Chickens around Pittsburgh

[casten]

Hello everybody!! I am new to site and also new to having chickens. I just got a coop all everything I need to have chickens but I have yet to find chickens. I really don't want chicks and was told to get Rhode Island reds juveniles for the reason the are great egg layers and mild temper! I have 2 young daughters that I'm hoping they to will take to this and enjoy raising chickens as a family!
So my question is where can I find RIR juveniles? Any help would be greatly aporeciate! Btw I'm located in the eastern suburbs!

 

[sunflour]

No personal experience with RIR, but when I was deciding what breeds to get, everything I read about them was that they can be aggressive.
If you have not decided for sure that's what you want, check out some of the sponsors sites for breed tendencies.

 

[casten]

Ok will do! Thanks.. I honestly just want good egg layers/hold up in cold weather and non aggressive so my mind hasn't been made yet.

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

I have 4 "hatchery" RIR, 3 hens and a cockerel and I adore them. They are lovely birds, not aggressive at all. Heritage RIR, if you can find some, would be a great start for you and your daughters. Have a look around the BST section, especially here, Chickens 8 Weeks & Older, for older birds for sale. If you want pullets that will start laying soon, look for "point of lay" or POL pullets. Best of luck with your new venture!

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.

I've only had experience with one Rhode Island Red (actually, a Production Red). Mine has been a good layer, but I haven't found her to have the best personality. She can be a little mean to the other birds and isn't as personable as my other chickens.

I'm not sure exactly where you can get some Rhode Island Reds. Maybe try posting on Craigslist. Once you get enough posts on here, you can also post in the Buy-Sell-Trade section and you may be able to find some Rhode Island Reds there: Buy ~ Sell ~ Trade

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

You've been given good advice already. Good luck with finding some nice Rhode Island Red pullets!

 

[matt44644]

Hello everybody!! I am new to site and also new to having chickens. I just got a coop all everything I need to have chickens but I have yet to find chickens. I really don't want chicks and was told to get Rhode Island reds juveniles for the reason the are great egg layers and mild temper! I have 2 young daughters that I'm hoping they to will take to this and enjoy raising chickens as a family!
So my question is where can I find RIR juveniles? Any help would be greatly aporeciate! Btw I'm located in the eastern suburbs!

https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?prodID=SPRS

 

[drumstick diva]

If you go to "where am I, where are you," in the social forum, you can locate and post on your state thread. You may be able to find local chickeners that have the breeds you want. That way you could pick them up instead of subjecting them to the ordeal of shipping. Good luck. I think they are you looking for is "started pullets," .

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some good advice and links from above posters. X2 on also try posting in your state thread for local birds https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread This time of year, a lot of people are culling their older birds, so be sure you are getting birds hatched this spring (started pullets, or POL as posters above mentioned), not spent hens... you can get older birds, but they will probably be molting and will not lay again until next year and won't lay as well as younger birds.
Breed wise Orpingtons and Black Australorps are popular and lots of people really like these, they are great pets though broody, Plymouth Rocks, Sussex, Delaware and Wyandottes are some other popular breeds that are usually pretty easy to get along with, they all decent layers and lay different shades of brown eggs. If you like colorful eggs, the Easter Egger, often sold as Ameraucana by hatcheries, are a fun breed because they usually lay green/blue eggs and they usually also have nice temperaments. Depending what you want chickens for, for mostly pets, Silkies and Bantam Cochins are probably the two most popular breeds for kids, they are not very good egg layers but are very friendly. For egg numbers alone, the Red Sex Links / Production Reds (Golden Comet, Red Stars, ISA Browns etc) for brown eggs and the commercial White Leghorns for white eggs are probably the best layers around.
As for breeds, Here are a couple of links to some nice chicken breed comparison charts you might like http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html and http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf when you have narrowed down your choices, don't forget to check the BYC Reviews section for member reviews on the different breeds. https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds many of the reviews mention temperament.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Kelsie has given you some great advice here. Definitely stop by your state thread. You can chat with your chicken neighbors there and maybe someone nearby has birds for you. She has left you with the link.

She has also listed some great breeds that are friendly and docile. I have never had luck with RIR's. Great layers, but not the best personality, especially hatchery birds. If you go with Heritage RIR's as Sumi has suggested, they are far more friendly and sweet. I am a huge fan of the Orpington breeds.... Buff Orps, Black Australorps...VERY kid friendly, docile and just love attention! My girls are huge on lap sitting! Can't sit anywhere with out a chicken wanting on my lap! The are great layers too.

Enjoy what ever breed you choose here. If you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask. Welcome to our flock!