Good starter breeds?

[kidsnchicks]

We are just getting into raising some chickens. We aren't looking for a huge number of birds, but I know how things multiply,lol. We are looking to have 12 hens and 1 rooster, and one of my daughters wants ducks so we will have 2 ducks as well. What are a couple good breeds to start with or just hit our local farm store and go from there? We can get some nasty weather in the winter and it can get pretty hot in the summer so we need some versitile brreds to choose from, thanks!

 

[Zephyr Farms]

Personally, I would go for Barred Rocks or Red Stars for your starter hens. The roosters aren't as sweet on those breeds though. Ameracaunas are good too, yet again the Amaracauna roosters are loud though!! On ducks, are you looking for eggs or just pets?

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

barred rocks and get 2 pekins

 

[underground chickenman]

Second the barred rocks. They are friendly, good layers, the roosters are gorgeous, and they are dual purpose, so you could eat some of them if you wanted to.

The red stars are awesome layers, even better than barred rocks, and they are very friendly, but they are hybrids, so breeding them isn't a good idea. You don't know what qualities, colors, temperament, etc., you will get. Hybrids do not breed true. In other words, a red star hen and a red star rooster don't necessarily produce red star chicks.

If you don't plan on hatching the eggs, then the sex links (of which red star is one, sometimes referred to as a red sex link), are hard to beat.

UGCM

 

[tcmstalcup]

Easter Eggers and Buff Orpingtons-beautiful eggs and good pets
don't have much imput on ducks.
Due to the mix of breeds in most Easter Eggers-they are usually hardy as well

 

[Yessur Ebob]

black autralorps are good layers, hardy and gentle.
if your looking for pet ducks i would recommend call ducks. i have one who loves to follow us around, she is one of the neatest pets we have. they don't lay well though and they are small enough that a cat could eat one. my sister's cat ate my ducks sister, i was pretty angry with that cat. also they are noisy, so that could be a problem.

 

[ChickFila]

orpingtons, orpingtons, orpingtons...

Friendly, calm, sweet and beautiful!

 

[chickenlover54]

Quote:
Just curious, why do you say Pekins? Just because they are just starting out doesn't mean they need to have the simpleist, planeist duck they can find. In my opinion Pekins are ugly, get a beautiful duck like Khaki Campbells or Magpies.

 

[Mahonri]

Just starting out?

How many?

My suggestions:

2 Black Stars
2 Cinnamon Queens
2 Barred Rock
1 Rhode Island Red
1 PW Leghorn
2 Ameraucanas
2 Marans.

An even dozen and a colorful egg basket.

 

[HorseFeathers]

My recommendation is:

2 Black or Red Sex-links
3 EEs - 2 girls, one boy
2 Black Australorps
2 Buff Orpingtons
2 Barred Rocks
1 Welsummer