Help me pick out chick breeds?

[felidaet]

I know that most people here on BYC really like their BA. I personally was very disappointed with mine. I had two of them that I rehomed a couple of months ago. The were not friendly, were VERY noisy, and rarely layed an egg. They were about 10 months old when I rehomed them.

My favorite chicken in my current flock is my RIR. She is by far our friendliest bird. She loves to be held, petted, and talked to. She lays an egg nearly every. I am getting 3 - 5 more RIR's in 3 weeks.

My second favorite is my GLW. I like her much better than my SLW. Very friendly and she layed a large to x-large egg nearly every day during the winter. She is now laying an x-large egg nearly every day. She has been in a mild molt for the last month and did not stop or even slow down laying. My SLW took the winter off laying and just recently started laying again. Both are great "eye candy". I am getting an additional GLW and 3 BLRW in three weeks.

My Easter Eggers were great layers throughout the winter. One layed nearly every day and the other two layed about every other day. I am getting 3 or 4 more in 3 weeks.

My White Leghorn is definitely the best layer. She lays a large to x-large probably 13 out of every 14 days. She is the smallest bird in our flock. I am going to get 2 or 3 more of them. I also have a brown leghorn. She does not lay as well, about every other day. Neither of the leghorns like to be petted or held. They do like to talk to us though.

I don't remember what else was on your list.....

 

[darkfur]

I love my orpingtons, so sweet and docile. And for a bonus, if you want to keep a roo, orpingtons are easily the quietest roos around. Not that that is all that quiet, but I keep one in suburbia just fine, I lock him away at night and have no problems. Australorps and Wyandottes are almost as friendly but not as quiet. Also these large breeds are less inclined to go over your fence/up a tree

 

[keeko]

I don't know a ton, but I was going through this very thing about two months ago. I'm very, very happy with the breeds I ended up with for my first flock. I picked the following because they'd be good layers, were winter hardy, and were sweet, docile breeds:

-Buff Orpington
-Black Australorp
-Rhode Island Red
-Barred Rock
-Ameraucanas (really Easter Eggers)

So far, my hands down favs are the Buffs. They are super sweet as chicks, always let me hold them, and fall asleep in my hands. I am really surprised how much I love the RIRs...they are also super sweet, and it looks like one of them may be leader of the pack. She was the first to figure out the roost, and the first to realize there's a world outside of her brooder! The Blk Aussies are OK, some are sweeter than others, but they still need more time. So far, my least favorites are the Barred Rocks for sure. They are noisy, don't like to be held, and so LOUD. They're still very young, so they'll probably change a lot.

I almost didn't get the EE's because I really wanted Salmon Faverolles, but I am SOOOO glad I got the Easter Eggers! They are so gorgeous, super super sweet, and don't mind being held. I also got a nice assortment from McMurray...I only ordered 3, but they sent three very different ones, and I sort of wish I had ordered a couple more.

That's my two cents! Good luck!

 

[meghan713]

I love my white leghorn hen, but if youre looking for friendliness (as in hens you can hold), she is not a good choice. Leghorns are very skiddish and flighty. She is a good layer but she is picked on badly by the roosters.... I recommend Red Stars, even though they aren't on your list. Red Stars, Golden Comets, Cinnamon Queens, whatever you want to call them... I have had 4 red star hens, and 2 red star roosters, one of which, Oliver, is like a dog. He follows me around and I can pick him up! i love him

 

[jackiefunsize]

hi i don't know if this helps..... being from the uk..... i have 1 welsummer and 3 dutch..... all 10 month old..... all started laying in feb...... but today i come home with 3 6 week old chicks all good layers...... i got a bluebellies...... a blackrock which is the best pet chicken..... and an sussexs wish i could upload my pics so you can see xx

 

[smchickfarm]

Welsummers are also a great bread. Beautiful birds, calm and are good egg layers!!!!!