Best backyard breeds

[TheAlrightyGina]

Honestly temperament will depend a lot on the individual bird, but when it comes to buying, you pretty much have to go by generalizations. I've had both flighty and non flighty EEs. They're a bit problematic in that they can come from a lot of different breed combos. In general it's best to avoid any breed described as 'flighty' for the backyard, especially if they are also described as not tolerating confinement. These two things usually equal a bird that isn't going to be happy living in a backyard.

Sultans are a good option, but they are very much an ornamental breed. Supposedly they don't tear up the ground as much, but I've yet to own one (will be getting some this year) so I can't confirm if that is true or not.

 

[VeryHappyHens]

Honestly temperament will depend a lot on the individual bird, but when it comes to buying, you pretty much have to go by generalizations. I've had both flighty and non flighty EEs. They're a bit problematic in that they can come from a lot of different breed combos. In general it's best to avoid any breed described as 'flighty' for the backyard, especially if they are also described as not tolerating confinement. These two things usually equal a bird that isn't going to be happy living in a backyard.

Sultans are a good option, but they are very much an ornamental breed. Supposedly they don't tear up the ground as much, but I've yet to own one (will be getting some this year) so I can't confirm if that is true or not.

EE are a nice breeds I mean they lay colored egg there Cold/Hardy. Pernsailties just depends. I had a very flight orpington it may seem unsaul but it was. I have lots of sweet docile EE.

 

[feather13]

Some of mine are okay too, but once I had 7 of my hens in my neighbors yard...they didn’t seem too happy.

Yikes! Ours are still pullets, but they love to get into the neighbor's yards. Luckily, our neighbors like/are tolerant of our chickens (one even cut back vines that blocked his view and he comes to visit them through the hardware cloth). But they like them much less when they start eating their plants. I'm hoping when they get a bit bigger/heavier they will become less flighty.

 

[feather13]

Brahmas are fantastic! Calm, quiet, and beautiful! This is my girl Maribel I got from Murray McMurray last year. She lays 5-6 eggs a week

Maribel is beautiful! Did you have a good experience with McMurray? We ordered 15 and all were healthy but one and all were sexed correctly as female. Customer service was also very good.

 

[cherrynberry]

Yikes! Ours are still pullets, but they love to get into the neighbor's yards. Luckily, our neighbors like/are tolerant of our chickens (one even cut back vines that blocked his view and he comes to visit them through the hardware cloth). But they like them much less when they start eating their plants. I'm hoping when they get a bit bigger/heavier they will become less flighty.

That it what has happened to mine. I once had almost my entire flock in my neighbors yard eating grass. I had to climb the fence to get them back. But as they grew older, only 3-4 of them can jump over. And only 1-2 do it really often. Good thing they don’t get into our neighbors yard though.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

IMO it is as much or MORE about the individual birds as the breed. I take care of 25 chickens for a neighbor. 5 foot tall fence with no cover. None have gotten out. There are 4 silver laced wyandottes and they are my favorites. Not aggressive to the other girls at all, they will walk right up to me, and cause no trouble. They also really seem to hang out alone. Not together with the others their breed, they are more into each doing their own thing rather than hanging out in a group with anyone.

 

[VeryHappyHens]

We currently have 11 pullets and hens and are looking to add four or five more. We got chicks from Murray McMurray last time and were happy with our order. We're going to go in with other folks to meet the minimum order.

The first date with the most variety is in June. Here's what they have that looks interesting: Dorkings, Columbian Wyandottes, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Delawares, Light Brahmas, Rose Comb Leghorns, White Faced Spanish and Lakenvelders.

We live in the suburbs and, while our neighbors like our chickens, breeds that are generally quieter are preferred. We free range our chickens, so also would like breeds that aren't prone to scale high walls and roam the neighborhood. So we tried to select larger breeds.

Does anyone have any experience with these breeds? Did you like them? Hate them? We've had Wyandottes and Delawares in the past, but I don't really remember their personalities.

Thanks in advance!

Lavender orpington, choclate orpington, blue laced red wydotte ,splash maran Try some new sweet rare breeds that are cold/hardy and rare.

 

[feather13]

That it what has happened to mine. I once had almost my entire flock in my neighbors yard eating grass. I had to climb the fence to get them back. But as they grew older, only 3-4 of them can jump over. And only 1-2 do it really often. Good thing they don’t get into our neighbors yard though.

Lol we have to keep a tall ladder in our backyard to rescue chickens that are in three of our neighbors yards. It's a 10 foot drop down, so a pretty scary feat. There are cats and hawks in the neighborhood, so I'm always scared. But I think they're also happier free ranging, so it's a tradeoff. I am really hoping they grow out of this and that the smaller breeds (Phoenix, Minorcas and Crevecoeurs) get tired of jumping over.

 

[cherrynberry]

Lol we have to keep a tall ladder in our backyard to rescue chickens that are in three of our neighbors yards. It's a 10 foot drop down, so a pretty scary feat. There are cats and hawks in the neighborhood, so I'm always scared. But I think they're also happier free ranging, so it's a tradeoff. I am really hoping they grow out of this and that the smaller breeds (Phoenix, Minorcas and Crevecoeurs) get tired of jumping over.

We also used to have cats in our neighborhood that would come by often

 

[feather13]

We also used to have cats in our neighborhood that would come by often

What kinds of chickens do you have and are any of them small breeds? Do the cats ever attack your chickens? We keep setting out traps baited with cat food and only catch opossums