What breed should I try next? What are your favorites?

[RonB]

I have Barred Rocks, RIR's, Delawares,Welsummers and sexlinks. BUT my favorite by FAR is my little California White. she is the friendliest of my flock. She lays a nice medium size egg. she loves to sit in my lap or on my shoulder and share whatever I am eatting. I will be getting another one in the spring. They don't seem to be that popular. BUT I love them

 

[cbeth95]

Quote:
Their feathers don't really hold the heat in well- they need some warmth compared to say a Buff Orpington.

I give my silkies light bulbs in the coop to just take the chill off (100 watt). I have it secured two ways. They REALLY like the extra warmth. I love making them comfortable. In fact I do that with all my breeds when it gets down to freezing at night.

If you provide them with heat ALL the time, if your power goes out, be prepared to bring them in to the garage or something so they don't die.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92702
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=99105

Don't let anyone bully your silkies since they have a soft spot in their heads like a baby. They can become neurologically damaged or killed by pecks to the head.

Oh I forgot to tell you my favorite breeds: EEs, silkies, welsummers, d'uccles, cochins, and Golden Campines (which I had to sell since they flew over my fence all the time). All the ones I mentioned are super sweet- and my silkies tend to be near the top of the pecking order!

Oh, and also, I wanted to add that my Golden Sex Links are really bully-ish toward other breeds. Just a warning! I found two of my EEs cowering in the corner of the coop last night (all these girls are around 6-7 months old).

Another thing- some folks don't give their silkies any heat at all- just remember that not all coops are created equal. I have chickens in rabbit hutches with pieces of plywood up for a wind break- open bottom! Another coop of mine is an uninsulated metal shed. Other people have insulated sheds that effectively could be a small house! And they don't heat. My chickens would freeze to death in some winter weather because of they type of coops I have. Use your judgement.

I have a Buff Orp, and she manages very well in the cooler temps. My pullets snuggle around her to keep warm at night. I have a very thickly made coop, I believe its made from pine. All walls are at least 2 1/2 in. thick. And the floor may be thicker. I make sure they have nice fluffy, warm hay in their house at all times during the winter. They seem to stay in their house when its REALLY cold and windy, so it must be warm. I'm not afraid to bring them inside, if need be. But I do not have power out to the coop...like I wanted.

Do you think if I get some more Buff Orps, or maybe some Cochins, that the silkies will keep warm by snuggling with one another?

Thanks.

 

[Mak]

I have Red Stars (sexlinks), Dominiques, a BR and Polish. My faves for egg production are the sexlinks. The cold has not slowed them one bit. I get an egg a day from all of them pretty much all the time. Every two-three weeks one will take a day off. Next are the Doms. They give me eggs about 5 days out of seven. I don't think my BR is laying now. Could be the cold. She seems to be one of the ones who is always most fluffed up and chilly looking, but that may be me interpreting her fluffiness. The Polish, I have to say, are my least favorite right now. Nothing against the breed, really. I got them because I wanted a couple different looking chickens. One turned out to be a rooster, and he is, well, different! For one thing, that pouf of his is irresistible to the other hens. They pick on his head constantly. I have to keep it trimmed way back. He's reasonabll laid back and only tries to challenge me once in a while, and is easy to back off. But as for the rest of the usual rooster behaviors? When he finds treats or goodies in the yard, he digs right in and starts eating them himself. I've never seen him call the hens over like I've heard so many times. He's also not very good at the mating thing. The hens cackle a bit at him when he tries and he backs off and walks away. I get very few fertilized eggs from them. Not that it is a big deal, I wasn't planning on hatching chicks anyway. Just running down his behavior. I think he is headed for freezer camp once the weather warms up. The Polish hen is a cutie. She's WC splash and is mostly white with very little "splash." When she is sitting on the roost at night, with her feathers all fluffed up, she looks like she has a big chrysanthemum sitting on her head! LOL But she hasn't laid a single egg since we got them. The others all started in late fall. I doubt I will get an egg from her till Spring now.

The Polish also seem to not like the cold. I don't think I'd get more, but that's just me.

So as others have said, it depends on what you want. Each breed is different, and they will all behave differently (to a degree) depending on where they are and how they are kept.

On a side note, I am going to add a few hens to my flock in Spring, too. Now some of you have me thinking about Brahmas.... Hmmmm.

 

[cbeth95]

Yea, I know, really. I want Brahmas now!

 

[chixie]

I love my silkies and I am buyinmg more in the spring

 

[terrilhb]

I love my RIR. They are awesome. I also love my Rosecomb Bantam Rooster.

 

[cbeth95]

I think I'm gonna go with Silkies, Brahmas, Cochins, Plymouth Rocks, and Polish!

Thanks all.

**Feel Free to post more of your favorite breeds**

 

[Cowgirl71]

Make sure to do your research on the different Plymouth Rock varieties. Barred, Buff, White, Partridge, Silver Penciled, etc. each have their own characteristics besides feather color. For example, Barred and White will we be the best layers, and Partridge is most likely to go broody. Things like that.

 

[cbeth95]

Quote:
Oh cool. I will. Thanks.

 

[BooBear]

Wyandottes and Silkies.