Newbie from nw Indiana

[chickman70]

Hello everybody I'm one of the new kids here. I'm going to be starting my flock with 2 chicks in the next few days and hope that I enjoy it enough to grow my herd! I look forward to using some great ideas I've seen here for coops and brooder advise I've read.

I'll be starting with a tractor for now and maybe moving up from there.

I'm looking to get a RIR and a barred rock to start. Are these docile and family friendly? I have 2 young kids that will be handling them so I'm looking for some docile birds...

Thanks for any and all advice in advance!

Randy

 

[toe373]

hey i am a newbie here too, i have a magazine with different chicken breeds and it says that the Rhode Island Red hens are calm and easy to handle but the roosters can become aggressive. not sure about the barred rocks

 

[Natibrati1]

I have some barred rock eggs in my incubator there's 2 of them that were mine and they were fertile they hatch in 8 days so let me no

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

 

[Natibrati1]

The gray barred rooster are good but cochins are realy good

 

[TwoCrows]

You might like to do some reading in our learning center here on BYC. Lots of good reads on all aspects of keeping poultry from building the coop, brooding and raising your new babies, feeding your adult flock and keeping them healthy and safe.There is even a section on making brooders as well...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks are very docile and friendly birds. Spend a lot of time with your new babies, and they will bond nicely with you.

Great to have you aboard and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh, and make sure the young kids don't kiss the babies and always wash your hands after handling baby chicks.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Check out the BYC Breeds section for member reviews on a lot of breeds. https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds you might also consider an Easter Egger / Ameraucana, they tend to be friendly chickens and the blue/green eggs are fun for kids.

 

[drumstick diva]

Kids especially seem to love silkies - they aren't known as great layers but, a lot of people keep some as natural incubators. Some hens go broody often. If you swap out their eggs for any breed of fertile eggs you choose, the broody will hatch it as her own. Cochins are another breed good with kids - then also come in a bantam size - if your kids are young.

 

[gander007]