Looking for feedback on these breeds...

[backyardfarmgirl]

Soon I'll be purchasing chicks (hens) and I'm looking for advice/experiences with the birds I'm considering. I'm looking to get a couple of 2 or 3 types.

First, here are the characteristics I'm aiming for:
*Frequent egg layers
*Large - extra large eggs
*Docile/friendly
*Rarely or infrequently broody
*Winter hardy (I'm in Michigan)
*Can lay in winter
*Not too noisy or at least not known to be unusually vocal.
*Doesn't pick fights with other birds
*Can handle confinement
*Not prone to flying away while free-ranging

Given all that, here are the breeds I'm thinking about getting...
- Australorp
- Golden Buff/Redstar/Golden Comet/Red Sex Link/ASA Brown
- Rhode Island Red
- Barred Plymouth Rocks

In your experiences, are these breeds going to be a good fit for these characteristics?

Are there any additional breeds that you feel would be a good fit?

 

[BantyChooks]

Chanteclers. They do have some tendency toward broodiness but they fill all your other criteria.

The others would probably work. Might get a bit of frostbite; depends if you live in the warm bits of MI or not. I really don't recommend the sex links though. They're highly aggressive, prone to reproductive disorders, and they're bad layers after only one year. 0/5 would not get again; black sex links were a tad better. If you're processing before 1st moult they'd be good, I think.

 

[Hazelbunny]

I recommend chantecler or Rhode Island red chickens.
We have had both and they do very well in Cold, my Rhode Island red hens sometimes get frostbite but other than that they are great.

 

[Folly's place]

Chanteclers, Plymouth Rocks, Rosecomb Brown leghorns, Australorps.
Look at Henderson's chicken chart too!
I gave up on sex-links and hatchery RIRs because of their aggressive tendencies. Feather picking beasts!
Wyandottes, Speckled Sussex (the friendliest hens!). For egg basket color, EEs and French Marans.
Order what looks interesting, and see how you like them. We all have favorites, and birds that looked like winners that we disliked in our flocks. Having variety is more likely to give you eggs all year; as some molt or take time off, others continue to lay.
Mary

 

[Gray Farms]

You seem to be looking for the perfect chicken by the traits you've listed. And unfortunately they do not yet exist. Like a milk cow that gives a quart a day lol. Your best bet to accommodate most of what you want are going to be Sexlinks.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

New Hampshire have been a great bred for me so far.

 

[chickendreams24]

Personally we don't really care for our hatchery barred rocks, they're bossy and pick on the gentler birds. They also are less friendly especially when confined. We have some heritage bred Dominiques that we love but I haven't had them long enough to be able to say they match all of your key points.
We have had some great experiences with sex links particularly Isa Browns and Cinnamon Queens. We haven't yet experienced any illnesses with them and none have been aggressive. But we haven't had any past 18 months- two years old due to predators. We do free range but they also did just as well being locked up. We live in southern WI so we do have long harsh winters.
However we do prefer our heritage breeds to our sex links. Hatchery buff Orpingtons have also been good layers for us. We got 5 our first year and only one went broody. We bought two more last year because we liked them.

Last year we also added Buckeyes to our breeds. They have been great birds too but again we haven't had them long enough for me to say if they meet all of your criteria.
We have one Delaware hen that we like quite well too.

We also keep and love our EEs too and they've proven great layers.

These are just a few of the breeds we've tried many we've like, some we haven't. It's really a trial and error to find out what breeds work for you.

 

[sourland]

I'd add Buckeyes to the list.

 

[DdlBug363]

Soon I'll be purchasing chicks (hens) and I'm looking for advice/experiences with the birds I'm considering. I'm looking to get a couple of 2 or 3 types.

First, here are the characteristics I'm aiming for:
*Frequent egg layers
*Large - extra large eggs
*Docile/friendly
*Rarely or infrequently broody
*Winter hardy (I'm in Michigan)
*Can lay in winter
*Not too noisy or at least not known to be unusually vocal.
*Doesn't pick fights with other birds
*Can handle confinement
*Not prone to flying away while free-ranging

Given all that, here are the breeds I'm thinking about getting...
- Australorp
- Golden Buff/Redstar/Golden Comet/Red Sex Link/ASA Brown
- Rhode Island Red
- Barred Plymouth Rocks

In your experiences, are these breeds going to be a good fit for these characteristics?

Are there any additional breeds that you feel would be a good fit?

I have 2 Golden Comet Hens and they lay wonderful large brown eggs. It is now winter and they are still laying. I played with and held them since they baby chicks, they are very friendly, social; they even come running to me when they know I’m there.

 

[lazy gardener]

First, here are the characteristics I'm aiming for:
*Frequent egg layers
*Large - extra large eggs
*Docile/friendly
*Rarely or infrequently broody
*Winter hardy (I'm in Michigan)
*Can lay in winter
*Not too noisy or at least not known to be unusually vocal.
*Doesn't pick fights with other birds
*Can handle confinement
*Not prone to flying away while free-ranging

Given all that, here are the breeds I'm thinking about getting...
- Australorp
- Golden Buff/Redstar/Golden Comet/Red Sex Link/ASA Brown
- Rhode Island Red
- Barred Plymouth Rocks

I can recommend Australorp, and PBR from your list.

I would stay away from the hybrid/production layers (your second listing) b/C they are prone to reproductive issues.

I have never met a RIR that wasn't a mean tempered cranky old biddy.

In addition, you might consider Buck Eye, Dominique, and Easter Egger.

Keep in mind that the perfect bird does not exist! What you gain in one quality, you may have to give up a bit in an other quality. For example: Single comb leg horns are fantastic layers. But those huge combs don't do well in cold climates. Rose comb Leg horns do very well in cold climates, are wonderful layers, but not quite as prolific as the single comb leghorn. All of the Mediterranean birds have a reputation for being flighty.

Check out Henderson's chicken breeds chart. Be sure to pick breeds that do well in confinement, and that are "docile". Then, after you've picked out a few breeds, research a few hatcheries, and read up on what they say in their "profile" information of your selected breeds.

Keep in mind that you need to place your order early if you want specific breeds. You can order now, pay now, and secure your breeds and delivery date for a convenient time. Wait until the weather has settled into reasonable spring temps before having your chicks shipped.

I strongly suggest that you have your coop ready before getting your chicks. Wire it for electricity and you can brood your chicks right in the coop. No matter where you choose to brood your chicks, I strongly recommend the "Mama heating pad cave brooder" instead of a heat lamp.