Good breed for beginner

[AtRendeAcres]

Yes I agree I think everyone should have at least 1 silkie!

I like the Plymouth Rock Buff, Barred or Partridge (I have Buff) they are dual purpose, eggers & meat birds, they are calm, great foragers & make good pets!

This page tells you all you want to know about the different breeds!

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

[Scrambled Egg]

"Dominiques, big fat hens laying big brown eggs, spoiled rotten, chatty, nosey, lovable, spoiled rotten babies!!"



let me re-word that since my stupid pill wore off.....
Barred Rock, big fat hens laying big brown eggs, spoiled rotten, chatty, nosey, lovable, spoiled rotten babies!!


I can't believe I didn't know what my own chickens were!! Glad one of them isn't 4 legged or I would have been waiting for an egg from it too!!

 

[Betsy]

Dominiques. I just got some this year and they are hands down some of the friendliest chickens I've ever had. They've been laying about a month and are doing a good job. Dominiques are also supposed to be very cold hardy.

 

[johnnyjack]

leghorns lol just had to throw that one in .birds will be as friendly as you make them. alot say the leghorn isnt a people bird but i will differ. mine love to be hand feed aand lay plenty of eggs and eat less than any iv ever had. not that messy.

 

[Hotwings]

Buff Orpingtons are good beginner birds-they are fairly docile, quiet and good layers. They are excellent broodies(meaning they have the desire to set and hatch eggs-theirs or anyone elses eggs). This is their only downfall as they will go broody alot whether they are on fertile or nonfertile eggs. Australorps are good birds too similar to the the buffs but not broody happy as them but they will brood also. Barred Rocks are good all around birds and they don't go broody as much. In my opinion if you are looking for just egglayers and not hatching chicks I would suggest the barred rocks.

 

[KingsCalls]

Quote:
I agree 100%....I am getting some more come spring because I miss the one's I use to have so much.

 

[alex]

Quote:
Their not the best egg layer though??

I'd go with Langshans(?) or Orpingtons, our EEs are pretty good too, but they can be crazy.

well they are tame...and thats what he/she wanted

 

[silkiechicken]

If for a family flock I would have to disagree with getting silkies first time round. As first chicken pet wise, they are great but are slightly different than your farm type chicken. They can be more high maintence and more prone to predation because they can't see. If they have big crest's you also have to keep an eye on their eyes so they can get around and don't get stuff in them.

I say go with a good hardy dual purpose bird like a RIR, BR, EE or Orps. They will be tough and standard sized so will give you big eggs. Make sure you handle them enough and they will become tame. Avoid light breeds for calmer birds.

 

[seedcorn]

Only people who are masochists or in dire need of punishment should have silkies..........just kidding but NOT a good choice for beginners that want more than 8 eggs/year--they go broody after 8 eggs and from then on it is permanent condition.

For dual, agree w/Red, rocks. Of course also depends if they plan on raising their own in future or just want some hens for eggs. What color eggs do you want? white, brown, blue

& U thot getting chickens was easy....

 

[Yonaton]

Jersey Giants. They're *very* quiet compared to many other chickens I've raised and/or been around. They do well free ranging, and at 23 weeks will *usually* start giving eggs. 13-16 pound rooster when mature - almost good enough for Thanksgiving, but 6 month old pullets and cockerels will be 5-7 pounds...not a bad eating size bird. They're cold hardy, and the roosters aren't (normally) aggressive.

I like the Whites myself, they don't feel the heat quite as much from the sun in summer (black absorbs, blue will absorb too, not as bad as black, but white will almost reflect)...that doesn't mean they won't get hot just because they're white though, it just means if there's not a lot of shade for them, they won't get *as* hot.