Help me choose a breed!

[kimberliegbisho]

Hello BYC! I’ve had a flock of laying hens for about 15 years, but now my girls (9yo and 4yo) are wanting some “more fun” chickens for them to care for. I’m looking for a breed that does lay a decent number of eggs still. They want a smaller chicken that’s easier for them to handle. When we’ve looked at different breeds online, they seem to be attracted to the poofier, fluffier types. Definitely friendly. They want to hatch these out themselves (they’ve helped me incubate several rounds of other chicks). I live in the PNW so fairly mild weather year round but definitely rainy winters. We are avoiding silkies for now for this reason.


Thanks so much in advance!

 

[KtheChickenGal]

Hello BYC! I’ve had a flock of laying hens for about 15 years, but now my girls (9yo and 4yo) are wanting some “more fun” chickens for them to care for. I’m looking for a breed that does lay a decent number of eggs still. They want a smaller chicken that’s easier for them to handle. When we’ve looked at different breeds online, they seem to be attracted to the poofier, fluffier types. Definitely friendly. They want to hatch these out themselves (they’ve helped me incubate several rounds of other chicks). I live in the PNW so fairly mild weather year round but definitely rainy winters.

Thanks so much in advance!

SALMON FAVEROLLES.
They are amazing with kids, have huge personalities, good cream egg layers, FLUFFY with feathered feet, muffs, and five toes. Very goofy, heat and cold hardy.

 

[KtheChickenGal]

SALMON FAVEROLLES.
They are amazing with kids, have huge personalities, good cream egg layers, FLUFFY with feathered feet, muffs, and five toes. Very goofy, heat and cold hardy.

They also go broody and make great moms.

 

[kimberliegbisho]

Thanks for the advice! I was going to say I don’t mind a hen that goes broody, I love giving them babies
My only issue with SF is their size. Aren’t they quite large bodied? My kids are on the petite size, especially the 4yo. Do you think a SF would be easy for her to pick up and carry, and maybe even start some 4H showmanship with next year? I’ve never seen a SF hen in person, only the chicks at the feed store.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They come in bantam.

 

[Ridgerunner]

While breeds can have tendencies, that's just an average. Any individual chicken can vary quite a bit from average so you don't always get what you expect with an individual chicken. But in your situation what else do you have to go by?

In that spirit I suggest you look through Henderson's Breed Chart. We all have our personal preferences so I hesitate to give you mine. Mine doesn't fit your poofier criteria anyway. I don't always agree with everything in Henderson's but I don't know of anything better. If you narrow it down maybe look at breed photos online.

Henderson's Handy Dandy Chicken Chart (sagehenfarmlodi.com)

This is not a comprehensive list of all breeds. I don't know which ones will be available for you, a lot are not offered by any hatchery. Since the chicken craze started, the hatcheries now have a lot to offer that are not really breeds, just mixes that they have put together. Some of those may suit you really well.

They want to hatch these out themselves

I just noticed you are looking for hatching eggs. That could be challenging. If you have trouble finding them once you decide get back with us and maybe we can help you find them.

My goals and criteria are different from yours. If I were doing this for my kids I'd consider a barnyard mix of hatching eggs from a neighbor. A true barnyard mix so you have no idea what color will hatch from any egg.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[atomic]

Easter eggers! Mine are so friendly

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Easter eggers! Mine are so friendly

And with EE, you get colored eggs, maybe blue or green or pink. Each hen lays her own color egg.

 

[thecatumbrella]

They want a smaller chicken that’s easier for them to handle. When we’ve looked at different breeds online, they seem to be attracted to the poofier, fluffier types.

I have cochin bantams (also called pekin bantams). They are small and fluffy. Easier to handle? Ehhh... Also, the feather feet won't work too well if you can't keep the run reasonably dry. I don't expect them to lay many eggs as they tend to go broody.

My d'Uccle, on the other hand, is extremely friendly (and small). She doesn't like to be picked up too much, but LOVES to perch on you and be carried around. You can even pet her. She has cute muffs and a beard. Slightly less feathered feet. The chicks don't do well in shipping because of their size, so hatching would be your best bet. They come in quite a few colors, as well.