Pick my chicks!

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Jacob Cockcroft

Jacob Cockcroft

In the Brooder
Dec 17, 2017
10
35
49
Northwest Arkansas
Hi, I plan to start my chicken-keeping journey this spring by purchasing 3 hens for my backyard. My last name (Cockcroft) means “rooster-farm” so I guess it’s in the blood! I am having trouble deciding which breed to start with, so I would love some suggestions that fit what I’m looking for:

1. Brown eggs (yeah, I’m superficial)
2. My wife and I have a 3 year old son, so we’d like a breed that is good around kids (non-aggressive)
3. A decent layer but not necessarily prolific...enough for 3 hens to provide eggs for the three of us for as much of the year as possible (year-round would be awesome) to start.
4. Pretty birds are a nice bonus but not top priority
5. We have a small backyard for supervised free-ranging but otherwise kept in a run
6. Heat tolerant and decently cold-hardy (we live in Northern Arkansas)
7. Having potential to integrate well with other egg-laying breeds if we expand our flock in a year or two. We plan on buying more land in a couple of years.
8. Still wrapping my head around the idea of culling older ones for meat but this is probably in the cards. We are ultimately looking to perpetuate a flock for greater self-reliance and sustainability.

I’ll probably go with whichever breed gets the most recommendations, so here’s your chance to pick my chicks for me!
 
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Welcome to BYC!!!

A welsummer is a nice breed that lays brown eggs, & is pretty. Here is an image of mine:
IMG_3520.JPG

As for the other things, I'm not to sure about.
 
G’Day from down under Jacob :frow Welcome!

You might be interested in downloading this free e-book My First Year With Chickens and/or find this article helpful: Pickin a Chicken

I have a small flock of spoiled, freeloading bantams who spend more time broody than they do actually laying eggs so I am probably not going to be of much assistance to you. They are heat tolerant :p

Anyways, I do hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

You might want to also Find Your State Thread and pop in and say hello.

Personally, I have found the Topic of the Week articles a great resource and a one stop shop for questions which may have already been discussed within the BYC membership group.

Best wishes for a bright and cheerful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
 
:welcome:celebrate

Glad you're here!

When it's time, please make your chickens a FIRST AID KIT for any issues that would arise.
It's definitely better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it.

I have no idea quite yet what would be good. We currently only have red sex links. They aren't aggressive, but are pretty prolific layers... and pretty boring to look at. We're looking in to getting Buckeyes as a more sustainable chicken for our family.
 
Hey there! :welcome
Hmm, some of that stuff you named will be hard to find all in one bird, probably. Although I myself don't have chickens (but my mom, Lord willing, should let me get some next spring, too), I'll write down some breeds trying to fit your description of most of what you're looking for, based on what I've read about them, too.
Okay, 1. There are SO many brown egg layers! Barred Rocks (BR or BPR), Rhode Island Reds (RIR), Black Australorps (BA), Buff Orpingtons (BO), Golden Buffs (Red Sex Link -RSL), Speckled Sussexes (though their eggs tend to be lighter), etc., to name a few (though I know some of these people already named some of these ones). I recommend a Dominique, which is another brown egg layer.
2. Red Sex Links. They seem to be great with children, based on pretty much everything that I've read; Black Australorps, Cochins, or, again, Dominiques, or a Speckled Sussex.
3. Dominique (and possibly Speckled Sussex, which I'll just shorten it to SS).
4. Well, any spotted breed I find pretty (such as the SS)! But...the question really is: What do you find pretty? If you like the barring, you should try the Dominique, Cuckoo Marans, or BR. If you like speckled, try the SS.
5. SSs are fine in confinement, I believe, even though they like free-ranging (and I think the Doms are like that, too).
6. Dominique. Easter Egger. Probably BAs.
7. The Doms and SSs are pretty friendly with other birds, I believe. And Salmon Favorelles. You could try a Marans, too (most of them lay eggs typically on the darker brown side).
As for question eight, I'll let someone else answer that! :)
Sorry my response is SO long... I hope it's helpful, though.
Love, Cara
 
Hello:frow
Welcome to BYC!!
So glad to have you here!!
Thanks for sharing your story!!
Red sex links have been my best besides my bantams.. they let my 16mnt old hand feed them. There is one in my profile picture. They are very sweet and loving.
There are many people on here that are ready to help in anyway they can!
The learning center also has alot of great information on it as well!
Enjoy!:wee
​
 
Hi There,

I have been dreaming of getting my own chickens for years and come spring next year it will finally be a reality :celebrate

I told ya that to say, I have done a lot of research on this site and many others about what my first flock of hens should be. I to am looking for the same qualities in my chickens that you are. So here is the list:

Welsummers
Australorps
Buff Orpingtons
Wyandottes
Speckled Sussex

I kind of want a mixed flock so I am going to start with these.
 

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