop designs pictured on this site. The hard part is going to be narrowing it down and deciding on a plan. My SO is very handy so I think we can come up with a design that incorporates the look and size and hopefully the ease of cleaning features that we want.
I will look at the breeds you have caj1985. We are thinking we would like to get our birds from a local source rather than mail order, and a breeder rather than say...Tractor Supply.