Sussex, Plymouth Rocks or Australorps for Michigan Backyard?

[Tardigrade1]

Hi everyone! We are a family of 5 (w/kids ages 4, 2, and newborn) living in the Grand Rapids, MI area. We are totally new to chicken keeping, but are hoping to start up a small flock by next spring.

We have a fenced, 1/2 acre yard (with a few trees) near a forested parcel of land, and are zoned for up to 6 hens, no roosters. The chickens would be mostly free-ranging on our property but would also have a run for protection from predators. We have our eye on a couple of breeds, and Australorps, Plymouth Rocks and Sussex are three of our favorites (some family members have kept these breeds and they seem incredibly sweet)! Which in your opinion might be the best beginner breed for our situation? Here is what we are looking for:

--Novice-friendly
--Good egg layers (ideally a flock of 6 could make a dent in our weekly egg needs, even in cold weather)
--Docile temperaments, very kid-friendly (we have curious toddlers) and gentle with other flock members
--Very cold/snow tolerant (West Michigan winters tend to hover around 20-40F during the day, sometimes get below zero, with frequent lake effect snow storms and flurries)
--Moderate-high heat/humidity tolerance (we have hot and humid summers, usually 70s & 80s but sometimes getting into the 90s)
--Good at evading predators (we get raccoons, coyotes and hawks pretty frequently)
--Great foragers (we have mosquitoes, ticks and flies in the spring and summer, so willingness to forage and pick off stray bugs would be a plus)
--Healthy and hardy, not particularly prone to ailments or mites
--Not super noisy (we are zoned residential/suburban and have neighbors on either side of us)

Would either of these breeds be a good fit? Or would something else be more appropriate?

Thank you all so much!!

 

[nuthatched]

Friendliness is up to the individual chicken, it's generally not across a breed. All those are good for your needs, however, im my experience, Rocks can get noisy. I personaly favor the sussex. My australorps were perpetually broody so I'm not sure about how well they lay. Most chickens will not lay when there's less than 13 hours of sunlight, so I doubt they will they in winter. Have you considered Brahmas? They are good with cold weather, quiet and Mellow.

 

[desp4him]

I recommend Americans because they tend to be very docile and sweet, They lay greenish blue eggs. But they quite
laying in the end fall and start up in the early spring

 

[desp4him]

Golden comets are so sweet and calm.they live to 4 to 5 years on average, but they can Lay 280 to 330 eggs a year witch is very good.

 

[nuthatched]

I recommend Americans because they tend to be very docile and sweet, They lay greenish blue eggs. But they quite
laying in the end fall and start up in the early spring

Golden comets are so sweet and calm.they live to 4 to 5 years on average, but they can Lay 280 to 330 eggs a year witch is very good.

Americaunas (easter eggers) aren't very cold weather hardy but they would be great for anyone is slighty warmer climates. Productions birds suffer horribly from reproduction issues and a have a drasticly shortened lifespan resulting from issues from their high production. I wouldn't recommend them as started birds.

 

[Tardigrade1]

Thanks guys! Brahmas seem like great birds but would they fare well in hot humid summers? I might have some concerns about their heat tolerance due to their large size/feathered legs/etc.

 

[Tardigrade1]

We have also been considering faverolles due to their temperament, but have some of the same concerns as with brahmas re: heat/humidity tolerance, susceptibility to mites, etc.

 

[thatchickenmama]

Great discussion! Following!

 

[picklestheduck]

Hi everyone! We are a family of 5 (w/kids ages 4, 2, and newborn) living in the Grand Rapids, MI area. We are totally new to chicken keeping, but are hoping to start up a small flock by next spring.

We have a fenced, 1/2 acre yard (with a few trees) near a forested parcel of land, and are zoned for up to 6 hens, no roosters. The chickens would be mostly free-ranging on our property but would also have a run for protection from predators. We have our eye on a couple of breeds, and Australorps, Plymouth Rocks and Sussex are three of our favorites (some family members have kept these breeds and they seem incredibly sweet)! Which in your opinion might be the best beginner breed for our situation? Here is what we are looking for:

--Novice-friendly
--Good egg layers (ideally a flock of 6 could make a dent in our weekly egg needs, even in cold weather)
--Docile temperaments, very kid-friendly (we have curious toddlers) and gentle with other flock members
--Very cold/snow tolerant (West Michigan winters tend to hover around 20-40F during the day, sometimes get below zero, with frequent lake effect snow storms and flurries)
--Moderate-high heat/humidity tolerance (we have hot and humid summers, usually 70s & 80s but sometimes getting into the 90s)
--Good at evading predators (we get raccoons, coyotes and hawks pretty frequently)
--Great foragers (we have mosquitoes, ticks and flies in the spring and summer, so willingness to forage and pick off stray bugs would be a plus)
--Healthy and hardy, not particularly prone to ailments or mites
--Not super noisy (we are zoned residential/suburban and have neighbors on either side of us)

Would either of these breeds be a good fit? Or would something else be more appropriate?

Thank you all so much!!

Welcome to BYC neighbor!! I’m in southern Michigan! I have brahmas, Rhode Island reds, buff orpingtons, golden laced wyandottes, and a red sex link (which was a mix up with the farm store, but I don’t mind). I personally love the buff orpingtons best, they do great over the winter and during the summer, the main thing is to have proper ventilation, and they should be ok. My brahmas also do pretty well during the winter and summer. I always make sure to have lots of shade, and a cool shallow water dish they can dip their feet in (which they love to do when they get hot). Also, keeping them in a grassy environment seems to keep them cooler too. Good luck!! And happy chicken journey!!

Side note: all my chickens do great over the winter, but be careful with chickens with big combs since my Rhode Island Red rooster got frostbite on his comb.