Hey I'm choosing which kind of chick to get Edit:(narrowed down to 4!)

[LaneKim]

Okay My mother is letting me get a chicken or two of my own that will NOT be killed for food! I have narrowed my choicees down to these 7: Blue Laced Red Wynadotte, Golden Sebright, Silver Laced Wynadotte, Speckled Sussex, Red Star, Black Star, Columbian Wyandottes!

I am doing lots of research on these but i can't find very much information from people who have had first hand expeirence so I thought i'd ask the BYC crew! I need a Chicken that will still lay in cold or hot weather, 1 that will lay a good size egg, and because this chicken will be a "pet" (LOL) chicken I want it to be beautiful too!!!

So HELP!!! Any elderly advice from long time chicken owners??!!!

 

[trailhound]

I tell you what, they are not the fanciest chickens, and I didn't see them on your list, but I am really fond of Golden Comets. I got three at a week old from a hardware store this spring to let my kindergarten students experience for a few weeks and those girls are just champions. They are very friendly, always come running over to me, easy to catch when loose, good manners, and they started laying at 4 months old. I had a golden comet years ago that was a rescue of sorts from a large egg producing farm and she also had a great temperament and was a great layer- all winter long, every day. My chickens are pets, but I don't have a ton of time to spend taming them, so I really appreciate that this breed has been so easy to get a long with.

Andrea

 

[LaneKim]

Why Thankyou Trailhound I am researching those at the moment! They sound like the ideal bird. And it is so cool that they got along so well with the kindergarten students.! Thanks for your help and suggestions.

 

[pdsavage]

Silver Laced Wynadotte and Speckled Sussex.
I have Speckled Sussex and they are so friendly.
And Silver Laced Wynadootes because i love that silver lace.
elderly?listen here little wipper snapper...Nah j/k

 

[cherrychicken]

well definitely get 2 because otherwise they get lonely. I heard from the grape vine that wyandottes are not very nice... idk? they're really cute. as for being compatable with your requirements, i would recommend a red sex link they fill in all the requirements!

jenny

 

[LaneKim]

Thank You Guys!!!

I can't seem to find much info on the 'Golden Comets' trailhound do you know of a place i can get some info on them???? Also cherrychicken i found the red sex links and they are very pretty and do meet all of my "requirements"

anyway they are definetly going on my list and i will defintely look into the 'aggressive' thing with the Wyandottes if that is true those are OFF the list because we have other chickens already that will needto get along with at least sometimes.

 

[apbgv]

I like salmon favorelles, sweet birds. So far the chanteclers seem pretty nice also.

 

[Opa]

I have both SLW and BLRW and they aren't very friendly. In fact to of them peck if you try to take eggs from them. IF YOU GET ANY OF THEM, WATCH YOUR FINGERS. Since I'm a grandfather and collect social security, I guess that qualifies as "elderly" advice.

 

[Omniskies]

We have had all of those breeds sans the Red and Black Stars since we don't do hybrids.

All of them have great personalities. Golden Sebrights aren't going to lay a lot, so if you want eggs you may want to drop them.

REAL Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are a pain to find. Do some research on the color genetics to see what I mean. A lot of hatcheries sell light colored Blue Laced GOLD chicks because they cross the Gold Laced in. McMurray's stock is like that, and most people who have BLRs bought them from McMurray. Honestly, I'd pass those up unless you can find a breeder with genuine stock (which will be much more expensive).

Speckled Sussex are great. The hens get a wise old grizzled look since their faces will very slowly turn white. They're extremely hard to get ahold of and need more breeders showing them off. They will also be chickens that you can keep longer. Hybrids that are bred for speedy egg production generally burn out after two years.

Silver Laced Wyandottes are even with Speckled Sussex. I love their big poofy frame and color. They lay a little less than the Sussex and are a little more broody. I prefer their combs since they're less likely to get frostbite.

Flip a coin between the Sussex and Wyandotte

Edit:

Golden Comets aren't a true breed. They're a sex linked cross that lays a bunch of eggs. They end up with the same problem as the other hybrids: they lay so much that they burn out after a while.

 

[Mrs MIA]

If you're just going for a pet, and not so worried about eggs, the Mille Fleur d'Uccle bantams are the sweetest things. Mine would make great house-chickens if I'd let them!

My SLWs are very sweet, too, and one is an egg laying machine. Very pretty.