What Breed to get

[nemassis]

Hello Folks

I know this question has been asked before but I thought I would have a go

I am looking at getting 3 birds primarily for pets and eggs being a brucie bonus. I have a 2 year old son and another baby on the way and a little fluffy Lhasa apso who is pretty harmless.
I have a fenced off area at the bottom of the garden which is approx 8m x 6m i currently have a greenhouse in here and i am looking at putting a coop and a run as well. Idea is when i open the run they can run around in the fenced off area rather than straight into the garden but will let them in the garden for a run around.
I haven't brought / made my coop and run yet as was waiting till i decided what breed(s) to get. I am a complete noob to this so some nice placid calm breed(s) would be awesome. Thanks In advanced

Steve

 

[GitaBooks]

Welcome to the wonderful world of chickens!

Cochins are excellent pets! However, they have a tendency to go broody. They are easy to handle, soft to the touch, come in a lot of colors, don't scratch up gardens too badly, and are generally friendly and docile.

There are a lot of other docile breeds as well, including the larger ones like Black Giants, Australorps, and Plymouth Rocks and smaller ones like Silkies and D'uccle. I hear Speckled Sussex are suppose to be pretty good as well. Easter Eggers can be very nice, and they lay rainbow colored eggs!
If you are getting pets I would suggest getting different colors and breeds so its easy to tell them apart.


Best of luck!


(These are my pet silkies along with some standard chicks they raised. My hens laid pretty well when they weren't broody)

 

[nemassis]

Nice one thanks for that. I love the look of your silkies. What is the one on the right that isnt so fluffy?
Easter eggers sound good. I like the idea of multi coloured eggs. Someone mentioned the other day about rhode island reds?
Cochins look like really nice birds. I may have to go have a look at some of them. I have been looking at the peking Bantams aswell.

 

[GitaBooks]

We have Rhode Island Reds, and they can make great pets, but I hear the roosters can be mean, and the hens can be a little rough at times, pecking at you when they want treats. They are full of energy though!

The white chicken is a crossbreed. I think a Barred Rock was the father but I don't know if the mother was a Red Star, a cross breed, or a Leghorn.



Here is a crossbreed rooster and his Rhode Island Red Hens.

 

[nemassis]

Yeah i do like the look of the reds. I will have to have a travel about and see if i can meet a few. Problem is there isnt a great deal of choice around my area which is strange as i live in a farming area? Its either that or i am looking in the wrong place

I am from Norfolk in the UK.

 

[nemassis]

Just be having a google and have found someone near me that has a selection of hens and Goldline has caught my eye. Nice looking bird and description seems pretty good

 

[nemassis]

Or Amber link...

 

[GitaBooks]

I hear that the Amber Link is suppose to be friendly, a good layer and good at foraging. They are hardy and adaptable, curious and easy to handle.

Sounds like a good bird.

 

[Michael OShay]

Speaking from 50 years experience with chickens, I wouldn't recommend getting RIRs with small children as they are sometimes aggressive. If you are just wanting some sweet friendly lap pets, Silkies are unmatched in this area. However they are bantams with small eggs and are very poor layers (although they are the best brooders and mothers). If eggs are a consideration, then I would suggest going with one of the standard breeds that lay well and have a good reputation for being calm and gentle (potential lap pets) such as Australorps, Orpingtons, Brahmas, Sussex, or Faverolles. If high egg production is a priority, Australorps are the best layers on this list.

 

[joydix]

With such small kids and looking mainly for "pets" i would go with bantams. The bantam cochins are so gentle, fluffy fun birds with lots of personality and all of mine have been lap chickens....the silkies are zen birds....they sort of sit where you put them, my 3 yr old grandson can carry mine around and she just tolerates most anything...always wants to be pet and held. i don't have a buff Orpington but they come in bantam and everyone loves those! AND bantam barred rocks are remarkable friendly sweet birds....and this is how CHICKEN MATH gets going just a WARNING!!!