looking for opinions on breeds

[theberlinfam]

I love Orpingtons <3 I've never had a mean one.

 

[bazza56]

Chanteceler's and Jersey Giants both good layers in winter.

 

[farmgirl740]

Orpingtons and Cochins - 2 friendly breeds
Good for beginners.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Australorp or Barred rocks!

 

[CSAcitizen]

In your climate you need a very hardy bird and the best egg layer and hardy chicken breed is the Rhode Island Red. They are hardy and a very faithful layer and do not take long to give you a good size egg. There are other breeds, but not as hardy as the Rhode Island Red. Barred Rock is also good, but not quite as hardy, but can make it in your climate if conditions for the birds are good (good coup conditions). I use to live in upper NY State in the Catskill Mts and I had several breeds, but the Rhode Island Red (brown eggs) and the White Leghorn (white eggs) were the ones who did the best in that climate. They also do well in the hot Florida climate where I've had chickens here as well for the past 33 years. I'd not get Orpingtons if egg production is what you want. They take a long time to mature and do not lay their first egg until they are almost a year old and then they give you tiny pee-wee eggs for weeks and you do not get many eggs a week from them. They are more a meat bird. They also eat double of other chicken breeds. You cannot go wrong with the Rhode Island Reds.

 

[edford]

Dominiquers do good, big bodied, rose comb, and lay eggs and sometimes self brood, my second choice would be brahmas they have big body pea comb and lay almost as good as a domiuquer.

 

[clairebear]

Rhode island reds, wyandottes, rocks, orps and cochins have been reliable in my flock. Sweet and gentle plus they lay well, except the cochins. They've been kind of hit or miss laying but they're super sweet.

 

[Car2nn6]

We are now allowed 6 hens in the city. woo hoo.. We have 3 easter eggers (in NC),and a Road Island Red. The easter eggers are friendly, but I was wondering how friendly are the orpington's hens? and is the lavender on also friendly? I have 2 children with autism (8 and 10). They love their chickens ( chick-fa-lay and chicky poo, which are the easter eggers). Can you also tell me how they handle cold and hot weather? We live in Va. (near Va. beach). Any info would greatly be appreciated.

 

[wekiva bird]

We are now allowed 6 hens in the city. woo hoo.. We have 3 easter eggers (in NC),and a Road Island Red. The easter eggers are friendly, but I was wondering how friendly are the orpington's hens? and is the lavender on also friendly? I have 2 children with autism (8 and 10). They love their chickens ( chick-fa-lay and chicky poo, which are the easter eggers). Can you also tell me how they handle cold and hot weather? We live in Va. (near Va. beach). Any info would greatly be appreciated.

I have EE and Buffs Orp., RIR,Rocks and Delawares. None of mine are hatchery birds . All of mine have the very good temperment and lay lots of eggs.

 

[CSAcitizen]

Orpingtons make good pets as long as you keep handling them from young on. They are a big heavy bird, but mine love to be cuddled, but only the ones who have been handled all along. I even have some Rhode Island Reds like that . Orpingtons are not great layers however. They are more a meat bird, but they are beautiful and friendly. And chickens are not dumb as many think. Oh you get a few who seem brainless, but most of them are quite smart. I have many stories of very smart roosters and hens I could tell; I even wrote a poem of one of them and my Dad included a story of one of my roosters in one of his books called Barnyard Adventures. I even have a couple of hens and a rooster who love to get up on my shelf outside of my window and watch TV ! I'm a 5th generation chicken rancher and have been doing chickens for over 60 years.