thoughts on these breeds for children?

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
You might try Craigslist first you may get more of a variety to choose from.

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

We started out with speckled susex, SLW, golden comets, and easter eggers from Mt. Healthy last year. What I've noticed, our speckled sussex are the friendliest and don't mind being carted around under the arm of my 4 yo.

We added buff orps this year for the broody potential and their reported friendliness.

 

[jenn-E]

Not many chickens on craigslist here for some reason. There are a variety of feed stores with different types of chicks. I think the Sussex & Welsummer will have to be special-ordered. I thought about ordering directly from a hatchery, but 25 chicks is a lot more than I had in mind (I started out thinking we would get 2 or 3, but as I looked at different breeds, I decided I wanted an assortment, so now I'm thinking 8 or so). I would have probably ranked BOs instead of EEs, but my kids wanted the colored eggs, and I read they are prone to broodiness. I'll add Brahmas to my back-up list as well; if I can't find one of the other breeds, or for next year, since it seems like this can be an addictive hobby.

 

[pdsavage]

Lots of hatcheries have small orders on chicks Ideal has a $25 limit instead of a chick limit,cackle has a small flock special...uhm uhm oh yeah my pet chicken has small orders also,there are more just cant think of them now....

 

[jenn-E]

Ideal sends extra male chicks if you place a small order. My Pet Chicken & one of the others (Meyer maybe) will ship fewer, but they charge you extra (in the range of $35-45). It is cheaper just to order 25 chicks. Which is what I was about to do until my husband made me come to my senses! Even figuring for losing some & getting a few roos, we were likely to end up with more chickens than we (or our coop) could handle. If I can't find what I want locally, I might see if I can find someone to go in on an order with me. A 1/2 order would be manageable. The feed store I talked to said that they could add 5 chicks of any breed to their next order if the hatchery has them. I'm just waiting to hear back if/when they might be available. I think they use Privett, which I have heard mixed things about, but since we're in New Mexico, my guess is that's who everybody uses.

 

[pdsavage]

I ordered 15 from country hatcher they only sent me one extra of the same breed I ordered wich was another Speckled Sussex...And country hatchery includes shipping in the price of the chicks....
http://www.countryhatchery.net/chickens.html
http://www.cacklehatchery.com/

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Quote:
I though so too until one of my friends told me their rooster spurred their daughter and started chasing her around the yard!

 

[Loddie Da]

Penedesenca: very good layers of very dark eggs, but they can be alittle flighty, Delaware: good layer, sweet personalities & very winter sterdy, Faverolles: are sweet as can be & lay a average amount or alittle over, Wyandottes, Orps., RIR, N.H. & Sexlinks are all good choices too, Most of your blah. brown laying "barnyard breeds" are not flighty & good with children.

& I agree Easter Eggers are all but a must.


~Della~

 

[kristen2678]

Our EE and Buff Orpington are great. My 3 year old can carry them around. We recently lost our Light Brahma. She was perfectly friendly but not out going like the others.

 

[hipeatall]

Quote:
Have you tried feedstores? The ones here (in Texas) still have chicks... you might even be able to have them "special order" some for you. I'm glad your kiddos talked you into EE's... ours are the sweetest things... of course, they were our first ever birds and got handled ALOT so we have a great bond with those girls.
Good luck to you!!! and yes, there is always next year to add breeds

and the year after that... and then you get an incubator... oh my!