Interested in egglayers and do not want to cull males...does that mean don't get chickens?

[buggaboo]

I was interested in getting a few bantam chickens for my aviary. I would like to buy hatching eggs so they can imprint on me. Is there a breed of chicken/quail that can produce a decent amount of eggs where i can have an even ratio of males to females? Any extremely docile breeds? I don't want to cull any birds, I don't even eat meat, or give away the male birds to questionable homes. I mainly just want peace and harmony and some fresh eggs would be great, even if its not huge quantities...I know it's a long shot...but thanks in advance for feedback!


Also my aviary is only 4' wide by 6' deep which is why I want small bantams or quail. I plan on maybe 4 max if I end up getting seramas, and probablly 2 for a large bantam. It'll vary alot off the size and activity level... Also the reason I want them so tame is because I want them to alot of free run in the house when I'm home. Chasing down and catching frightened birds is not something I wish to do on a daily basis.

 

[Sandstorm495]

Hi there, I will get back to you soon with some info..

 

[Sandstorm495]

Hi again, Here's the info:
It seems like a Wyandotte is best for you. It's a reasonable layer, an excellent broody and a good mother as well. Wyandotte's are also friendly and docile, and they only need a low fence. So please tell me how you go with your chickens. Good luck as well!

 

[buggaboo]

Thanks for the info! Would 4' by 6' be enough for two of the bantam variety?

 

[BullChick]

That is big enough for six large birds, unless that means the housing and yard. In that case, just two or three.

 

[buggaboo]

Cool thatll work. I'll probablly just stick with two to keep down on waste. I forgot that if I only get two it'll work out either way, 2 hens, 2 roosters, or a rooster and a hen shouldn't be a problem either way...

 

[Sandstorm495]

Yeah, that should be ok.

 

[coffeenutdesign]

I know you want to hatch your own, but if you buy some day-olds or find a local chicken person you can get from on hatching day, you could go with a sex-link to be sure you get only females. My golden sex-links are very docile, they can be held and petted, they follow me around like puppies, they'll even jump up in my lap if I am sitting outside or try to get in my car if they are around when I get in to leave somewhere. I just made sure I spent plenty of time with them as they were growing and maintain that now that they are grown. I got them at 2 days old from a seller.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Yea, I agree, go with sexed hatched pullets so you know what you are getting. It's not 100% but more than likely, you'll end up with hens. And even though they are a few days old at that point, if you handle them and offer treats out of your hands, trust me, they will imprint on you.

 

[buggaboo]

Yeah I was thinking that, perfect idea, but I can't find a local hatchery (near detroit michigan) with day old sex-links and I would never want to put newly hatched birds through the shipping process. *Brainstroming* atleast I have a month or two to figure it out..