and a good egg layer are a must. Also what breeds do best with each other: example, black copper Marana and buff orphington get along?
I am having trouble deciding what breeds or breed to get. Any advice would be great. Looking to get about 3 to start out. Sweet calm and docile (I have kids)and a good egg layer are a must. Also what breeds do best with each other: example, black copper Marana and buff orphington get along?
and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some great links to get you started in your breed search. Also check out the BYC Breeds section for a lot of member reviews on the breeds when you have narrowed them down. https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds Chickens that are the same general temperament will usually get along, especially if they are raised together, so most heavy breeds will be OK together, I do find RIR in particular overly bossy in a mixed flock though. So far as breeds go, for egg numbers alone, the Red Sex Links (Golden Comet, Red Stars, ISA Browns etc) for brown eggs is probably the most popular layer. If you want breeds that don't lay quite as well but will lay for a longer time, Australorps, Orpingtons (lots of people really like these, great pets), Plymouth Rocks, Sussex, Delaware and Wyandottes are some other popular breeds that are usually pretty easy to get along with, they all lay different shades of brown eggs. The Easter Egger, often sold as Ameraucana by hatcheries, are a fun breed because they usually lay green/blue eggs that kids like, and they tend to be very nice birds, and then there are the Welsummer and Marans for dark brown eggs.
