good breeds for first timer?

[bmiss]

alot of good info.... i appreciate all the replys....

 

[Ragdollcatlady]

Not to stir the pot but,......we started with chicks from Mcmurray years ago and got several different breeds. All of the birds were reasonably represented and met our expectation for $2-$4 birds. We were surprised that some of the breeds we weren't as excited about turned out to be prettier or nicer than we expected and we found over the years that I do not like certain very common breeds because they are just higher strung than I like. I now definitely have my favorites but none of them would win production or meat awards, but I value:
#1 temperament, calm birds are so much nicer to be around and getting along with each other nicely counts too
#2 beauty, I want to be happy with the view (I do tend towards things being the same, but like some variety in my chickens)
#3 production last but still valuable, I really do have my chickens for their eggs and I do eat the extras (though any special birds can earn a free life on the farm pass)

I do suggest that you decide the order of your needs and then look for breeds that tend to have that reputation. I also admit that once I saw how stunning the show versions of my favorite chickens were.....I was so hooked on getting some of them, I willingly pay much more, but the lessons and breed experiences we had from our first hatchery birds were priceless. Also if you are really bent on more effective egg to cost ratio, you will likely be replacing your first egg laying birds either around 18 months or after 2 years. The second year isn't as productive as the first 18 months and they head downhill from there. So if you get different types now or end up with some you don't really like, it is only a little while before you will likely be willing to spend a few more dollars than that to get some of the breeds you may find strike your fancy later on. Birds from breeders cost more, usually at least $7 or 8 -$20 on up from some breeders, so cost is also something to consider. The things your first birds teach you can be extra hard to take (should some of them die, sickness, predators, etc....), if your initial investment is so much higher than just a few dollars a bird.

My personal favorites for myself are Silkies, Faverolles, Cochins and BLRWs (all those for temperament and looks cause not the most productive), but for eggs, I love to find the Easter eggs already colored so Marans and Americanas, EEs and Araucanas make the grade too.

P.S. The way we narrowed down our first wish list for breeds was to take the Mcmurray catalog (free), circle all the ones we wanted, then cross off any that weren't specifically calm, gentle, non flighty etc, since that was most important to me.
Hope this helps some.
Kat

 

[The Yakima Kid]

You might consider reading Robert Plamondon's website, www.plamondon.com. He is one of the few people to earn enough money with pastured poultry to send his kids to college with the proceeds.

He recommends when in doubt, start with good utility grade barred rocks. Some hatcheries have them; he likes Privett, so do I.

Another option if your focus is on eggs, is to consider Black Star or Black Sex Link hybrids, and keep them separate from your other breeds, They don't breed true, and a rooster harassing the girls can lower egg production.

For breeding, one rooster per pen of girls, or pastured, give them separate waterers and feeders well apart. It is important to NOT have too many roosters for the number of hens because the hens will get torn up by them, and pestered, stressed pullets don't lay well. It's a good idea to separate the cockerels from the pullets as soon as you can tell the difference. Then pick out the best cockerel for breeding with your eight to ten hens.

In high school FFA I raised very high production Leghorns; they were cannibalistic, unpleasant to work with, and noisy. The calmer and friendlier the birds, the more time you will spend observing them, and the more you observe them, the more you will observe potential problems before they become real problems.

Nadja

 

[The Yakima Kid]

If your focus is production and you don't intend to show, consider California Grays, available at Privett and Stromberg. Calm, highly productive layers of white eggs - but they can fly.

 

[Gresh]

Quote:
I can see what you're saying. If you got your birds several years ago from McMurray, than I think it's pretty plausible that you got fair-looking birds. Most of the hatcheries we have today were a lot better several years ago (probably because they weren't as big and they had more time to focus on breeding strategies). I've seen pictures of birds purchased from IDEAL Poultry several years ago, and they actually looked like nice birds. Not perfect, but sort of flashy.
What breeds did you get from McMurray?

~Gresh~

 

[bmiss]

im gonna buy my first run of birds from mcmurray.... i understand what people say about the hatcheries vs. breeders...but i think it will serve its purpose for me.

i think i may even just start of with 2 types (barred & partridge) and just slowly ease my way into this... again...thanks for all the replies...

 

[OkChickens]

Quote:
Hatcheries are great for a family that is wanting eggs and meat! Check the prices of Cackle and Meyer Hatcheries as well. I have been told that they are pretty much the same birds. We get our Cornish X's from Central Hatchery.

If you want tame birds them they need to be around people and kids. They need to get "socialized"

Nate

 

[littlecreekfarm]

buff orpingtons
red sex-links
black australorps
barred rocks

 

[Stephanie739]

My golden comets are very nice...(production reds? red sex link?)

I would get a breed that will go broody too, for reproduction purposes. Perhaps an australorp, orpington, or brahma.

 

[Stephanie739]

Quote:
Just an opinion of course, but unless you plan to show your birds, hatcheries meet the ordinary poultry goals very well.