I need to ask some questions about large fowl chickens

[BantamFan4Life]

I'll be ordering 3 large fowl chickens from Ideal soon but I have no Idea what three different breeds I need.
I'll need them to be:

1.Friendly, Easily tamed, and make great pets.
2.They need to lay nearly ever day (about 5-6 eggs a week).
3.Cold- Hardy or a good winter layer (also can't be prone to frostbitten comb).
4.Take confinement really well.
5. I know this was probably the breed you were think of but it can't be Buff Orpingtons. I'm looking for a mixed flock and I already have one.
6. All three need to be DIFFERENT breeds.

 

[nicalandia]

I'll be ordering 3 large fowl chickens from Ideal soon but I have no Idea what three different breeds I need.
I'll need them to be:

1.Friendly, Easily tamed, and make great pets.
2.They need to lay nearly ever day (about 5-6 eggs a week).
3.Cold- Hardy or a good winter layer (also can't be prone to frostbitten comb).
4.Take confinement really well.
5. I know this was probably the breed you were think of but it can't be Buff Orpingtons. I'm looking for a mixed flock and I already have one.
6. All three need to be DIFFERENT breeds.

you just named the Perfect chicken.....

 

[Kevin565]

you just named the Perfect chicken.....

X2.

You really need to prioritize which points are most important to you.

 

[J-Sanders]

The grocery store sells them.

 

[angel8035]

Leghorns lay very often but aren't super friendly and have large combs.

Production red pullets lay pretty often and may be friendlier depending on the bird.

There are not many breeds that meet these requirements.

 

[Arielle]

Have you looked at the chicken selector on my pet chicken? I found it handy when I was starting out.



Chanceler
Buckeyes
rose comb rhode island reds

YOu can't get everything in one package. Winter hardy doesn't mean great winter layers. Great winter layers are not likely to be great hot-summer layers. Perhaps some of each. When you buy from the hatcheries, and I have, know that production is the primary goal. Most of these birds will be a smaller version of the original heritage birds. THere are exceptions. All my hens from MM are much smaller than their heritiage lines. I do find the smaller hens more economical though.

THe hatcheries are unlikely to select for temperament, though they might. Our RIR hens and offspring will defend their eggs with hurtful pecks. THis may be desireable , or not if you have small children getting the eggs.
Search the threads using the search feature for the breeds from a particular hatchery.

edited: Wyandottes, the silver laced bird is lovely and lays well.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

I think I have them all planned out how does this sound:

Cuckoo Maran (feather legged) for cold hardiness
Faverolle for heat tolerance (fairly heat tolerance though)
Buckeye also for cold hardiness

One more question do they all make good pets like Orpingtons do?

 

[muddyhorse]

Those should work well. Personally I would get an Easter egger or a Wyandotte instead of the marran . A hatchery marran won't lay very dark eggs. How cold does it get where you live. My best winter layer is a khaki Campbell duck. My Swedish flowers lay very well also but ideal doesn't sell those

 

[BantamFan4Life]

It does not get two cold but its like not hot at all in the summer where I live. Last year in the winter it got up to -14 f. (with wind chill). Usually it stays from lower forty's and higher thirty degrees during the winter. Well you see I don't want EE's because there flighty, but Wyandotte could work. Are you sure that the marans don't lay dark eggs from hatcheries because Ideal sells them in the dark egg-laying section and I personally don't care anyways.

 

[Arielle]

I think I have them all planned out how does this sound:

Cuckoo Maran (feather legged) for cold hardiness
Faverolle for heat tolerance (fairly heat tolerance though)
Buckeye also for cold hardiness

One more question do they all make good pets like Orpingtons do?

Cuckoo marans lay a medium brown egg NOT the darker color of the black copper marans.
( marans is spelled with an S but not pronounced) These are a marsh bird from France-cool and moist climate. I have the cuckoo marans. ANd the black coppers. THey have a single comb. Girls should be fine. My boys loose the tip tops of their combs.

Not many birds are as social as the BO--they are hard to beat for friendliness.

I don't have faverolles and buckeyes.

I have been looking into buckeyes ( from private breeders) and they can be social just not the "pat me" type. My BO loved to be stroked and stay for more.

I love my Easter Eggers--they are NOT flighty, mine are from Meyers. I also have real AMecauanas and they are not flighty. My boys love to sit and visit with the EE.

My Silver Spangled Hamburg IS flighty. Can't catch THAT bird!! LOL

Also consider personalities and temperaments. Perhaps on the faverolle thread about how they get along with other birds-- I suspect they are so quiet that they can get bullied. You will want to check into this a little more.