New to this, help decide what kind of chickens?

[Pretty Birds]

I am currently trying to choose what route to go with chickens. Any help on this would be great. Thank you in advance for any help you can give. I am new to this and trying to sort through information currently.

First, my wife is thinking she wants to try and add two chickens each year until we are up to six chickens and choose one different kind (two of that same kind) each time. Is this a good plan?

Also, do I add them as chicks or do I purchase them at about a year old when they are already laying? What are the benefits of each one?

What breeds are good to go together? What characteristics should I be looking for when I am deciding? Does anyone have any recommendations? My wife and kids all want the Easter Egg type but I am researching out currently before we get anything in particular. I am looking for good layers and also good personality/behaviors.

Thank you again.

I would buy all six at once.
If you buy them as hens you will spend less to raise them, but it is SO much fun raising chicks!
I would recommend Barred Rocks, Speckled Sussexs, Buff Orpingtons, and Golden Comets. I think Easter Eggers are a good choice.

 

[LearningInPayson]

Thank you all for your feedback. Very good information.

So what I am looking for in chickens is this. First, the eggs. We will want good egg producers. Second, the therapeutic benefits of chickens I hear are very good. I have children with that need so that is important for me.

As for adding a couple every year, I am confused about how I will be able to do that. I have certainly heard of "chicken math" and completely believe that is real, however I cannot have more than 6 in my yard, so what is the best way to make that work? If I add 4 now and another 2 next year then I am at my limit of 6. Egg production drops off as they are older and they lay for 4-5 years from what I hear. So if I do that then in 3 years I am not getting many eggs and it is another couple years before I will again. Any advice on how to balance that out?

Thank you again for your help.

 

[Pretty Birds]

Any advice on how to balance that out?

I get a new flock every 1-3 years. This way I can try out new breeds too, as well as keep egg production up. If you are keeping chickens for eggs I would get rid of them after 2-3 years, but it depends on the breed.

 

[Ribh]

Thank you all for your feedback. Very good information.

So what I am looking for in chickens is this. First, the eggs. We will want good egg producers. Second, the therapeutic benefits of chickens I hear are very good. I have children with that need so that is important for me.

As for adding a couple every year, I am confused about how I will be able to do that. I have certainly heard of "chicken math" and completely believe that is real, however I cannot have more than 6 in my yard, so what is the best way to make that work? If I add 4 now and another 2 next year then I am at my limit of 6. Egg production drops off as they are older and they lay for 4-5 years from what I hear. So if I do that then in 3 years I am not getting many eggs and it is another couple years before I will again. Any advice on how to balance that out?

Thank you again for your help.

Australorps & Barred Rocks are both excellent layers of large brown eggs. Rocks will lay through winter too. ISA Browns & Leghorns were breed for production. I've never kept leghorns but ISAs are friendly enough. They don't live so long though because they were bred to be laying machines.

If you want therapy chickens you might want to consider some of the batams ~ though most of them seem to be lousy layers. My exception is an Australorp bantam who lays most days but she isn't my friendliest chicken either. My Wyandotte is a smoocher but then she hasn't laid yet.

However you approach it you need to realise egg production will go up & down. Adding new birds will stress your flock. Egg production usually goes down. Molting will cause egg production to slow, or stop. In winter most breeds stop laying for a while. Extreme heat will stress birds & slow egg production. Broodiness will stop hens laying.

If your birds are also pets & therapy for your children then entirely replacing your flock every few years may not be practical, in which case choose a hardy long laying breed like Australorps or Barred Rocks. They will slow down as they age but they keep on a chugging. Any time I've had ISAs they don't last more than 2~3 years. Australorps don't tend to go broody. Rocks do.

There is no perfect way to do this. I accept that I will have fewer eggs as my birds age but they were bought as pets as well as layers. Be very clear about your priorities before you buy because that will set the parameters for what you can & cannot expect from your flock.

 

[alexisrambles]

If you want eggs first and companionship second, I'd aim for something like a Cochin or a Wyandotte to start. I've heard good things about Orpingtons. Australorps are nice and have tons of personality IMO. The fluffy heritage dual purposes are the ones people usually call "lap chickens"
Heritage breeds will sometimes lay consistently into old age. Keep in mind that you'll have to decide when "enough is enough" and old Bertha needs to retire. Some lay until they die, just... less often. Also, replacing the flock may be hard if you let your kids use them for therapeutic purposes.... just saying.

EDIT: I really should have read the post above mine. Sorry! I say a lot of the same things.

 

[LearningInPayson]

Thank you all for your feedback on this. So here are my updated thoughts (I try to update them often). When I say therapy chickens here is more what I mean. My kids love animals...all kinds. I want the chickens to be there for the kids to watch their behaviors and enjoy in that way. I want them to be able to go in and feel comfortable cleaning and feeding the birds and possibly picking them up if needed. I want them to help take care of them basically. Primarily we are wanting to do the chickens for the eggs.

Having said that, the comments left for me got me thinking again about this and also brought on more questions.

1. What is the difference between a "chicken" and "hen" other than a hen being the female?
2. If I change the flock every 3 years what do I do with the chickens I let go of and how early would I need to get new chickens in order to keep the egg laying going?
3. To start with I am pretty sure we have decided we want to get two Easter Eggers then two of two other types. I know they should be similar in size when they are grown. I am not sure what types are and what types are good for egg producing. Can you help dumb it down for me? Maybe tell me good and bad things about each type and include pictures if you have them?
4. I am still trying to figure out if I should get chicks and raise them or get older. Can anyone help me know the good and bad of both (in a very basic manner) and help me decide?
5. Is there a good site to purchase my chickens? I have been told by many people to go to IFA or similar stores but after I have read other things that worries me now too. Any advice?

Thank you again for your help.

 

[Ribh]

Top row: Australorp, Campine, Barred Rock, Blue Australorp bantam, Barred Rock,Campine, Australorp, 2 Favorelle crosses.
2nd row: Frizzle, Wyandotte bantam, Barred Rock~ her pattern mutated but she is a Rock.

Chicken is a generic term ~ unless referring to babies. Hen denotes a laying female. A pullet is a young hen, under a year. A cockerel is a young rooster.

You can sell unwanted hens on. Some people eat theirs but with kids that can be difficult.

I've never done chicks. I buy @ POL [point of lay] which means I get eggs within weeks, rather than months & I don't have the stress of very young birds to deal with. Nor do I have to decide what to do with any unwanted cockerels in a batch of chicks. Others enjoy raising the babies. That is a personal preference.

I'm in Australia so can't recommend a seller for you but look for a reputable breeder. Things to look for overall are clean pens, no nasty smells, healthy looking birds. Ask about their worming & vaccine program & if they've recently been checked for mites.

Edited to add: if you go here you will find reviews of the various breeds & people's experiences with them: https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/

 

[Pretty Birds]

2. If I change the flock every 3 years what do I do with the chickens I let go of and how early would I need to get new chickens in order to keep the egg laying going?

I sell my hens. If you are starting with chicks they will start laying around six months.

I am not sure what types are and what types are good for egg producing. Can you help dumb it down for me? Maybe tell me good and bad things about each type and include pictures if you have them?

I highly recommend Speckled Sussex. They are the most friendly chickens I've had. They lay pale brown eggs that are medium to large in size. They lay 3-4 eggs a week, which is descent, about the same an Easter Eggers.
One of the best egg producers are Golden Comets, which large brown large- extra large eggs. They are also friendly.

4. I am still trying to figure out if I should get chicks and raise them or get older. Can anyone help me know the good and bad of both (in a very basic manner) and help me decide?

It is a lot of fun raising chicks, and kids love it. However, you will need a brooder (small hutch) to raise them in. They will also not lay eggs until about six months of age.
If you get grown hens, you will get eggs right away and will not need a brooder, just a coop.

5. Is there a good site to purchase my chickens? I have been told by many people to go to IFA or similar stores but after I have read other things that worries me now too. Any advice?[/QUOTE
If you are only getting six, I would recommend getting them local. Tractor Supply and Agway may still have chicks, but I'm not sure.