Getting re-started...

[Baizer84]

I previously had 16 Iowa Blue hens when I was in high school. Ten years later I'm finally in a location where I've been able to get set up. I'd like to have around ten hens and I'll be ordering them from Ideal, which is close to my location. I need something that will lay regularly and I'd prefer brown eggs. I'd also like something that is more attractive than simple RIRs. I've had Golden Laced Wyandottes back in the day and thought about getting some of those but Ideal won't have any until the spring. What would you recommend?

 

[Michael OShay]

For a combination of beauty & utility, I'd recommend buff orpingtons. They have beautiful gold feathers, are hardy, very friendly & gentle (my children, & now my granddaughter, made lap pets of them), & they are good layers of large, brown eggs. For these reasons I've always kept at least a few of them in my flock. Another bird that is very beautiful (with its brown, white, & black speckled pattern) with similar qualities to the BOs is the speckled Sussex.