Help me pick a breed???

[CluckyBoss]

I really want some laying hens. We currently have american game chickens, (NO fighting, they're pets!) but after experiencing the lovely personalities of laying hens, I'd love to have some. Just a few. I think I can handle them, and I've got a nice place picked out, where I really want to build a coop. So my questions are,

What breeds do you recommend for egg laying? And good personalities?

How much room inside the coop will I need for 4 or 5 birds? And what about the run?They will most likely be free-range during the day.

I'm in love with araucanas, and not for their colored eggs! They're just adorable! How are their personalities?

Thanks!

 

[SouthernBYChickens]

I'm not an expert by any means. We have been keeping chickens for about 3 years now. From what I have read and learned, if you are wanting brown eggs, the Rhode Island Reds are the bird you want. If you are wanting white eggs, then the Leghorns are what you want. I'm sure there are other breeds that would compare to the laying capability of these 2 breeds, but I'm pretty sure no one would argue with those being the best two for laying eggs.

I have a friend that has about 4 of the Araucanas. He says they have a good personality and that one of them actually appears to enjoy him picking it up and petting it. Don't know about the amount of eggs they lay in a particular time period though.

Hope this helps!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

First off, if you order araucanas from a hatchery then your gonna get an EE, if you get it from a TSC then your gonna get an EE

austrolorps set the record for most egg laying, and they are friendly, EE are good layers and friendly, leghorns (white) are GREAT egg layers, not sure on the personality
wyandottes are decent layers, nice and pretty

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

OH AND ORPINGTONS! They are GREAT layers (from what we've had) and VERY SWEET

 

[mimischickies]

I am new also, have 5 almost one year old hens! So I guess they are really still pullets....anyway they are the best!! I have 2 Easter Eggers one lays a pale blue egg and the other a pale green egg, a Black Australorp,she lays a large pale rosy tan egg, a Rhode Island Red that lays a medium size brown egg and finally a Barred Rock that lays a large brown egg! I usually get 3-5 eggs a day! Personality wise...my BA and BR are the sweetest and easiest to handle, RIR is the most agressive to the EE who are at the bottom of the "pecking" order. One of my EE is always the first to fly up to my lap to see if I have treats with me!! They all have names and are my pets, BA-ROSY, BR-POPPYSEED, RIR-MARIGOLD, EE-PETUNIA & BUTTERCUP!!! I built a Catawba tractor coop. They are able to wander around my large backyard most days!! They have a very good life!!!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

I am new also, have 5 almost one year old hens! So I guess they are really still pullets....anyway they are the best!! I have 2 Easter Eggers one lays a pale blue egg and the other a pale green egg, a Black Australorp,she lays a large pale rosy tan egg, a Rhode Island Red that lays a medium size brown egg and finally a Barred Rock that lays a large brown egg! I usually get 3-5 eggs a day! Personality wise...my BA and BR are the sweetest and easiest to handle, RIR is the most agressive to the EE who are at the bottom of the "pecking" order. One of my EE is always the first to fly up to my lap to see if I have treats with me!! They all have names and are my pets, BA-ROSY, BR-POPPYSEED, RIR-MARIGOLD, EE-PETUNIA & BUTTERCUP!!! I built a Catawba tractor coop. They are able to wander around my large backyard most days!! They have a very good life!!!

they are pullets until 20 weeks....

i want a pale blue egg egger...

what color is her legs? ( your EE ) she sounds like a americana

 

[Ole rooster]

For me on the Orpingtons, I also read all the stuff on the eggs laying and personalities. I got three. No more. I gave those to my Vet yesterday. Those chickens were crazy. Of the chickens I have the EE and Wyandottes are by far the friendliest. They both lay large eggs. The EE a mint green egg and Wyandotte a deep brown eggs. Both are easy going and layed back. I have 18 GLW eggs in the incubator now just for those reasons. I thought about the Australorps but from what I read they are BO's in black. I don't want that ever again.

My Black and Red sexlinks are good layers but flighty like the leghorns. The Wyandotte and EE's walk up to yu and just talk away in a very low tone. I think they're begging. The others are squawking and fussing all day. I one had RIR that were good. I just don't have any of those now.

 

[CluckyBoss]

Thankyou for all the replies!

So far, I'm liking the araucana and wyandottes.
Anybody know how large of a run and coop I'd need for 5-6 of these?

 

[SkyeSchazade]

I have to agree with alot of others and say that EEs and Ameraucanas are the friendliest chickens I have ever owned! My orps and barred rocks are also super sweet. How tame and friendly they are also depends on how they are raised though, I have one Ameraucana that I got as a 1 1/2yo and she was never picked up or handled and so is not as calm. She will still come right up to me to "talk" and get treats but is uncomfortable with being held or touched, as opposed to my others that will perch on me and the kids and get carried around like babies. I think the minimum amount of square foot per chicken inside is 2-3sf? Good luck!

 

[AAJ]

I have never had Buff orpingtons but I think that they are the ones that you need. I have heard a lot of pros. about them