Help? What should I choose?

[Capto Veritas]

I have a 2 1/2 month old Black Australorp pullet, and I have a friend who will give me a Rhode Island Red or a Dark Brahma the same age to accompany my chicken. Which one do you think is best?

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm terribly partial to Brahmas for their ponderous, dinosaurian beauty and think that the Darks are the most gorgeous, but an RIR will probably be a better layer.

What's important to you in your chickens?

 

[CalBickieMomma]

RIRs are one of my favorites - pretty red feathers, nice brown eggs, and curious/clever. I always try to have at least one in my flock .

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I love my DB, but they are way slow to grow, terribly inefficient at feed conversion, and poor layers. Consistent, even over winter, but poor.

You didn't indicate where you are, but DB are particularly cold hardy, less well suited to mud and heat. While they can do just fine in hot, wet, humid (I'm raising some in Florida), the RIR is the better choice there. If, OTOH, you are in Maine, Alaska, Canada, Norway, Sweden, or the Russian Tundra, the RIR is probably the wrong choice (not that they can't, just that the DB is better).

 

[Aquira]

I feel like from my RIRs I've had (just two) and one Brahma (a male), I like the RIRs better. They seem to have more personality. They can also be brats, but I don't mind bratty chickens lol.

 

[Capto Veritas]

I'm terribly partial to Brahmas for their ponderous, dinosaurian beauty and think that the Darks are the most gorgeous, but an RIR will probably be a better layer.

What's important to you in your chickens?

A friendly, wuiet chicken.

 

[3KillerBs]

A friendly, wuiet chicken.

While all chickens are individuals, Brahmas are noted for their laid-back personalities.

I have no personal experience of RIRs.

 

[Capto Veritas]

While all chickens are individuals, Brahmas are noted for their laid-back personalities.

I have no personal experience of RIRs.

okay! i will choose the dark brahma!

 

[3KillerBs]

okay! i will choose the dark brahma!

I hope you enjoy her as much as I enjoyed mine.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Mine too! and for all that they are laid back (they are so big - mostly feathers - no local aerial predator is a threat to them) they remain my most overhead aware members of the flock, doing a good job of alerting others to potential dangers.

Best of fortune as you continue your chicken journey!