Brand new to chickens - Choosing a breed!

[goodb]

Be sure to consider the Buckeye. The only US breed developed by a woman.

 

[PoultryCrazed]

Rhode island reds are a all around good bird, consistant egg layers and from my experience friendly.,

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! There are so many choices; try several and see what you like. I would try Easter eggers, Australorps, speckled Sussex (the friendliest hens ever!), Chanteclers, Plymoth Rocks, and Wyandottes. Mary

 

[newmarch2014]

While my Production Reds (sold as Rhode Island Reds at the feed store though they are certainly not) are excellent layers and easy enough to handle or catch. They are not nearly as friendly as my Buff Orps. The production reds are both the top of the pecking order though not necessarily overly mean they are definitely not docile.

 

[dekel18042]

Be sure to consider the Buckeye. The only US breed developed by a woman.

I love my buckeyes, too. Extremely cold hardy, more so than the RIR, and rarely miss a day of laying. My EE's lay well, too and are also extremely cold hardy.
You can go to www.mypetchicken.com and answer a few questions and it will give you a list of breeds to consider that are appropriate to the way you answered the questions.

 

[cityboychickens]

Try Rhode Island White or Rhode Island Reds. I have to reds and they are very hardy. They are gentle to but every once and awhile they peckat your fingers and toes.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I agree that you should start out with a few different breeds, and than eventually go with what ever breed(s) you like best and do best in your area and climate. For starters, breeds I would recommend are: Wyandottes (come in many colors, and are docile and cold hardy), Dominiques (Look a bit like barred rocks, but are more docile and cold tolerant), Marans (come in many colors, are very friendly birds, and lay nice dark brown eggs), Australorps (good natured hens and good layers). Good luck with your future flock!

 

[Bridebeliever]

We are new chicken owners too. We have 3 Wyandottes, 2 Rhode Island, 3 Andelusians (just wanted something different with these guys, not big eggs and don't like to be held, but friendly enough.) and we have 1 Australorp.
I highly recommend the Australorp! Very docile and sweet! Also our Rhode Islands are totally turning into lap chickens! They are so calm!
Here's my BIGGEST recommendation to you...if you want to end up with 6 hens, buy at least 10 chicks!! At least two of them will wind up being roosters even if you choose all females, this just happens. Even if they all wind up being hens (which almost never happens) you could easily sell your started pullets of ones you don't like as much. I wish I had done this. We wanted 10 hens so I ordered 10, well 1 died and two turned out to be roosters so I wound up with 7 hens.
I would order 5 of one breed and 5 of another. Don't forget to tell us what you decide!

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I have decided we would like to have a small flock of chickens (around 6) but we have no experience with breeds. I do live in Maine so I do need something cold hardy. I prefer large eggs (not necessarily jumbo), color does not matter. I would also prefer something docile as I have a 1 year old. I have been given a few suggestions by friends

Orpingtons
Golden Comets
Sex link

How do I decide? What do I need to consider?

Welcome! I'm also in Maine! When will you be starting your flock? Do you have your coop ready? Are you planning to start with started pullets? Or will you be starting chicks? Suggested reading: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors, The small flock chicken keeper by Harvey Ussery. as well as the many informative articles in the Learning center. Henderson's chicken breeds chart. What are your goals? Eggs only? Will you be hoping to hatch eggs in the future? What will you do with your hens when they stop laying? What about accidental roosters? My goal is to have winter hardy birds that provide a colorful egg basket, have small combs that are not as prone to frost bite, and, I don't want any feathered feet b/c IMO, they may be prone to problems in freezing weather, and wet/muddy conditions. Of course lots of people who have feather footed birds love them, and say that there's no problem in that regard. I am also partial to Dominiques and EE, but find both breeds to be a bit on the timid side when in a mixed flock with bigger birds. I do/have had some of each. Dominiques are especially personable/friendly. But, their eggs are on the small side. If you're interested in starting a flock of started hens/pullets, PM me. I still have a few left that I'd like to move before winter.

 

[dekel18042]

Quote: One thing you may want to consider is your feed to egg ratio. A smaller bird will eat less feed and often produce the same number and size eggs as some of the larger birds on much less feed.. My EE's are some of my smaller birds and all lay extra large eggs, and I certainly haven't found them to be on the timid side in my mixed flock.
I've had EE's at the top or near the top of the pecking order.
I also have several type of marans and have no trouble with the feathered legs and feet in cold inclement weather. Some of their olive egger offspring have also inherited the feathered legs and feet and have no problem. I love the color of their eggs, but themarans are my poorest layers, Thankfully their olive egger progeny are much better in the number of eggs produced. A few marans in the flock for different colored eggs are neat, but I certainly wouldn't want a flock of them if I needed eggs on a regular basis.