Beginner Breed?

[team_realtree]

Quote:
yes, because they will still lay eggs and need somewhere safe to lay them.
Please don't post on this thread anymore. Instead go to the Index and raising chicks section to post your questions in new threads or look up old ones relating to each separate question. This is what we call hijacking a thread and is somewhat rude...especially when you do it over and over again.
However, welcome you will find more information here than u know what to do with.

to the OP- I agree with someone else that said your best bet is to go with something thats known as being a dolice breed for your first one as well as something you think is pretty! I began with leghorns which excited me because they're reliable and produce well, however I didn't want white birds! So this kind of bummed me out when DH decided to get them, but I also wanted a bird with more personality. I'm looking into BO's for that very reason. Also considering cochins. However, I got my first RIR tonight and the size difference from my leghorns is AMAZING! Whatever breed you choose...good luck and enjoy them! let us know what u pick!
p.s. Noone said you can't go with variety of birds just because its your first time! ;-)

????????????? I am the OP!

 

[Hambone]

I was thinking about starting out with 6 golden comet hens for my first chickens. What do you think. I am a beginner also.

 

[poultryhaven]

If you want chickens for pets and not egg production i would suggest Cochins, Japanese or seramas =]

 

[poultryhaven]

Duplicate response sorry

 

[poultryhaven]

Quote:
My red sexlinks (also called golden comets) are really nice, I would recommend them for egg laying =] They are not purebred though (Just in case your a kid and want to show them)

 

[Hambone]

Quote:
My red sexlinks (also called golden comets) are really nice, I would recommend them for egg laying =] They are not purebred though (Just in case your a kid and want to show them)

Thanks for the advise. I have found someone in my area who has the golden comets for sale. I will have my tractor done this week. I can not wait to have farm fresh eggs on a regular basis. I like the look of the the golden comets and from what I have read they are great brown egg layers and are vary friendly. I am not concerned about them not being pure bread. I plan to keep them in the tractor for 8wks and then letting them free range all day.

 

[poultryhaven]

Quote:
My red sexlinks (also called golden comets) are really nice, I would recommend them for egg laying =] They are not purebred though (Just in case your a kid and want to show them)

Thanks for the advise. I have found someone in my area who has the golden comets for sale. I will have my tractor done this week. I can not wait to have farm fresh eggs on a regular basis. I like the look of the the golden comets and from what I have read they are great brown egg layers and are vary friendly. I am not concerned about them not being pure bread. I plan to keep them in the tractor for 8wks and then letting them free range all day.

Thats awesome heres pics of 2 of mine =]

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
No. In fact, a hen is better than an incubator. You dont have to spend the time incubating and she raises the chicks for you.

However if you hand raise chicks, they make better pets.


Also, the hen has to be broody to set on eggs.

I disagree on the hen being better. I have some hens that are far superior to any incubator made of a few different breeds (and they stay on here long after their breeding usefulness is done as emergency incubators) and I have had a few flaky hens that have walked off the nest halfway through and killed all the babies or that couldn't make up their minds to set or not. I would say give a hen a try and see how she does. It seems the general trend is that if a hen is a good mother then usually her daughters tend to be good mothers too I've noticed. I also have hens that can raise chicks free ranging among the adult water dishes for chickens and geese as well as the waterfowl bath pools (all where chicks can easily drown) and all the hazards and have the babies be fine and grow strong and other mothers that can't manage to keep babies safe from even the most basic dangers unless you put them in a pen with only a chick waterer and food small enough for babies. It shouldn't just be assumed that they will do a better job, it's all about that particular hen. Just my experiences.....

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
No. In fact, a hen is better than an incubator. You dont have to spend the time incubating and she raises the chicks for you.

However if you hand raise chicks, they make better pets.


Also, the hen has to be broody to set on eggs.

I disagree on the hen being better. I have some hens that are far superior to any incubator made of a few different breeds (and they stay on here long after their breeding usefulness is done as emergency incubators) and I have had a few flaky hens that have walked off the nest halfway through and killed all the babies or that couldn't make up their minds to set or not. I would say give a hen a try and see how she does. It seems the general trend is that if a hen is a good mother then usually her daughters tend to be good mothers too I've noticed. I also have hens that can raise chicks free ranging among the adult water dishes for chickens and geese as well as the waterfowl bath pools (all where chicks can easily drown) and all the hazards and have the babies be fine and grow strong and other mothers that can't manage to keep babies safe from even the most basic dangers unless you put them in a pen with only a chick waterer and food small enough for babies. It shouldn't just be assumed that they will do a better job, it's all about that particular hen. Just my experiences.....

Sorry, I should've mentioned that the hen would be better for the inexperienced chicken owner / hatcher.

True, some breeds are amazing incubators and others are not (I should've remembered to post that as well). And, alot of being a good mother depends on the individual hen.

Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[aBRG2far]

As a beginner too I've found the Orpingtons to be the easiest, friendliest birds. The S Sussex aren't bad either but a little more skittish.