What breed of chicks should I get.

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

I'm glad you joined our community.

I would personally pick the Wyandottes. Mine have been good egg layers (over 250 eggs in their first year), very hardy through cold and heat, and have had the most docile, personable, and inquisitive temperaments of all my chickens. Mine have not gone broody, but they are hatchery birds. Hatchery birds in general do not go broody as often as those you would get from a breeder, because hatcheries breed for high egg production (and broody birds don't lay well).

I do not have any personal experience with New Hampshires. However, I will say that they will likely have similar temperaments and egg production to your Rhode Island Reds, unless you get from a breeder. Most hatchery "red" birds, be they Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires, or Red Sex-Links often have similar characteristics, since hatcheries tend to intermix them to create a high production strain.

 

[carmean18]

Thanks I'm gonna pm you!!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

What breeds do you like @yorkshire coop

I like polish chickens, in fact I love them. They are more of a fancy/show persons breed. They produce 130-160 eggs per year if you get a good layer. They can be sporadical on the laying though. They are pretty to look at though with the big fancy crests and diferent colours. The crests bring their own problems and require attention and checking on a regular basis. They can be a haven for mites and feather pecking from other birds. Polish don't do well in a mixed flock and are often at the bottom of the pecking order. The crest also stops them from seeing well so they are better confined rather than free ranging. I do free ranging under supervision, they get lost and spooked easily.
On the plus side they are super friendly and just love being with you often to the point of being pests. They make super lap chickens and are just that bit different.

 

[carmean18]

That is awesome thank you!!

 

[carmean18]

Do you have broodies a lot?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I've only had them coming up a year and I hatched them all myself barring a roo I bought in but they are not a breed known for going broody. Not unheard of though with them. I have had one thinking about it, was in the nest box for hours and when I checked it fluffed up and growled at me!! Chucked it straight out of there. We have spring just around the corner so maybe it will be more committed in the warmer weather.

 

[holm25]

Buff Orpingtons are great birds and New hamps are to

 

[carmean18]

Thank you so much great ad!!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[carmean18]

Thanks