Breed Recommendations for a newbie

[CinnamonQueen]

I have one Australorp, and she is pretty friendly. I'm not sure about her egg production yet- she laid her first egg on Tuesday and we haven't gotten one since.

 

[slfg]

The friendlies hens I've had are speckled sussex. They'll usually just let me pick them up in the yard without being fussy at all. Golden comets are really good egg layers though! I've always kept 4 or 5 different kinds at a time, and theres always a favorite. Meanest hen I've had was an egyptian fayoumi..maybe not mean, just squawking, running nuts!

Our family's favorites over the years as far as friendliness... speckled sussex, wyandottes, barred rocks, easter eggers, brown leghorns

best layers I've had, barred rocks, comets, black stars, brown leghorns

Of course no matter what, since the kids were in grade school (they're in college now) when I've ordered new chicks they always want me to order naked necks, good layers and they're tough too. We like them.

theres a chart online that rates egg production as well as climate suitability

 

[houseofknauss]

don't get leghorns--they are too high strung and prone to egg clogs(but great egg layers)
my rhode island reds are sweet and funny. I have had them since they were 3 days old. bonding with them when they are young is very important to the relationship you have with them. I have some baby chicks(rir mixes) right now that we hatched and you should hear them when they hear my husbands voice coming in the garage afterwork--they all (4 weeks old) jump up on the side of their pen and wait for him to sit down and pick them all up. --its hilarious.

 

[mendonis]

My wynadotte is mean too! She bites hard. What can I do to make friends? She is about 5 1/2 months old, has not began laying as of yet, but lives with two RIRs and a leghorn who are.

 

[mendonis]

My wynadotte is mean too! She bites hard. What can I do to make friends? She is about 5 1/2 months old, has not began laying as of yet, but lives with two RIRs and a leghorn who are.

 

[wvWyandotte]

Not sure?? I have 4 and only my Columbian hen is a little on the mean side, but she's not mean with me, she's mean to the other chickens. My roo got a little attitude about a month ago, he would bite pretty hard too! When he would bite me I would lightly tap his beak with my finger, in about a week he had stopped. I don't think he was being mean, I think he was testing the water! Good Luck.

 

[Kleo]

I have 5 Barred Rocks. They are only 10 weeks old and had them since babies. These girls have a great life and get plenty of love and attention making them very friendly. I believe if you interact with them your reward is a friendly bird. I never thought that I would enjoy my girls and their antics as much as I do. My husband and I both love watching them when they free range.Someone is always jumping on our laps to be patted.

 

[OldGuy43]

I recommend Red Sex Links. Friendly and good layers.

 

[cgoodloe]

. I talked to a man this weekend who has RIR's and Golden Comets and he prefers the Comets. He said they are a little friendlier. Ive also read good things about Buff Orpingtons.

He is right. Comets are friendlier than RIR. Sometimes one might peck at your leg if you get them spoiled on treats like sunflower kernels but my Red Stars (which people call Comets) were docile as babies and as adults. They laid super jumbo sized eggs. I got mine from Meyer Hatchery 3 years ago. You'll want 3 if noise in your neighborhood is a no-no. The reason is because I found that if you have 2 and one is laying, the other will holler until the other one is off the nest because she can't 'find' her even if you show her the other hen. LOL At least that was my experience. Buff Orps are super friendly and don't mind being picked up as much as Comets. They also don't mind being a single or a pair and don't holler as much when a sister is laying. They are larger than Comets though and prettier but they go broody more than Comets (which is usually never). Comets lay more eggs as well. If you want 6-7 eggs per week per hen, then go with Comets. Orps lay 4-5/week on average.

 

[susanp970]

I would go with Speckled Sussex, brown egg layers friendly, inquisitive.