- May 24, 2014
- 6
- 0
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Hi Guys,
I used to keep chickens as a child and my daughter wanted a bunny. I was about to get her one today but the cost of the cages and the fact that bunnies are not great with being handled or as fascinating as a chicken... I have decided chickens are the way forward.
I have spent an intense day researching the care of them. But still have loads left to learn. The coop I wanted is out of stock but the man who makes them is going to reduce the price of a really delux coop for me that will be gorgeous in my garden and a fine sturdy home for my girls.
So what breeds would you recommend? I would love to have a mix of variety- the coop can hold 5 but I am going to get 4 so they have a bit of extra room. Not a hope will we be eating them
There will be pets- so I am looking for friendly, egg laying, hardy breeds that won't suffer from any lack of experience on my part.
I am literally SO excited for my feathered friends. Anyone have any tips on how to pick good healthy birds?
Also I am thinking that organic feed is better from the bits I have read but it is much more expensive- does anyone know what feeds you would recommend?
Sorry for all the questions lol.
I used to keep chickens as a child and my daughter wanted a bunny. I was about to get her one today but the cost of the cages and the fact that bunnies are not great with being handled or as fascinating as a chicken... I have decided chickens are the way forward.
I have spent an intense day researching the care of them. But still have loads left to learn. The coop I wanted is out of stock but the man who makes them is going to reduce the price of a really delux coop for me that will be gorgeous in my garden and a fine sturdy home for my girls.
So what breeds would you recommend? I would love to have a mix of variety- the coop can hold 5 but I am going to get 4 so they have a bit of extra room. Not a hope will we be eating them
There will be pets- so I am looking for friendly, egg laying, hardy breeds that won't suffer from any lack of experience on my part.I am literally SO excited for my feathered friends. Anyone have any tips on how to pick good healthy birds?
Also I am thinking that organic feed is better from the bits I have read but it is much more expensive- does anyone know what feeds you would recommend?
Sorry for all the questions lol.
I am trying to find people local here in Ireland who breed chickens and looking for happy little feathered friends who have been well looked after 
and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some great links to get you started on your breed search, also check out the BYC Breeds section for member reviews of the breeds when you have narrowed down your search. For pets,especially for children, Cochins/ Pekins are a popular breed, they are not very good egg layers but are very friendly. So far as more layer breeds go, for egg numbers alone, the Red Sex Links for brown eggs are probably the most popular layers around. If you want breeds that don't lay quite as well but will lay for a longer time, Orpingtons (lots of people really like these, great pets though broody) Australorps, Faverolles, Brahma, Plymouth Rocks, Sussex, and Wyandottes are some other popular breeds that are usually pretty easy to get along with, they all lay different shades of brown eggs. The Easter Egger/ Ameraucana/ Araucana or Legbars, are fun breeds because they usually lay green/blue eggs, and then there are the Welsummer and Marans for dark brown eggs, you may also be able to find Olive Eggers which are crosses between the blue and dark brown laying breeds. 
