good breed for begginer - egg layers wanted.

[sonoma44]

Hello everyone, I am a new member to BYC. I live in PA. I am starting a small flock for egg laying. What breed would you suggest and why?

I was thinking about the Rhode island brown, would that be good for a beginner and to be around kids?

Thank you

 

[Michael OShay]

Rhode Island Reds are good layers and very hardy chickens but they can sometimes be aggressive (especially the roosters). I have had several of the roosters attack my children in the past. With kids around the chickens, I would suggest Black Australorps. They are among the best brown egg layers, are very hardy (both in heat and cold), and very friendly and docile birds. My children and now my granddaughter have always made pets of them. They don't mind being handled and we never had a temperament problem with them. If you click on the breeds icon at the top of the page you can get 217 reviews on Australorps. Buff Orpingtons are also very hardy, gentle chickens, although they don't lay quite as well as the Australorps. Hope this helps.

 

[Whittni]

Rhode Island Reds are a great choice! However, they can be mean chickens. I recommend Barred Rocks because they are friendly, hardy, good layers that are easy to tame and make great pets.

 

[donrae]

I'd suggest several breeds

Seriously, get one hen of several different breeds. Kids won't be happy with 6 hens that look identical, they'll want to know "which one is Pepper?". Buy different breeds and you'll be able to tell them all apart. Plus, that gives you a chance to get different shades eggs. One breed might just strike a chord in you and you fall in love with it, others you might just not be so happy with.

In your area, pretty much any of the dual purpose breeds will be great. Rocks, Australorps, Wyandottes, Reds, Delawares, Orpingtons, Sussex....they're all great breeds. And if you have kids, you've got to get an Easter egger or two....kiddos love the blue or green eggs, and some of the birds look a lot like hawks so kids think they're cooler than the other chickens.

 

[Michael OShay]

I'd suggest several breeds

Seriously, get one hen of several different breeds. Kids won't be happy with 6 hens that look identical, they'll want to know "which one is Pepper?". Buy different breeds and you'll be able to tell them all apart. Plus, that gives you a chance to get different shades eggs. One breed might just strike a chord in you and you fall in love with it, others you might just not be so happy with.

In your area, pretty much any of the dual purpose breeds will be great. Rocks, Australorps, Wyandottes, Reds, Delawares, Orpingtons, Sussex....they're all great breeds. And if you have kids, you've got to get an Easter egger or two....kiddos love the blue or green eggs, and some of the birds look a lot like hawks so kids think they're cooler than the other chickens.

I second that about the Easter eggers. My kids & now my granddaughter loves the colored eggs. (If this doesn't post quite right I'm attempting to do it on my cell phone for the first time instead of my computer).

 

[sonoma44]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I love the suggestion of getting different breads, I didn't consider that, but you make a great point. I Think I will start our with some Black Australorps & Barred Rocks. Is Easter Egg a name of a breed? does it look like a hawk? If so that is cool, and a great suggestion. Are they similar in temperament and egg laying to the other ones?

 

[sonoma44]

Whittni is the picture you included a picture of a Barred Rocks chicken? That is attractive.
Oh, and I am not ready for a rooster yet Michael. But on that point, and in connection with keeping different breeds, will a rooster of breed A, mate with a hen of breed B and another of breed C?

 

[nicalandia]

Hello everyone, I am a new member to BYC. I live in PA. I am starting a small flock for egg laying. What breed would you suggest and why?

I was thinking about the Rhode island brown, would that be good for a beginner and to be around kids?

Thank you

you cant go wrong with golden commets or Isa Browns, they can be very tame and will outlay any RIR or BR

 

[Michael OShay]

Whittni  is the picture you included a picture of a Barred Rocks chicken?  That is attractive.
Oh, and I am not ready for a rooster yet Michael.  But on that point, and in connection with keeping different breeds, will a rooster of breed A, mate with a hen of breed B and another of breed C?

Yes they will breed. You will have a hybrid of some type but if both parent breeds are good layers, the offspring will likely be as well.

 

[Blooie]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I love the suggestion of getting different breads, I didn't consider that, but you make a great point. I Think I will start our with some Black Australorps & Barred Rocks. Is Easter Egg a name of a breed? does it look like a hawk? If so that is cool, and a great suggestion. Are they similar in temperament and egg laying to the other ones?

Meet Agatha, one of my Easter Eggers:



This lovely lady is Gladys, another EE.

And last we have Pearl.



Donrae is right, as usual! A mixed flock is lots of fun, you get to decide which you prefer and can stick to that later if you want. These lay green and blue eggs, although mine haven't started laying yet. I should point out that there are always personality variations in chickens, even within the same breed. I have 3 Buff Orpingtons. 2 of them are wonderfully quiet and friendly - the other acts like I'm about to kill her every time I enter the coop or run.