Help me choose my breeds...

[AtRendeAcres]

I am in Western PA also very cold!!!

I have had Rocks, Cochins & Austrolorps suffer with frost bite.
It is not pretty & I have read it does causes stress on your birds!

So unless you are going to insulate you want to stay with pea or rose combs:

You mention Easter Eggers they have pea comb, Silkies are also really good & fun to watch!

I also have Brahmas & Buckeyes which are great with kids they will also go out in snow storms!
My dog got my Dominque yesterday but, also a good choice & a really great foreger!

Hope this helps

Joanne

 

[Curlita]

Two thoughts from a semi-newbie... have you taken the little quiz at My Pet Chicken (http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx)? It really helps pare down your options according to what is important to you, and might give you some ideas that you hadn't thought of.

Also, if I had it to do over again.... or maybe I should say, when I get MORE CHICKENS!!, I will get one each of a bunch of different breeds. Why order an entree when you can get the sample platter?

 

[Lostdog]

Quote:
I did take the breed selsctor on MPC.That is how I came up with some of my choices.I would have never guessed silkies could handle the cold til the selector chose that as an option.I also found that some pictures don't do the birds justice.On MPC I was not too impressed with the BR but I saw a pic of one on BYC and it was adorable.So now it's on my list.

 

[herechickchick]

Be careful looking at photos online usually they are examples of the best of that breed. I would ask other members here at BYC to see photos of thier birds and where they got them so you can see the quality. Silkies from hatcheries do not look like this:

This is Mae and she is a breeder reject believe it on not. I got her for $25 at a show.

 

[Southerngirl]

In response to my previous post: RIR are excellent for meat and eggs and have had good luck with them too.I do not raise them any longer because I was flogged by a RIR rooster and I sold them all !! But our personal favorites are the Barred Rock. They are so tame and are excellent egg layers. This is a breed that is well suited to a small farm. I have raised them for over 25 years. Plus the babies are beautiful too !!! Here is Goliath and Delilah both are 2 years old!

He is the dominant rooster of our barnyard.

 

[digitS']

I can understand a couple of things that have been said - especially, your idea on RIR and RIW. Unfortunately, I have no experience with the Whites. My one RIR rooster was a gentleman . . . uncharacteristically, I'm sure. I'll just throw this out there - if your children don't like the looks of a RIR, perhaps a "redder" bird, the New Hampshire, would have more appeal to them. I doubt if you'd lose a single egg - in terms of production.

Curlita suggests a mixed flock and that sounds like fun but a note of consistency . . . some "common denominator" might be appreciated after a few months of looking at the flock. Your idea of "Frizzles(bantam),and Silkies" along with the standards, suggests an eclectic bunch. Because of your desire for eggs, I can't suggest going with the Frizzles & Silkies, alone.

The Wyandottes come in beautiful variety but I have never owned them so don't know if I should recommend them. The Orpingtons have been suggested - they come in a variety of colors. I've had and appreciated Orpingtons, their looks and personalities.

I'll 2nd or 3rd or, is it, 4th what has been said about Barred Rocks. I've had nothing to do with the other Rocks (other than keeping Rock Cornish) but would have thought that their personalities and other qualities would be similar. Perhaps, I'm wrong.

I feel a little odd saying it but I think that you may be happiest with the Easter Eggers. They are generally a smaller chicken. They are tough and the comb is protected from frostbite as has been noted. What I liked most about them is their variability. What I liked least about them is their variability. Huh? You can't be sure about their egg production, for example. But, each will have his or her unique looks and qualities (or lack of them).

Steve