Breed Recommendations for a newbie

[romualdas]

BROODY I want . They are considered by me as a doomsday chicken , lay eggs fairly well , go broody to multiply , and plenty of meat on bone. I let one hen to brood and take the eggs away ,every day from others .

 

[Jonathan w]

I would say my 2 breeds that would be great would be Black Jersey Giants or red sex linked, my sex linkeds are super friendly and my bjg is very docile...my buff orpington is a miserable witch so i def will not be getting them again...

 

[Vickery]

I have 2 each of Buff Orpington, Barred rock, and Rhode Island red...once they started laying eggs they ALL are friendly and all, on occasion, will peck once or twice. I only wanted 4 chickens but was advised to get 6 incase I lost some in the growing process. My husband and I use ALL the eggs (I get 5-6 per day) and have some to share (which people like even better than a bottle of wine!).They're easy to visually count and keep track of with the "two of each" strategy! The BOs "rule the roost" in the coop/run we think...maybe because of their size.

 

[miquwid]

I recommend you get chickens that are a day old it will make your life easier, Um I have Amber sex Links from TSC from a breeder I have a barred rock, two silkies, salmon faverolle, brabanter, welsummer. The Orpington or Plymouth Rocks are good birds to get at any age. Hybrids are hybrids so you don't know what traits will be stronger over others. My Hybrids are nice to use since we had them since they were two days old but they can be aggressive towards strangers and other birds, they are Rhode Island Red and White Plymouth Rock mixes. If you expand your flock to five I recommend two plymouth rocks.

 

[maggie b]

I love barred rocks. They lay in cold weather. They lay in hot weather. The body size & type is excellent as bakers/stewers when they are too old to use for layers. A very useful versatile chicken. Any of the rocks are good I'm told.

 

[StizzyL17]

I have several different breeds right now. Only one hen has started laying, so I can only speak to the disposition piece. We got all of our chicks between 1-3 days old. Each of my chickens has a different personality. The ones we made over, played with, and talked to the most are the most friendly. There are a couple that we messed with a bit when they were young that aren't as sweet as I feel they should be. Our friendliest birds are one of the Leghorns(the other earns our least friendly spot), Silkie/Cochin cross, the Blue Splash Maran, Ameracuana, and Blue Orpington. I have two Red Pullets that one is decently friendly, and the other is not so much. Our Speckled Sussex aren't unfriendly, but don't really care to interact with us.

 

[miquwid]

Plymouth Rocks are very versatile, the Barred Rocks and super popular and very pretty birds. The white and reds are often used to make High productions layers when mixed with leghorns and rhode island. But the barred rocks also have been carefully breed so they usually have a great disposition I bought mine at 6 months my son picked her up and carried her to the truck no issues with her ever. Australorps are great for starters as well and they lay really well. Great for all climates too.

 

[marktoo]

Is the OP even here anymore? Been very quiet. Hope the playing field has been narrowed a bit.

Good luck with your flock!

 

[chickliberty]

Like others have said, I think alot can depend on how the chicks are handled. We have a Spitzhauben hen which I've heard its supposed to be a flighty bird, and she's the easiest one to catch, hold, and be handled, carried around, perch on your shoulder... But I believe it is because my daughter claimed her from day one, and cuddled her all the time. We have a variety of breeds, but my kids' favorite birds end up always being the most gentle.

 

[miquwid]

Agreed