Getting new chickens

[clucker farms]

What is the best breed of chickens for laying eggs and are family friendly?Also what is the best food to feed chicks and older chickens?

 

[HuskerHens18]

My personal opinion is ISA Browns. But supposedly they don't live long, mine is a little more than a year old and still going strong. She lays an egg about everyday.
Purina Medicated Start and Grow helps to prevent coccidia in chicks, but if you don't want that, Purina also sells Non Medicated Chick Start and Grow.
For laying hens I feed Purina Layena Omega 3.

 

[cmom]

Sex-Links are good layers but mine slowed down after they turned 2 years old. My Rhode Island Whites (brown eggs) are very good layers and there are always Leghorns but they are quite flighty. There are several breeds that are good layers. My Buff Orpingtons were fair layers but some people have said that theirs layed well. My Rhode Island Reds are good layers too. My Leghorns are probably my best egg layers, white eggs. Most all breeds will slow down in extreme heat and cold and during their molt quitting while they are molting. Good luck and have fun...

 

[ChickNanny13]

Orpingtons are great starter chickens; docile & mellow, quiet, good layers, heritage breed, nice & fluffy. I start mine off with Med Chick Starter for at least the first month, then switch and keep them on Flock Raiser, adding an extra dish of Oyster Shells when the pullets start laying ... I also ferment the feed. You don't want to feed Roos/chicks layer feed so keeping everyone on one feed makes less confusion & takes up less storage space. There's other (brands = different names) feeds that will work too; All Purpose, Grower, Multi Purpose ...

Recommend you start building your Coop/Run before you get your chicks, plan your brooder (must read MHP by Blooie) and research the breed you're looking into.