Breed Recommendations for a newbie

[Michael OShay]

Actually Red Stars are RIR X Delaware, but even so, I agree with you that they can be a more aggressive bird than Black Stars.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Actually Red Stars are RIR X Delaware, but even so, I agree with you that they can be a more aggressive bird than Black Stars.

The brown egg Leghorn hybrids I mentioned come from genetics firms like ISA, Hendrix, Bovans, etc. They tend to be distinctly nasty to other chickens - and their breeders tend to consider beak trimming essential to management. Most are bred for laying cage use and tend to start having significant problems in other systems - ranging from enriched cages to free range..

Red Stars, Black Stars, Gold Stars, etc are older hybrids that are more commonly available from local and regional hatcheries.

 

[Biologrady]

I think to some extent personality varies from chicken to chicken, but the consistent thing seems to be to avoid some of the high-production commercial types (like leghorns) and the bigger/tougher breeds like australorps, orpingtons, and jersey giants might be a good choice for kids. Of my six breeds (a total of 7 birds only )my favorite is my barred rock, and my least social is the Wyndotte and the Easter egger, which other people often rave about...

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Get the buff orpington! Nothing bad about that breed!!

 

[Michael OShay]

I agree with Sarah. I never had (out of many) a Buff Orpington with a bad temperament. Same with Black Australorps, which isn't surprising since they were originally bred from Orpingtons.

 

[LauraSac]

I think a lot depends on what you need or want. In my city, we're allowed to have a maximum of three hens and no roosters. That's it. Since I never will have fertilized eggs, a breed that is prone to going broody isn't something I'd want to deal with, no matter how sweet the hen is.

 

[KWSRetMSgt]

Actually Red Stars are RIR X Delaware, but even so, I agree with you that they can be a more aggressive bird than Black Stars.

WOW...

My first 4 hens were Red Sex Links / Red Comets / Red Stars and I'm sure there's a few more names out there by now.

My point is my girls were the most friendly of any other birds I have had to date.

I find Buttercups are flighty.

My Americana is very stand offish.

My Golden Sex Links, I can't even get close to them.

My Golden Wyndotte is half & half some days she'll come close, others there's no way your gonna catch her.

But my Barred Rocks, One is so friendly she'll try and climb your leg to get your attention, the other one she's not as friendly but will allow you to pick her up.

Then I have three birds some like to call them "Mutts" mixed breeds I hatched out.

The white one is friendly but don't try and pick her up, the Red one looks exactly like my Red sex links and pretty much the same attitude.

The third is who we call "Pee Wee Roo" a rooster who's daddy was a Red Sex Link & his mommy is my Buttercup. Fairly friendly but again don't try and touch or pick up.

 

[KWSRetMSgt]

This is my pic of PeeWee Roo.
In my opinion he's a beautiful bird even if he is a "Mutt"

 

[LauraSac]

This is my pic of PeeWee Roo.
In my opinion he's a beautiful bird even if he is a "Mutt"

He's beautiful! I wish I could have roosters.

 

[Pamgfrank]

I got my first two hens last December - Orpingtons, one buff one white. Just added two 10 week old cross breeds (favorelles & black cooper Maran) to my "flock."
The Orpingtons are great to start....friendly and sweet, and we love those eggs!