Do you have more problems with feathered leg or crested chickens?

[Chicken Fruit]

I like Light Brahmas. But honestly nothing trumps a Black Australorp in my book.

I have cochins, black australorps, EE's, light brahma, and we had welsummer, buff orps, marans and a few others.

of all of them my favorites are always going to be the Light brahmas and especially the Black australorps.

BA's are excellent in heat and cold, they lay wonderfully, theyre ridiculously friendly, and cute to boot.

 

[chickerdoodle]

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I agree 100%. I love my Silkies and will keep them. They have, so far, been excellent layers. I have yet to have a broody hen, but just started with chickens a few months ago.

I do NOT like the Polish. They are so flighty, and as stated have difficulty seeing. Mine bump into posts, etc. They spend alot of time inside the coop, and even in the nests (not laying mind you).

I think you would love the australorps. may I mention Cuckoo Marans. I absolutely love mine. They lay an egg nearly every day, and the eggs pretty. Dark, but not as dark as I would like! Gentle and sweet! Here is a picture of my DD holding our Cuckoo Marans roo, Rupert (and the dog - see his ear on her knee). Rupert is so gentle with the hens. Not a feather missing or even out of place.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/31282_chicken_pictures_326.jpg

Whatever your choice is, I am sure you will want more! Good luck with your decision. Have fun!

Great photo!!

I thought about marans but have heard from more than once source they may be more standoffish. Do you find that true?

 

[chickerdoodle]

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I want to limit the risks and several of you said the same about Polish. Brahamas may be added to my list! thanks.

 

[becky3086]

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What about the Houdan?

?? What do you want to know? I mentioned they were good layers but didn't go broody.

 

[chickerdoodle]

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Poor baby!!I'm not going to show as I am afraid of picking up any disease. My girls will have either their permanent roof over their run or metal or netting overhead to protect from hawks so no worries there--thanks!

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Or you could try a different variety like golden or buff-laced

Love the buff laced color

 

[chickerdoodle]

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What about the Houdan?

I have seen some info on them and they are cute. What do you think? Do you have any? Do they get along with others? Remember, I will have them in a run a good portion of the day (60 sq. feet for 4-5 hens) as I live in the burbs and we both work. They will however, have toys and fun things to do in there.

 

[chickerdoodle]

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Thank you so much for your opinion! You have or have had some of the breeds I am considering seriously. What did you think of the Welsummers and EE's?

 

[becky3086]

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What about the Houdan?

I have seen some info on them and they are cute. What do you think? Do you have any? Do they get along with others? Remember, I will have them in a run a good portion of the day (60 sq. feet for 4-5 hens) as I live in the burbs and we both work. They will however, have toys and fun things to do in there.

I do have houdan and sell eggs from them but I do have them separated in a pen by themselves so can't tell you how they get along with others. Proper feathered houdan do not have as many problems as Polish because the crest feathers do not block their vision as much.
I am not sure chickens need toys and fun things to do, though I am not sure what you mean by that. Mine don't seem to need anything to occupy their time but from time to time I do throw in hand fulls of grass and weeds from the "lawn" to give them something else to do. I do this with all my chickens.
I think all chickens are mostly alike. If they grew up together as a "flock" they get along pretty good but if they are introduced later there will be some adjusting before they all get along.

 

[chickerdoodle]

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I have seen some info on them and they are cute. What do you think? Do you have any? Do they get along with others? Remember, I will have them in a run a good portion of the day (60 sq. feet for 4-5 hens) as I live in the burbs and we both work. They will however, have toys and fun things to do in there.

I do have houdan and sell eggs from them but I do have them separated in a pen by themselves so can't tell you how they get along with others. Proper feathered houdan do not have as many problems as Polish because the crest feathers do not block their vision as much.
I am not sure chickens need toys and fun things to do, though I am not sure what you mean by that. Mine don't seem to need anything to occupy their time but from time to time I do throw in hand fulls of grass and weeds from the "lawn" to give them something else to do. I do this with all my chickens.
I think all chickens are mostly alike. If they grew up together as a "flock" they get along pretty good but if they are introduced later there will be some adjusting before they all get along.

I will get them used to playing with toys while they are young. I am a behaviorist and have limited bird experience (I do have a small parrotlet

) so this is a personal challenge for me! I saw a swing for chickens in the video "Regarding Chickens" and want to give them a smaller version along with hanging items to see if they like pecking them, an open wire ball with tidbits for them to eat yet they have to roll it around to get them out as well as different perches. I'll rotate some toys as I create them and see which are hits!

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

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I have a banty Brahma and a few Polish and really, I love them all. They both do well here in winter and do okay in rainy seasons.

The Brahma is a good coldy-hardy breed. Their bodies have a real tight shape to them and their pea comb (I think that's the comb they have?) is small and makes it easier not to get frost bite. As far as the feathered feet goes, none of the birds pick at them and they don't get filthy in rainy weather like other breeds' do.

The Polish, on the other hand, are a bit more difficult. In rainy weather, they tend to drag their crests on the ground to peck at things and it's a magnet for dirt and...well...other stuff.

But don't worry, it doesn't take long to wash off.

In the winter, crest feathers can do almost the same thing. Except, they can freeze and literally take on icicles. But I notice that they come off the next day, after a night on the roost. And my Polish have never been in any pain at all, or I would have noticed. More than anything else, it was just a bit annoying to them.

None of my Polish have ever fallen victim to crest-pecking, either.

My Brahma is the broodiest bird I've ever had.

She has the urge at least 5 times in a season and its hard to break. They lay pretty well. Polish rarely ever go broody. I've heard that they are horrible layers but my first Polish laid about 3-4 eggs a week, they were medium sized, and they never had any wierd things in them. (Meat/Blood spots)

I think that you could keep both breeds if you want to. We have winters where it can be about 20 Degrees F on a good day and summers where it can be 80. My Polish have never been picked up by predators and I really believe that their limited vision makes their other senses stronger. My Brahma is very sweet, too.