Need good chicken breeds ideas for starters.

[Chicken Chiquita]

So, i know someone who has decided to get chickens, and needs some good breed ideas that are good layers, hardy, good for beginners, and kid-friendly.
I suggested a few but would like your input.
Please put the good qualities about the chicken breed in your post too.
Thanks!!!

 

[Acre4Me]

The most chilled-out and calm birds we have had have been Salmon Faverolles. TheY just don’t freak out and they tolerate handling well. We’ve had SF from two very different sources and both sources were the same temperament.

we currently have Buff Orp chicks that are 4 weeks old. Can’t say much about their personality yet, but it is very consistent BYC that Buff Orps are calm and friendly and good layers.

Our Easter Eggers (Americanas) have been good too. Overall friendly and tolerant and pretty calm. We had one fearful/flighty one, but the rest have been kid-friendly and good layers. A plus is the varied egg colors, and various colors/appearances.

 

[LaurEliz]

My personal favorite is buff orpingtons. I've never had friendlier birds than my buff orpingtons. They lay nicely and they're cold hardy.. My cochins have been friendly too, and I like them for the same reasons, and silkies are very sweet and soft.

I might also suggest easter eggers. I have some now, and I had some when I was a child. I would get excited about the different colored eggs. I'd always suggest easter eggers for kids. Most of my easter eggers have been pretty friendly too.

 

[cmom]

You will get many different recommendations. Everyone is different and will have different preferences. I assume your friend is either going to get chicks from a hatchery or feed store. My suggestion is to get what they want. They can always make changes down the road.
Here are some good sites about the different breeds of chickens. I hope these will help. Good luck and have fun...
Henderson's Handy-Dandy Chicken Chart
FeatherSite
My Pet Chicken

 

[MountainWoman73]

Australorps and Isa Browns have been my favorite pets.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

My first flock and only flock so far look like Rhode Island Reds. I don't know if it's because we didn't handle them a lot as chicks, but they don't seem to care for being held and are not too snuggly. That being said, they are not mean. I have two small children under the age of 6 and the chickens do not peck at them or hurt them. They love staying nearby us while we are out in the yard. None of them mind being reached under to get eggs out of the nesting box.

They are wonderful layers, all of them lay most days. I have 4 chickens, all of them RIR's and it is not uncommon I end up with 2 dozen eggs by the end of the week. Their eggs are a good size, too! Look like jumbo sized and they are just turning a year old.

They seem pretty hardy. Our summers can reach 100F and winters about 20F. However, it seems like they enjoy the cooler days best - anything between 40-60F seems perfect for them. In the summer, I had to be careful because it seemed that they were overheating and I had to take extra measures to keep them cool (ice blocks/packs, making extra shade, misting them down with the hose, etc.) Thankfully we haven't had any major illnesses with these bird. We have treated badly pecked chickens with Blu-Kote. Otherwise, they are usually happy and healthy!

This is my first flock and I will have to say they are pretty easy going chickens. We had a pecking issue, but it isn't severe since we changed them over to a bigger coop.

 

[centrarchid]

American Dominiques. They grow decent, lay decent, good natured, decent foragers, excellent cold tolerance, not overly broody but can do it, and can be sexed relatively early.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

`If you're looking for standard egg layers, I would suggest red or black sex links, ours were super friendly and the one that died naturally lived no joke until eight.
`Bantam wise I would suggest silkies just because they're usually easy going since they can't see everything
`If you're looking for color and self-caring, I really suggest standard pheonixes. I have a big group at my barn, and apart from two or three deaths, they've done great without much supplimentation and breed like crazy. I have 4 generations now and never once artificially incubated or raised any chicks hatched out

Just personal suggestions

 

[cmom]

Disposable chickens. If we do not like, then replace.

I don't know exactly what you mean, but I don't think a person has to decide on one or more spacific breeds. I have had quite a few different breeds over the years that I don't have now. Years ago I raised Buff Orpingtons for the 4H and FFA kids to grow out. I don't do it anymore. I still have my Rhode Island Reds and Whites and my leghorns but they are my choice not everyone elses. I have had several breeds, but too many to maintain breeding populations, so I had to decide which breeds do I want to work with. My disposable chickens, most often go into the general population pens. I do sell some birds. I raise (heritage) pure breeds and lines. I'm content with my chosen breeds. I hatch all of my own chicks of which half will be males. I can't keep them all but usually keep one or two of the prime males from each breed as future breeders. I selectively breed, the rest I sell. I do grow them all out so I can tell, as they grow out which one are developing into nice breeders and which ones I will sell. Even my sale birds are nice birds. I show my birds. Other people have also shown them and have done very well at the shows. I'm not a backyard chicken owner but I can relate. I've been at this a long time. Some of the males RIR's.

I also raise Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds.

 

[RaZ]

Salmon Faverolles are nice, gentle birds. Not so good in a mixed flock because they are quite timid. Can be hard to find though.
Buff orpingtons are great all around birds for both beginners and experienced. You can usually find them at the feed stores. The are pretty good in mixed flocks.

Note: I had a lavender orp roo who got mean after a neighbor kept teasing him. I suppose that can happen to any tame bird if they are harassed enough.