Wasn't sure where to put this but parents said yes to chickens :)

[ShrekDawg]

Great choices! It's great that you've done so much research, it sounds like those breeds will suit you perfectly

We have kept red stars for five or six years now, and they are excellent layers. They don't break in winter and most of ours don't even molt every year. We get an egg a day from each, and they are large tasty eggs. However there's always a violent one in our flock who attacks our feet, usually the lead hen in the pecking order - I suspect this is because we don't have any roosters so one of the hens always takes it upon herself to... fill the vacancy lol. But other than that they're all pretty friendly, especially when they're chicks.

I've heard good things about buff orpingtons especially, but all the other breeds too. And you should get a silkie, they really are quite funny looking.

I'd like to work in Subway, they always have the best food smells wafting around in there, lol. I've been looking for a job for years, and am yet to actually land a paid one. However, I have only done online applications and one CV-distributing tour of the city in all that time, and opportunity doesn't tend to knock on one's door when one slacks off. Anyway, good luck, and I hope you find one that you like!

Thank you!! And wow, they sound awesome!! I'm not sure if it was red stars or a similar breed but I just read on the breed page here earlier that this persons flock had tons of health problems? Particularly with eggs stuck or whatever? And either in the same review or another page it had said that production and hybrid breeds arent as hardy/have health problems? but Idk if it's true or not. Just wondering your opinion and experience since you have stars

But yeah, buff Orps seem like just massive, fluffy teddy bears. Hahah the other breeds seem good too so I'm glad you think so I've heard barred rocks can be bossy and mean though, not necessarily to people, but to other birds, and if you have something docile like Orps, they're likely to get picked on, but I've also heard a few say their barred rocks are sweet so now I'm not sure or if I want them. I do want rocks but not if they're gonna bully birds, should I just wait and see?

But yeah, that makes sense about the hen taking over. I'm glad we're not getting a roo, I've heard some can be real sweethearts but others are complete terrors so I don't wanna risk it. I've heard that RIR roos can be especially problematic. Hahah

And oh, subway is delicious! But aww really? That sucks I hope you find something!! But thank you so much I'm gonna apply to subway now haha

 

[Fierlin1182]

Great choices! It's great that you've done so much research, it sounds like those breeds will suit you perfectly

We have kept red stars for five or six years now, and they are excellent layers. They don't break in winter and most of ours don't even molt every year. We get an egg a day from each, and they are large tasty eggs. However there's always a violent one in our flock who attacks our feet, usually the lead hen in the pecking order - I suspect this is because we don't have any roosters so one of the hens always takes it upon herself to... fill the vacancy lol. But other than that they're all pretty friendly, especially when they're chicks.

I've heard good things about buff orpingtons especially, but all the other breeds too. And you should get a silkie, they really are quite funny looking.

I'd like to work in Subway, they always have the best food smells wafting around in there, lol. I've been looking for a job for years, and am yet to actually land a paid one. However, I have only done online applications and one CV-distributing tour of the city in all that time, and opportunity doesn't tend to knock on one's door when one slacks off. Anyway, good luck, and I hope you find one that you like!

Thank you!! And wow, they sound awesome!! I'm not sure if it was red stars or a similar breed but I just read on the breed page here earlier that this persons flock had tons of health problems? Particularly with eggs stuck or whatever? And either in the same review or another page it had said that production and hybrid breeds arent as hardy/have health problems? but Idk if it's true or not. Just wondering your opinion and experience since you have stars

But yeah, buff Orps seem like just massive, fluffy teddy bears. Hahah the other breeds seem good too so I'm glad you think so I've heard barred rocks can be bossy and mean though, not necessarily to people, but to other birds, and if you have something docile like Orps, they're likely to get picked on, but I've also heard a few say their barred rocks are sweet so now I'm not sure or if I want them. I do want rocks but not if they're gonna bully birds, should I just wait and see?

But yeah, that makes sense about the hen taking over. I'm glad we're not getting a roo, I've heard some can be real sweethearts but others are complete terrors so I don't wanna risk it. I've heard that RIR roos can be especially problematic. Hahah

And oh, subway is delicious! But aww really? That sucks I hope you find something!! But thank you so much I'm gonna apply to subway now haha

Well we've only had six different birds over the years (we buy them in twos) and all of them have been fine. Of course after a while they get old and frail and then they die, but that's all natural. Our first lead hen seemed to get a bit sick towards the end of her life but she was always the very vicious and territorial one, so perhaps she had high blood pressure or something, lol. But old Feathers was an exception, all our other hens have been very healthy with much better temperaments, and they're living well into four/five years of age (quite good for red stars I gather because they're bred to lay like crazy for a couple of years, and then they slow down). Here in Aus it gets quite toasty in summer and our second hen was killed by the heat, but she was also four and a half years old by that point. However I'm sure you don't have to worry about the heat being up north Chickens are always better at dealing with the cold seeing as they have that thick layer of feathers.

I haven't had barred rocks before, but I suppose you'll get different stories from everyone - there's a lot of variety in birds even within a breed. Our red stars are by no means all the same, one of them (Silva) is very sweet and never bothers or is bothered by anyone, whereas Peach and LT are always getting into fights. I'd say go for it and try it out, and if it gets too bad (which I doubt it will, I've heard more stories about nice barred rocks than nasty ones) you can always separate them or even rehome them.

Thank you! I'm okay for the time being seeing as my parents are now letting me live at home without paying rent (I was going to draw youth allowance but my father's income is too high, which I don't think he realised either ) while I do university. However I'm going to need a job if I want to save money for driving lessons or holidays, but none of these things are essential. I mostly want a job for the experience and learning to manage finances, because that's always a useful life skill. But we'll see if I can find anything, if I can't then it's not the end of the world either.

 

[ShrekDawg]

That's good and yeah probably was!! Lol my dad seems to think we don't want one to friendly cause then we won't wanna kill it

And yeah, I think I'll give barred rocks a try, thanks

And that's good!! Hope you find one soon though!!

 

[Fierlin1182]

You could have a few chickens that you keep long term. Are you going to cull them all? We've always kept our chickens until they die naturally. They're like family pets to us so we wouldn't eat them.

And thank you! I hope so too.

 

[ShrekDawg]

True and idk, he wants to eat at least one but maybe he'll change his mind once he sees how cute they are if it were up to me, which it should be, I'd do exactly what you do. I'd get too attached so I'm not sure I'm gonna let him kill it, except maybe when it gets too old or gets aggressive. Haha

And you're welcome!

 

[Fierlin1182]

Sometimes we discuss killing our hens but always decide against it. My parents both have rural backgrounds and know how to do it, but nobody wants to touch the precious chickens. Everyone gets attached to them in the end, even my father who always complains about the mess in the garden

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah, I bet my dad will change his mind or mom will fall in love and not let him. Haha

 

[shannondee12]

I have Buff Orps, Sliver laced wyandottes, EE's, silkies and several mixed breed mutts and my Buff Orps are at the top of the chain. They are never mean to me but definitely don't take anything from the other girls or the younger roosters. They will even go after the ducks and drakes if they haven't had the chance to eat first. Nothing violent, just the occasional peck at the rear end to tell them it wasn't their turn. They seem to be pretty bossy.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Really? Well I guess it just depends on the bird I hope my Orps are like that so they don't get picked on!

 

[ShrekDawg]

So my mom is adamant about NOT eating the birds so hopefully that stays and overpowers my dad haha