need help choosing breed...

[TurtleChick]

hi all!

yes, it's all your fault... we're considering more chickens! i need to find the local chicken addicts meeting.....

we have a rir, an ee'r and two production reds. we're thinking of adding 2-3 new kids. maybe. if i can't resist the temptation...

the breeds i'm interested in: ameraucanas (the REAL ones, not like my naughty lil ee'r), orps, australorps, cochins, and favorelles. we must have friendly, docile birds!!! egg laying rate isn't AS important, since the rir and the red stars keep us in eggs quite nicely! and we probably won't order from a hatchery this time, since my daughter may do 4h/fair exhibition with one of these ones... so whatever we decide, i'll be back in the spring looking for breeders!!! so, any input on which breed/breeds might be good would be appreciated!

should also say, we're not opposed to the idea of bantam girls, but we don't have room for two coops. the thought of mixing new young bantams in with the big girls makes me nervous......

 

[herechickchick]

Contact Jean (pips&peeps) for true Ameraucana, I think she is in Washington as well.

 

[fizzy]

I can't say enough about Barred Rocks -- after trying lots of different breeds over the years, these are the only ones I keep anymore. They are quiet, docile, friendly -- will eat out of my hand, follow me around for treats -- and are too heavy to fly over the 5' fence (a MAJOR advantage for us, since we can't free-range our birds. Too many predators). I had Buff Orpingtons one year, and they were nice quiet birds too. If you want some color, they are big blond girls -- very pretty.
Have fun!!
Wendy

 

[speckledhen]

I agree about the Barred Rocks! If I could only have two breeds, I think it would be Barred Rocks and Orpingtons. But, if you know me, you know that probably wont happen for a long, long time, LOL. Still, cant go wrong with those two breeds.

 

[TurtleChick]

But, if you know me, you know that probably wont happen for a long, long time, LOL.

i feel like i know enough for SURE to know that the day you're down to 2 breeds is probably the day byc is off the air! i love reading your posts (you've helped more of us than you'll probably ever know!

)

hmmmm - barred rocks. i hadn't really thought about them. now i've got something new to obsess about! i really really like the look of nice orpingtons, tooooo... i like buffs and blues - much difference in the personalities of the two? maybe our lil backyard flock needs an orp and a barred rock or two...... you guys think that the best barred rocks and orpingtons come from breeders or are hatchery girls okay?​

 

[jossanne]

Wyandottes are lovely and sweet too. Now that I've started on bantams and DH is going to build me a coop just for them, I'm thinking I MUST have some bantam wyandottes and bantam BR's. Love my large BR's dearly - they're sweet, gentle, and so fluffy! They'd be marvelous in a tiny bird.

 

[speckledhen]

Generally, the Blue Orps seem a bit more skittish at first than the Buffs, however, there are certainly individual differences. The Buffs are slightly better layers, in my own experience, than the Blues. They are certainly both beautiful birds.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

If you want docile and very easily handled birds my first choice would be the cochins. I have had or still own every breed you just named over and the cochins are by far the most easily turned into big pets. Auries are flighty from my experience as are the blue orps at first as Speckledhen said. The Austras are not overly friendly and the roos can be agressive, the favs would be my second choice

Hope this helps.