The Breed to Meet Our Needs?

[3KillerBs]

I'm still researching (and prodding DH to find out if chickens are legal here), and this time I have questions about breeds.
I used that breed selector tool to narrow down some of the options and now I'd appreciate some feedback from backyard chicken keepers.

We want about half a dozen laying hens. We're much too much in town for a rooster. Cost of upkeep is an issue. So we tentatively ruled out the larger dual purpose birds -- the Delawares and Brahmas -- assuming that larger birds eat more.

We need good egg production. We want the ability to make good use of grass, garden waste, bugs, kitchen scraps, etc. in a partially pastured arrangement. Docility is critical since a 9yo and a 3yo will be taught to assist with them (the teens have little interest and established chores already).

I've shown my DH a lot of pictures and we both prefer the look of black or black and white patterned chickens over the brown, gold, and/or red chickens. There are so many kinds why not get the ones we'll most enjoy looking at?

I like brown eggs but its not critical. However, if we were to sell any surplus eggs I think that people around here would expect farm eggs to be something other than white.

Finally, it gets HOT here in the steamy southeast. 95/95 weather is the norm from June through August so the ability to bear heat and keep laying is important. Winters are mild though so cold-tolerance isn't a worry.

We're leaning towards Black Australorps and Silver-laced Wyandottes. Neither of us cares for the look of the Barred Rocks -- narrow stripes make me dizzy. LOL

We haven't ruled out Easter Eggers (do they lay normal, large eggs or are their eggs smaller?). And though we leaned towards the old-fashioned "farmyard" breeds, I'm wondering if we should be considering the black sex links.

Cost and availability of started pullets is also an issue.

Am I on the right track? Have I gotten anything wrong about the breeds I've mentioned?

Is there something about any of them that I should take into consideration?

Are there breeds that meet our needs that I didn't mention and may not have considered?

Thanks in advance. I've learned so much reading the FAQs and learning sections and looking back through old forum threads that I'm confident you all will give me good advice.

 

[NGT ANGL]

I am partial to Orpingtons and Cochins. I have bantam cochins and standard Orpingtons - about 10 chickens total and they don't cost a lot to feed since I supplement their food with grass, garden/kitchen waste, etc. They are both docile breeds who are reputed to do very well with children. They also come in a wide variety of colors - not just the standard buff, black, etc. Egg production is good and eggs are brown. They are popular breeds so purchasing shouldn't be a problem. I live in Virginia and while this is my first summer of having them and the summer has been abnormally mild in my opinion, I think these two breeds would do OK with the hotter temps as well. These are just my personal "newbie" opinions and I am sure the other more knowledgeable folks on BYC can give more insight. BTW - I have a pair of large fowl buff Brahmas and while I adore them for themselves, I haven't had great success with egg production from the hen.....

Good luck!

 

[Renee]

Hi there, and welcome to BYC!
Isn't it fun choosing chickens?

I have a Silver-laced Wyandotte and a Columbian Wyandotte. Both are beautiful and friendly. Both lay medium-sized light brown eggs, but the Columbian's are speckled. The Columbian, Blanche, is an especially cuddly bird, and I think she is just gorgeous. I would recommend either or both for your purposes.

Since I can buy eggs here for 99 cents a dozen, keeping the chickens has not been cost effective. I don't think the difference between a Brahma's feed requirements and an Australorp's would really be felt with only six chickens, so you may want to reconsider Brahmas.

Black Sex-links are not entirely black, so you will probably be happier with an Australorp in terms of looks. Australorps also have beautiful big black eyes.

Rocks come in white as well as barred. They are really nice birds, and good egg-layers.

Another really beautiful breed that fits most of your qualifications is the Speckled Sussex. It is a mahogany brown with black and white speckles. They lay large brown eggs and are very calm and docile.

Good luck in your quest for the perfect backyard chickens!
Renee

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

SLWs are extremely cold hardy, according to the hatchery catalog that I ordered from. SLWs might not be able to handle the weather in the summer, my girl is toasty already. I am worried about both girls, especially the SLW, in temps above 85 F...that would be my only caution. Linner the SLW is tame, calm, and relatively docile (she can be nippy sometimes but not horribly, more like a warning usually than intending to really hurt, like a dog or cat would) -- she is trained to jump on my arm and sit so I can carry her around. Overall I highly recommend the SLW, except for the temp considerations.

 

[patandchickens]

You might consider sexlinks as well. They are smaller and less feed-consuming than big things like Orpingtons, and lay like the blazes, and most of them are between fairly and very calm/tame once they get used to you (as with anything, there are exceptions, and it'd be good to meet some fullgrown samples from the source you're considering to see whether they've got personalities you'd get along with)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[wombat]

RIRs are efficient layers, as are the sex-links mentioned. We have some with small children (mostly RIR "mutts") and they are well tempered. Since you're in a hot area, have you considered naked-necks? Or a naked-neck-RIR crosses? They're good layers, and they are not as ugly as they look in pics! They are docile birds, and one of ours, "Fugly" (ok, they are kinda ugly, in an endearing way), a RIR-nakedneck cross is a favorite of our children! In my (limited) experience, naked-necks are also very adaptive foragers, if you can free-range yours about your yard some of the time ...

None of the above are the color you're looking for, though! (there are black sex-links if you are set on that) ... However, unless you're planning on breeding, or want uniformity of eggs that you are intending to sell, half the fun of hobby-chickens are the endless varieties!

Probably best to just make a list of what *not* to get, and go from there.

 

[Uppity Peon]

Since you don't want any roos, and want good egg production, get sex-links. BSLs since you like black. Otherwise I would say RSLs would be as good.

But EEs are some of the most visually interesting backyard flocks. No two birds will be the same. It makes it easy to tell them apart. But you may get some roosters.

But whatever you do... have fun with it!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We are here in NC as well, here is run down of what we raise. Buff orps are a good choice for a year round layer and docile. Cochins lay good in the cooler weather but not in the heat of the summer - they suffer when it hits the triple digits they are super docile. RIR's - ours have slowed down in laying this summer - good cooler layers. they hens are calm. Marans don't lay well in the heat but great cooler layers- the calmest birds we have. Speckled Sussex - don't lay that well in the cold but are steady layers right now, also calm birds

Steve in NC

 

[Junkmanme]

Hi !

With my limited knowledge, I believe that Steve of SandsPoultry has given you "expert" recommendations.

I also think that you should consider "Black Sex-Links" such as "Black Stars". They are VERY FINE layers!

If I understand your ultimate objectives correctly, your PRIMARY interest is eggs and "initial cost" and ongoing "feed costs". Black Stars are prolific egg-layers and are often available through hatcheries on a "special" or at some discount. IF you can view them BEFORE purchase, such as at a local feed store,....it is EASY to determine (on day-old chicks) the cockerels from the pullets (the cockerels will have a white spot on their heads, unlike the pullets which will not have that spot.)

They will produce as well as any on a cost for feed basis........with perhaps an exception made for White Leghorns....which I've heard are the BEST LAYERS of WHITE EGGS. Black Stars lay a Brown (tan) Egg.

just another thing for you to consider..

Best Wishes for a good flock!

-Junkmanme-

 

[CMV]

I would not recommend SLW as I have GLW and they are bothered by the heat. Another thing to keep in mind is that Wyandottes are known to go broody- I have one that hasn't laid regularly all spring and summer because she's been broody. When I had 6 hens- GLW and Jersey Giants- it cost less than $12 per month to feed them. They are lovely birds.