What breed(s) to start with?

[Idaho Phil]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this. I'm totally new to chickens. I have never even really been around them much. I want to raise a few for eggs mostly and want a breed(s) that are easy to handle, quiet, good egg layers and maybe good for the dinner table. What breeds would you recommend to a total newbie and why? Im looking to get 4-6 to start with.

Thanks

 

[Judy]

One of the dual purpose large fowl, such as Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Sussex, Plymouth Barred Rock, or Orpington. If you will be getting hatchery or feed store birds, I would recommend Black Australorp, Buff Orpington, or Speckled Sussex. You could also get a combination of these; they will do fine together. Even if you order or purchase all females, there will most likely be mistakes, as vent sexing runs about 90% accurate -- so you can decide later which way to go as far as your rooster, and which to breed.

 

[Judy]

You'll want to avoid what hatcheries call Rhode Island Reds; they are a far cry from the real thing. Hatchery Barred Rocks are OK, I guess, though they vary a lot, and to me are difficult to process, as you get these dark spots in the skin where the feathers inserted that are a pain to remove. The 3 I mentioned are usually mild mannered and relatively easy to tame. They are about as meaty as backyard chickens get, unless you get Cornish Cross -- not a sustainable bird, not a breed but a patented cross, available only as chicks, and with several disadvantages (you can read all about them in our Meat Birds section.) Speckled Sussex were originally developed as a meat bird, decades ago, but all 3 are meaty. Orps are supposed to have a bit more meat on the legs, if you are a dark meat person.

 

[Idaho Phil]

You'll want to avoid what hatcheries call Rhode Island Reds; they are a far cry from the real thing. Hatchery Barred Rocks are OK, I guess, though they vary a lot, and to me are difficult to process, as you get these dark spots in the skin where the feathers inserted that are a pain to remove. The 3 I mentioned are usually mild mannered and relatively easy to tame. They are about as meaty as backyard chickens get, unless you get Cornish Cross -- not a sustainable bird, not a breed but a patented cross, available only as chicks, and with several disadvantages (you can read all about them in our Meat Birds section.) Speckled Sussex were originally developed as a meat bird, decades ago, but all 3 are meaty. Orps are supposed to have a bit more meat on the legs, if you are a dark meat person.

Thank you for the information. I am fortunate to have a hatchery in the town right next to me and will probably buy from there. I have been reading about Buff Orpintons. I am thinking they would be a nice start along with black Australorp. I appreciate the response.

 

[moomin]

you should probaly start with warrens. leave them in the nest box for a day and then the next day open the doors of there hutch and wait for them to come out. If they don't come out by an hour or so put some vegables outside and if they are still not out by midday you may need to lift them out. over time if you go to them lots they will get tamer and run up to you and follow you around. they cheer you up and I always find myself smiling at there fluffy bums! I hope this helps and that you start with these because this is what we started with and they worked. they genrally produce 300 light brown eggs a year and I am not sure if the chickens are good for eating.... sorry! you can get them from longdown dairy farm and they can tell you all you need to know. at around 18 months you will start to get eggs which gradully get bigger. in autumn they may stop laying for a month or so while they moult, this is normal. you have made a good choice getting chickens there eggs are bright orange and usaully "fresh" supermarket eggs are at least three weeks old! your chickens eeggs will be much fresher then that I'll tell you!
moomin (another newbie!)

 

[moomin]

sorry, I should have just edited but this is not really to do with that.... its a warning. It isn't bad but it is a warning. In the end you may say you keep the chickens simply for food but it isn't just that......... in the end you will love them! I certainly love mine and we care for them and do you know, we hang toys up for them! we get a CD and tie the string like you do in a neclace and then we put them around where the chickens explore! so be warned, oh and one last thing, If they are for the dinner table DON'T NAME THEM!! and if you have children and they're for the table, DEFINATLY DON'T NAME THEM!!!!!
moomin

 

[Idaho Phil]

sorry, I should have just edited but this is not really to do with that.... its a warning. It isn't bad but it is a warning. In the end you may say you keep the chickens simply for food but it isn't just that......... in the end you will love them! I certainly love mine and we care for them and do you know, we hang toys up for them! we get a CD and tie the string like you do in a neclace and then we put them around where the chickens explore! so be warned, oh and one last thing, If they are for the dinner table DON'T NAME THEM!! and if you have children and they're for the table, DEFINATLY DON'T NAME THEM!!!!!
moomin

Thanks for the update Moomin,
I have raised many animals for the dinner table; cows, pigs and even sheep. Although I never ate the sheep I sold them to people I know where going to eat them. I just never raised chickens. I will say that my main focus is on eggs and having the chickens to enjoy. I don't plan to eat them, however I do want a breed that if I decide to or need to cull one or two, I could enjoy eating them. That being said, I agree, don't name them. I don't have any kids at home anymore but my wife always named the cows even knowing we were going to slaughter them. I tried to warn her but she wouldn't listen. lol

 

[slhopper]

I named mine things like Ham and Bacon, Tandoori, etc I sent my hogs out for processing, I enjoyed them while I had them and knew they had a way better life than if they had been on a feedlot. I think it is good to know where our food comes from, how it is raised and to really appreciate the gift that animals are to us

 

[Idaho Phil]

Lol.. my wife's favorite steer she named, Cow Chow.. I named one Sir Loin.. we would only have 2 or three at a time so it was easier to get fond of them..

 

[moomin]

no problem, hope all the info helps and that you can raise a happy, healfy flock of chickens to scrach about outside
moomin

PS. Just realized we joined on the same day and our threads are nearly the same! ;-D