Flock choice? Advice for a newbie....

[Davaroo]

Enablers, all of you! Doom will befall you... doom, I say!

 

[cochinfan]

I think my ultimate goal is to revel in my chickens. I cannot imagine having to choose one breed! I haven't been able to do that in dogs, cats, horses, or goats. I guess the only category I have one of something is in husbands!

I'm not particularly interested in breeding but it might be fun to hatch an egg or two. But if you are only going to eat your eggs does it really matter if you have an eclectic collection?

Just wonderin...

 

[substandardtim]

my BO's are nice quite happy FRIENDLY chickens. they will run you down to cuddle and sit on your lap. they also try to perch on my shoulders and the carpenters loop on my pants while I am outside doing work.

we had leghorns that were insane and loud. the three chicks that I have inside are a barred rock and two with possible EE blood, but more likely mutts. those three are all hyper and crazy as well.

next year I plan on getting a BO rooster and a few white and black orpington hens.

 

[3KillerBs]

Quote:
IMO, the desire of people who want layers only to have an eclectic collection of breeds is part of what keeps serious breeders in business by providing them with a ready market for their hatching eggs, chicks, and "pet quality" birds.

I am a chicken newbies but I'm a long time gardener and you can compare it to heirloom tomatoes. When I was a teen my dad had 10 each of Rutgers and Marglobe for canning with a couple Early Girls and Big Boys for fresh eating. Today almost everyone who grows tomatoes wants a kaleidoscope of varieties and thus heirlooms which had few growers back then are booming.

Popularity is often blamed for reducing a breed's quality, but numbers also matter.

 

[Davaroo]

Like I said, youll never be the wiser with your "eclectic" flock. SO let the parade begin!

 

[chickerdoodle]

Our hens will be pets first so I guess personality is the most important factor. The eggs are just an extra special gift from them to us! I also have friends who want some organic eggs from happy chickens.

Many years ago when I was single I raised 2 chicks--one was dropped off at my veterinary hospital and I bought the second at a feed store to keep it company. The one left at work was a broiler and the other a bantam. They were raised in a large rabbit cage in my spare bedroom and joined my friend's coop when they were old enough to be introduced. I handled them several times a day while they grew and they became super friendly and even affectionate! Everyone at the ranch loved them! I really want to enjoy that again.

 

[Davis5454]

You want my advice......

I've been reading a bunch (I have read and now own 11 books about chickens!) and our goal is for a happy, friendly and hopefully productive backyard flock.

.....here it is......TOO MANY BOOKS.....NOT ENOUGH CHICKENS !!!

Pick one or two and just go with it based on the qualities you are looking for. Like I said earlier, chickens are VERY forgiving pets.

If you want personality....I still say Orphs.....the only breed I know anything about (that you had listed) are the Lorps. Sooo....I can't really compare.​

 

[stethomps]

The choice was made, and I think you will be happy. Welcome to BYC.

Now what to expect: You will become even more so chicken obsessed, and you probably won’t even notice. You will start having more and more chicken conversations. You might even have a few conversations with a chicken(s); it happens.

But you will truly know you have caught the chicken bug when you are engaging in small talk with a new acquaintance. It will be about chickens; of course, but you will notice this person is looking at you like you are alien. They will be smiling, but will get out just as soon as they can politely do so. Or, they might just back away slowly. Either way, when this happens, laugh and know you are not alone!

Allot of people recommended the Buff Orpington, and I would have to agree; they would have been a great choice. Definitely one of the best! I think White Rocks would have been another great choice. Both breeds are gentle, friendly birds full of personality with a nice egg production. Cochins, were also mentioned; another great bird…gentle and full of personality, but lacking with the egg production. However, they are great to look at, and if you wanted to hatch, you would be hard pressed to find a better broody. But, if it were me, I would have went for the best of both worlds and ordered Lt Brahams. I am sold that they are a great chicken. Meat, eggs, and oh yeah they are ornamental too. They have a fun personality; gentle with just a hint of character. They mature slowly, but they are huge once mature, and they have a great egg production

 

[Davaroo]

Here's a tidbit on breed selection from the good old days:

"One reason why there is a [ reduced egg production ] per bird is that many flocks are composed of mongrel stock. Mongrels represent no particular breeding concern, varying in size and uniformity. Eggs and shell uniformity varies and a flock lacking uniformity is handicapped...
A mongrel flock is likely to arouse less pride and there is no demand for chicks produced by mixed, mongrel stock..."- - Morely A. Jull, "Successful Poultry Management.


There is little long range gain, it seems, in simply getting in a wide variety of "cute" chickens. Uniformity is the theme here. Oh, if you want them just for decoration or the 'experience' of having them, then it matters little, I suppose.
But serendipity has never struck me as much of a plan. And where the stewardship of animals, including chickens, is concerned, planning is everything.

Like I said, I'm an old poop.

 

[Coppa]

Quote:
Have you given any thoughts on bantams???

Lately I have fallen in love with the Faverolles. Mine are not broody at all and one of the friendliest chickens I have ever owned.....they are even more sweet than my silkies lol

I added an Orpington and 2 Easter Eggers hist year and the bigger chicks are fitting very well with my smaller bantams....weather is because I hand raised them or not I don't know but the whole flock gets along extremely well.