Good chickens to start with?

[KLRA]

The barred rocks are great personality-wise and they're also consistent layers. I have one in my flock and got one for my 4-year-old niece's mini flock too... It's by far her favorite hen out of her 3 breeds. They're very quiet, pet-quality birds. Definitely recommend getting one of those. I say get 4 hens and make all 4 different breeds!

 

[abbyful]

Thanks for the suggestions of buff orpingtons, barred rocks, etc. I had previously overlooked those breeds. I just requested a catalog from Meyer Hatchery that I'll go through too.

I live in Kansas City, so the chickens need to be able to handle very cold (sometimes windchill can get to -20F) to to 100+F heat.

Quote:
I want a happy-medium mix of all of the above!

Decent egg production, egg color variety, and nice friendly chickens.

 

[bloom chicks]

The people on here are great!

 

[AinaWGSD]

Sounds like a good mix to me. I have to say, I absolutely adore the personality of my two speckled sussex. They're super friendly (to the point of being in the way when I'm doing coop chores) and while they certainly aren't the best layers, they aren't too shabby either. Mine in their first year of lay have laid medium (1 3/4oz) eggs about every other day. I also really like my easter eggers, although I am a bit "gun shy" of them since of the 5 I ordered, 2 of them were troubled by genetic issues (a cross beak and a faulty reproductive system). But the one that hasn't had any issues is friendly and has been one of my best layers. From what I can tell, EE reliability for laying seems to depend largely on which hatchery you get them from. I don't have a marans, but I decided not to get that particular breed when we were looking because I knew I'd be disappointed in the egg color from a hatchery marans. From what I've heard, they don't lay a much darker brown egg than the hatchery barred rocks and they are usually more expensive because they are supposedly a "rare" breed.

I do also have an orpington, although mine is a blue and from a breeder. I've only had her a month, and she hasn't started laying yet. But I do like her personality so far. She's not super friendly, but she doesn't mind me approaching her (as long as I don't try to touch her). I don't know how she was raised as a chick, but I'm willing to bet that her breeder probably didn't handle his chicks daily like you would if you were raising pet chickens from day old hatchlings.

 

[BarbG]

I'm right in the city and my Australorps have been superb. Quiet, good egg layers, calm, friendly, curious, and they stay in my yard when I let them out of their coop in the afternoons.

 

[RMBGKY]

Ditto on the Australorps. I have 16 and they are great.