Looking for Breed suggestions

[Leonard4]

Hi there! We are brand new to chickens and are preparing to get chicks soon. I'm looking for breed suggestions. We live in the Suburbs of Chicago, so we'll need hardy breeds that are ok with cold weather. We're not particular on egg color, but I'd like friendly breeds since the kids will be helping with the feeding, cleaning, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I suggest Rhode Island Reds. I have never had an issue with them. Some people don’t like them or call them mean but here I am holding my largest rooster.

 

[Better Than Rubies]

There are many good breeds, but one breed I'll recommend is Barred Rocks. They're very friendly and sociable, and mine is extremely hardy (especially in the cold!), and is now my BEST layer (my Production Red, another friendly breed, is right behind her, though her eggs are smaller).

 

[sylviethecochin]

Good layers?

Buff Orpingtons are supposed to be good family chickens. They're decent layers, but not great.

Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks are bold, so they're less nervous around people than other breeds. They're both excellent egg-layers.

Faverolles are supposed to be gentle, and are rather interesting-looking. Pretty good layers.

A lot of people like Sussexes. I've never owned any. Very good layers.

Australorps are very calm, but also very aloof. Good-excellent layers, depending on stock.

Sexlinks are great layers and bold, but they (especially the red varieties) are also very prone to reproductive disorders and usually don't live very long.

EDT: Incidentally, when laying eggs, Australorps like to give the egg-song at the top of their lungs for several minutes. I hear BuffOs are the same. So you might want to consider that, if you have very close neighbours.

 

[solidsnake]

Most people like buff Orpingtons, but I've never had one.
I'm partial to silver laced wyandottes, they're cute and quiet, although mine likes to chat. They have rose combs which makes them less likely to get frost bite. My SLW is sweet and gives me an egg every day!

 

[50-45-1]

I would suggest isa browns. They are a food layers of large to extra large brown eggs. They are friendly and tame most of the time.
You can easily pick them up as chicks at most farm stores that carry chicks in the spring.
I would stay away from leghorns as they are very active and sometimes flighty and skitish.
Do not get cornish or meat variety birds, they are short lived.
How many chickens are you set up for?
Tractor supply store has a minimum of six chicks, but the farm and family store has no minimum limit.

 

[cleoandtheflock]

Brahmas and
Orpingtons
We have had buff orpingtons and a dark Brahma
I would recommend more breeds but they are not very cold tolerant
If you want to hear them you can

 

[ldrchickens]

Welcome to the flock! You absolutely cannot go wrong with silkies or polish top hats! I have both and my polish and one of my silkies I raised from babies and they are puppy dogs! I have a couple others i got as adults that are not tame but not aggressive in anyway other then when broody but that is with any breed. I feel like with any animal if you raise it from a baby as a rule of thumb they should be more friendly but there is also individuals within breeds that will not fit stereotypes. Just stay clear of game bantams as they seem to be more flighty. Plus the silkies cant fly to well so less chance of them getting out of your yard!

 

[mixedUPturk]

Hi there! We are brand new to chickens and are preparing to get chicks soon. I'm looking for breed suggestions. We live in the Suburbs of Chicago, so we'll need hardy breeds that are ok with cold weather. We're not particular on egg color, but I'd like friendly breeds since the kids will be helping with the feeding, cleaning, etc.

Thanks in advance!

My cochin are the sweetest things, bred for cold hardiness altho i havent put it to any test here. Theyre even sweet when sitting on eggs, and when children are involved theyre my first thought. They dont lay insanely like others but they do alright. The eggs are only light brown but the breed comes in a slew of colors. Biggest downside is that they want to hatch eggs so often, super broody.

this is a frizzled bantam cochin proud mommy not trying to attack me as a threat to her little one.

ETA: welcome to chickens and BYC! youve found a fantastic resource in this site and youll be able to find all the info you need here

 

[Leonard4]

Thank you all so much! This is all very helpful info