Tell me which Breeds to get?

[JenniferC]

Does anyone have any experience with how much Brahmas lay? I've read conflicting things on the internet.

 

[herechickchick]

I have a Silkie hen that has never even tried to go broody. I say get a silkie a brahma and a barred rock. My Wyandottes were always loud and mean.

Good Luck

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Brahmas are quiet & lay great & mine haven't ever been broody! DD carries hers all over!
Barred Rocks are great layers mine were abit lound!
Wyandotte can be friendly or stand offish
Silkie will be broody alot!

Buff Orpington, Austrolorps are quiet & lay great & have a good temperment & good with kids!

 

[RebelsHope]

With only three chicks you are going to be able to get them much more hand friendly than mine. I got 25 and sold half, but still that was a lot. My barred rocks are by far the friendliest. My SLW is nice, but not as friendly. None of my flock is very loud.

 

[McGoo]

My Brahma lays a little less than my RIR, but she lays more than the EE's. She's pretty noisy when she's laying, but it's during the daytime so it's not really a problem - just funny. I always know when she's laid an egg.

 

[shmooborp]

i have buff orpingtons! and they are my favorite so far. they are big friendly birds. sooooo sweet.<3 the lay really well also.very gentle birds. BRs are good too.. and SLWs.. have never had brahmas...lol.. but ive heard they are nice.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
I spent 15 years on Queen Anne before moving back 'home' to southwest washington and now have about 110+ chickens. At least I think I do. They don't stand still to be counted and I'm endlessly hatching them out of the incubator becuase I'm a science dork.

 

[RebelsHope]

If it were me I would pay the extra $25 to get bird breeds that I really wanted. You also have the choice of looking on the "for sale" section on here and see if anyone has birds for sale in your area. Or post what you really want and see if you get an answer. You might also check out craigs list for your area. Or take out your own ad saying you would like to go in on an order for 25 birds, and if you can't split the order with others. Just some other options.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Myers will send 3 chicks (just not Brahmas) but, you can have them sex there! my feed store gets straight runs!

http://www.meyerhatchery.com/

 

[JenniferC]

On more complication- I'm inheriting an eglu from a friend- but if I use that, it's too small for more than 2 birds if 1 or more is a brahma. Looks like I'm choosing between a pair- 1 BR and 1 Brahma- or buying a new coop.

I will be borrowing a temporary coop for a little while that is bigger (until I get the eglu from my friend)- but it's not well insulated. Maybe I could jerry rig the temporary one to be better. Also BRs and Brahmas are very cold hardy anyway, right?

Maybe my best bet is to only get 2 anyway- that way I am true to the letter of the law and I can try out this whole chicken thing for a year and see how I likey. If I want more next year and want to invest in a bigger coop, well I can give my kids a chance to raise another couple of chicks next year.

Funny sidenote- I keep seeing the stuff on the internet listing "the northwest" as a "very" cold area to keep chickens. Being from NYC, I find that funny. this winter was a bit chilly, and April is cold thus far, but by and large I think seattle is quite mild temperature-wise. It barely ever even freezes here!



One good thing about Brahmas and BRs is that they really can't fly. We have fencing all around, but it's only 4 feet in large stretches.