I paid good money for some show White Giants. Got them...and had orders out the wazoo for eggs and chicks. Only problem was...they never laid an EGG! 2 years down the road...and not one egg. Shame too.
dispositions in chickens vary from bird to bird, even in the SAME breed! Its really hard to narrow things down to complete specifics so just get a variety. I even had some w/c black polish that laid nearly every day! Just stay away from mediterreanian breeds, they are flighty, and nervous.
get a variety of birds so u can get a variety of egg colors and sizes.
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I think I will try about 4-5 maybe 6 different kinds. The only problem is, which breed roo do I get for them? They will then have to be mixed...UGH!
If I knew what I know now, I would have filled my chicken house with only red stars. they are the most personable and are great layers, every day same time. They even lift up for me when its time to collect the eggs.
i had a tom cat attack one my young barred rocks recently, my easter egger rooster actually attacked the cat and i havent seen the cat since. The roo is also quiet, personable and doesnt attack the kids
I've got only 5 pullets laying right now - two barred rocks, one wyandotte, a white leghorn and a black andalusian. My leghorn is an excellent layer, and she's actually pretty friendly, as she's been handled a lot. A lot of leghorns aren't really friendly, but I handle mine a lot from the day I get them, and I've only had friendly white leghorns.
My barred rocks are my most personable birds, and they're laying nearly every day. My wyandotte lays an egg almost every day as well. I would fill my hen house with either of those two breeds and be pretty happy. They're hardy, friendly, beautiful with such fluffy bums, calm and they lay really well.
But I have to put in a plug for easter eggers (hatcheries call them ameraucanas). I've had one hen in the past, and she laid nearly every day as well and was very calm and friendly. You can't go wrong when you have a bird laying bluish green eggs...