Stay at home Mom ready to raise some chicks!

Hardy breeds and good layers that have a well deserved reputation for being friendly, calm, and gentle (great breeds for children) include Australorps, Orpingtons, Brahmas, and Sussex. My children made lap pets of all of these breeds. If eggs are a priority, Australorps are the best layers on this list. If you are not objectionable to hybrids, you might also want to consider Black Sex Links (Black Stars) which are hardy and friendly, egg laying machines. I've raised them for years (along with dozens of other breeds and hybrids), and they have been my best layers, consistently churning out more than 300 eggs per hen per year. Whatever breeds or hybrids you end up getting, good luck with your flock.


Good info! I'll keep my eyes peeled for the Australorps and Black sex links. Many thanks.
 
Hello! BYC is a great place for chicken-lovers, as you will soon become. My husband and I bought some land last year and hope to have some farm animals one day ($$$) but started with chickens and I an IN LOVE with them! We got our first 6 chicks at 3 days old from a friend who has a farm and my husband built a beautiful little coop for them. All went well until one horrible day in November when some predator killed all 6 of them. It absolutely broke my heart, I cried all day. They were "mutts" as far as chickens go ( I think they were Easter Eggers but Im a newbie so Im not sure) but they were so cool. One of them loved me and loved to be picked up and held and they all happily clucked around our feet when we let them out to free-range. My avatar is me holding Marilyn. I have since learned that it my experience with chicken predators is not at all unusual. After a month or so I was ready to try again. We ordered 15 assorted brown egg layers from a hatchery. Two did not survive the trip but I now have 13 gorgeous 5 week old girls, ready to move into the new Fort Knox of chicken coops that the hubs built. These chicks are super friendly and crawl all over me like a puppy! I am in love with them and have enjoyed every minute of them being here. I hope you and your kids enjoy the chicken experience. It is truly a lot of fun. I had no idea how much I would get out of it and hopefully in the spring, we will also have eggs! Woo Hoo! Sincerely, Jeri FIRST COOP SECOND COOP
The predator issue makes me super nervous. I'm so sorry that happened. The hubby and I have much to discuss about protection when he builds the coop. Those coop in the picture are beautiful!
 

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