IM GETTING CHICKENS!!!!Help on selecting breed please

[Goat_Walker]

Ok - so while at Santuck today I saw some Bantams and Jumbo blue cochins. GORGEOUS. SO i took a chance and asked my parents. I have all the stuff to house them. But they saide no...


THAT I CAN GET SOME IN SPRING!!( march)


So... Now I just have to decide what breeds I want.




Thats where I need your help . I want a chicken with most of these qualities :


1. Lays at least 200 eggs a year.
2. Likes to go broody.
3. Doesnt fly into trees.( I can clip wings if necessary )
4. Will stay in a fenced in area ( 4 feet high) and not jump out.
5. Preferably colored eggs, but I can deal with white
6. Comes in alot of diff colors or is pretty to look at in general
7. Size doesnt matter

 

[bibliophile birds]

check out Feathersite and the chicken chart.

once you narrow it down, we might be able to help. there's just too much to choose from!

 

[CityClucks]

Hmm...Buff Orpingtons would fulfill most of these requirements - decent layers and too heavy to really fly or jump. Orpingtons come in different colors, but the Buff is most common and sometimes it's difficult to find other colors. Mine lay light brown/pinkish eggs.

Easter Eggers also come to mind. Both my Buff Orpingtons and my EEs have shown broody tendencies. My EEs are lighter-bodied and like to jump up on things/over fences - although you could minimize this behavior by clipping their wing feathers. EEs also come in a vast range of colors and lay beautiful eggs - often green or blueish in color.

Whatever you decide, you will love your birds. Good luck and congratulations on getting the green light to get chickens in the spring!

 

[conroy]

Our EE bantam is very broody....and she hasn't layed in since August....but she is a very sweet little thing and my husband does clip her wings... Our best layers are our Australorps bt they only come in black but they are real pretty... hope that helps

 

[Goat_Walker]

Ok, well I think that I want to learn more about Bantams and Cochins right now. Ive wanted silkies but im worried about the weather. Id rather have a chicken I can have outside all year.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

If I could only have one breed it would be Easter Eggers

they have a great temperament, mine are sweet as can be, they started laying eggs at 20 weeks, we have had 5 different color eggs so far.

 

[Fowl97]

check this out
http--www.mypetchicken.com-breedQuestions.aspx

 

[LAMchop]

They're pretty dismal in the egg department, but I love my bantam Cochins. They make great mommies. Unfortunately, I seem to be under some kind of Cochin Curse... mine are always the first to get picked off by predators, or they just up and die.
I would love to get some of the giant jumbo Cochins, but I'm afraid they would eat me out of house and home!

 

[3KillerBs]

Laying lots of eggs and going broody are at odds with one another.

I noticed that the link above for the breed selector tool wasn't working so here it is again: http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx

Take your time and do your research. The more thought you put into planning things the better a project goes. There will always be unexpected things that you didn't think of, but the more you put in before you start the better you'll be able to cope with the craziness.

 

[twister]

You stated that you did not want them to fly out--please make sure nothing can fly in!
Focus on predator proofing their living area.

I love my RIR's. They are laying machines and friendly! (large brown eggs) but mine have never gone broody. I much prefer the eggs!

Hope this helps.