California - Northern

[SpringPeeper]

Hi. I'm discovering I am very interested in EE's. Yours are beautiful!I hope you get to keep Beverly she's a doll! Your Leghorn look great too! I'm pretty new here and got locked out of my account when I switched phones for awhile.
I'm looking for info on great breeds because my husband and I want to get between 6-15 chickens for laying and pets. We think it will be a good experience for our kids too.

EEs as pets are fun, but all of mine went through a super flighty stage as juveniles and reached point of lay later than a lot of other breeds. If either of those things will frustrate you, keep that in mind and balance it out with other flock members that might lay earlier or be a little less nervous. As adult hens, mine have been great though (and it is fun having the variety in your egg basket). Some of my favorite chickens to have primarily as pets are Faverolles and Orpingtons. Birds that I would recommend as layers that also have good pet qualities are Australorps, many Sex Links (these are cross breeds, but if you are getting hatchery birds they tend to use breeds that are great for eggs and good for pets, plus you know you are getting a female). There are a lot of breeds that fit the bill for a generally calm temperament and good egg laying, though.

 

[QueenMisha]

u

EEs as pets are fun, but all of mine went through a super flighty stage as juveniles and reached point of lay later than a lot of other breeds. If either of those things will frustrate you, keep that in mind and balance it out with other flock members that might lay earlier or be a little less nervous. As adult hens, mine have been great though (and it is fun having the variety in your egg basket). Some of my favorite chickens to have primarily as pets are Faverolles and Orpingtons. Birds that I would recommend as layers that also have good pet qualities are Australorps, many Sex Links (these are cross breeds, but if you are getting hatchery birds they tend to use breeds that are great for eggs and good for pets, plus you know you are getting a female). There are a lot of breeds that fit the bill for a generally calm temperament and good egg laying, though.

I agree about point of lay - my estimate for them is 24-30 weeks point of lay, as opposed to 20-24 weeks for other breeds. But EEs vary so much in terms of personality and other characteristics that it's hard to say for sure what an individual EE will be. I categorize based on the average - EEs, on average, will be a good layer of 4-5 eggs per week, but occasionally you'll get a great layer of 5-6 eggs a week or a below average layer of 3-4 eggs per week. Similarly, they are often median-tempered but can be both flighty and extremely docile.

 

[caychris]

u
I agree about point of lay - my estimate for them is 24-30 weeks point of lay, as opposed to 20-24 weeks for other breeds. But EEs vary so much in terms of personality and other characteristics that it's hard to say for sure what an individual EE will be. I categorize based on the average - EEs, on average, will be a good layer of 4-5 eggs per week, but occasionally you'll get a great layer of 5-6 eggs a week or a below average layer of 3-4 eggs per week. Similarly, they are often median-tempered but can be both flighty and extremely docile.

Putting in the plug for Pita Pintas.they are wonderful birds.

 

[curious chickee]

Hi Lori,
I'm close to you I frequent Fresno, Clovis, and Madera with homes in both Fresno and Madera. Are you in/near Albury, Prather,Tollhouse,or Shafer Lake area or elsewhere close? We're definitely central California.
Amoa and Paul of P.A. Talanoa

I am also just outside Fresno in the ranchos

 

[SpringPeeper]

u
I agree about point of lay - my estimate for them is 24-30 weeks point of lay, as opposed to 20-24 weeks for other breeds. But EEs vary so much in terms of personality and other characteristics that it's hard to say for sure what an individual EE will be. I categorize based on the average - EEs, on average, will be a good layer of 4-5 eggs per week, but occasionally you'll get a great layer of 5-6 eggs a week or a below average layer of 3-4 eggs per week. Similarly, they are often median-tempered but can be both flighty and extremely docile.

Mine have all settled in to be calm by POL, but they have all gone through an exaggerated timid teenage phase (small sample size, of course, only about 25 different EEs). Being crossbreeds, it is extra hard to deal in absolutes with them, I know, and chickens can always surprise you. I have had placid Leghorns and the meanest bird I ever owned was a tyrannical little Silkie rooster.

 

[Granny368W]

PULLETS!

These girls just came into work yesterday. It's been a month or so since we've had so many of the little cuties. The EEs in this batch are especially adorable... I've recently found I'm a huge sucker for EEs.

Hey... that's no pullet... I see you, Mr. Leghorn!

And this little girl is Beverly... she reminded me so much of my old girl Hannibal that I just had to beg my boss for her... EEs are popular so he said I can band her for now but if we run out of them early or someone really wants her I have to give her up! Fingers crossed nobody likes her too much!

Those are beautiful, where do you work? I'd really like to work at a place like that....Rae

 

[QueenMisha]

Mine have all settled in to be calm by POL, but they have all gone through an exaggerated timid teenage phase (small sample size, of course, only about 25 different EEs). Being crossbreeds, it is extra hard to deal in absolutes with them, I know, and chickens can always surprise you. I have had placid Leghorns and the meanest bird I ever owned was a tyrannical little Silkie rooster. 

Mm - you know what, I meant to mention this last I replied but my phone was about to die so I was in a hurry typing - I've honestly found a lot of breeds do the awkward skittish teenager phase. I've had my Rocks and plenty of banties do it. Not so much my mutts, they're skittish through and through.

Those are beautiful, where do you work? I'd really like to work at a place like that....Rae

It's called The Poultry Palace in Placerville. I was very lucky to have it so close to me (well, relatively close) and be able to land a job there. It's a very fun job and getting a much-needed employee discount on feed is really just a bonus.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Hello. I live in Antioch, CA and currently have six chickens: BO, EE, RIR, Welsummer, Partridge Rock, and CA Gray. This seems like a good, fairly active group with lots of good information to share so I wanted to introduce myself.

Jackie

Welcome Jackie! This is a great group here. You'll fit in nicely.

 

[misfitsailor]

We are in Stockton, we are raising 2 Cayugas and 3 Rouens right now. Here they are at 3 weeks old enjoying watermelon.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=507932889383918

 

[Abbygail]

I'm in Redding...."northern", CA