What Breed to pick?

[janiedoe]

I've been meaning to ask how your standard cochin is handling the heat?
I almost bout some lavender and buff cochins, but backed out.

My langshan and brahmas, actually do better in the heat, than my orpingtons and easter eggers. (Ideal says Brahma and Langshan "are not especially" heat tolerant. )

I think my legbars, naked necks, and welsummers do the best. They show absolutely no signs that it is hot out.

Ideal says that Russian orloffs are "not especially heat tolerant" I only have one. She is two years old, and seems to not notice the heat.

What was your "disaster" if you don't mind my asking?

Never mind, I just saw your answer. I'm sorry for your losses.

 

[Iluveggers]

Friendly, docile,and quiet.

Orpington, Sussex, Cochin, Faverolles, Australorp.

 

[3KillerBs]

I've been meaning to ask how your standard cochin is handling the heat?
I almost bout some lavender and buff cochins, but backed out.

My langshan and brahmas, actually do better in the heat, than my orpingtons and easter eggers. (Ideal says Brahma and Langshan "are not especially" heat tolerant. )

I think my legbars, naked necks, and welsummers do the best. They show absolutely no signs that it is hot out.

Ideal says that Russian orloffs are "not especially heat tolerant" I only have one. She is two years old, and seems to not notice the heat.

What was your "disaster" if you don't mind my asking?

I'm keeping an eye on the Cochin. It hasn't been blistering hot here yet -- only low to mid-90s so far.

My Brahmas are weirdly heat tolerant.

 

[janiedoe]

I'm keeping an eye on the Cochin. It hasn't been blistering hot here yet -- only low to mid-90s so far.

My Brahmas are weirdly heat tolerant.

Mine too. My dark brahmas are very heavily feathered, but they do pretty well.
If you can remember to do so, let me know how the cochin does in the heat of summer. We have already had a few high 90s here. No hundreds so far.

 

[NinjaGamer2022]

So, after my dreadful disaster I have been thinking a lot about what I can improve (and considering getting a roo - erm, better not)

I had 6 little ISA Brown chicks and I liked them a lot for the short week they lived with me. I am considering that the store might not have any going into summer, and their source only ships in increments of 10. I think 6 is pushing it for a family of three.

So I looked at another source and they ship smaller numbers. I should be able to work around my idiosyncracies about having 5 chicks vs 6 but they don't carry ISA chicks. Now, seeing that I have no clue about how the chicks could have turned out, I am kind of stuck on them. I don't care if the eggs are brown or purple, and there is more than one tan/brown kind of chicken. Plus I won't enter any shows (yet, anyhow)

So, instruct this noob chicken owner wannabe: What is a good breed for a first-timer wanting some fresh eggs?
If a hatchery states their chicks are 'not docile' is that a nice way of saying the beasts will be opinionated? Or if a hatchery in Texas states 'not particularly heat tolerant' should I avoid them here in the hot and humid South-east?

This week has been busy, so I have not been able to make the improvements on my confinement, plus another couple dozen ideas popped into my head like a multiball pinball game with fireworks (A scary discovery I am making about myself lately)

or should I get myself a nice surprise basket of chicks, guessing what I have, and explore from there?

I am to a beginner with chickens and are chicks are too young to lay yet but if your looking for sweet and sociable chicken breeds by how my chicks are behaving (from under a month to about 3 months old) I would recommend the Ameraucana, Speckled Sussex, Buff Brahmas and Sapphire Gems as some of my top along with Cinnamon Queen and Buff Orpintons . For sweet and docile breeds I would recommend Silkies, Polish, Golden and Silver Laced Wynadottes. For sweet but more high strung I would recommend Golden Sebrights and Silver Duckwings. I will probably add more later I got to see what other breeds we have.
I would recommend you also look into Coturnix Quail. They lay and average of 280-300 eggs per year depending if you get Jumbo or standard sized, they lay speckled white or tan eggs and even blue if you get celedon coturnix quails. They only need a sq ft or less total per bird and if you what them for meat then get MyShire Wild Jumbo (they weight up to 14 oz) if you want them for pets like me (are family are going to do meat Coturnix Quails but I was allowed some of the smaller variety for egg laying pets) then I would recommend getting the standard size since they live longer on average and eat less (1.5 oz a day vs 2 oz).

 

[3KillerBs]

Mine too. My dark brahmas are very heavily feathered, but they do pretty well.
If you can remember to do so, let me know how the cochin does in the heat of summer. We have already had a few high 90s here. No hundreds so far.

I'm sure we're terrifying the northerners.

I know that I never dreamed I'd ever say "It's not too horribly hot today, only 90." But I said it within 3 years of moving to central NC.

 

[Alagirl]

I'm sure we're terrifying the northerners.

I know that I never dreamed I'd ever say "It's not too horribly hot today, only 90." But I said it within 3 years of moving to central NC.

I worked in a greenhouse for a couple of years. On concrete/gravel, under plastic, even with the sides open during summer it was HOT in there (these days I'd die there, I am sure) nobody ever went into the cooled breakroom. the shaded spot in front was nice and cool at 90. the AC would make you sick!

 

[3KillerBs]

I worked in a greenhouse for a couple of years. On concrete/gravel, under plastic, even with the sides open during summer it was HOT in there (these days I'd die there, I am sure) nobody ever went into the cooled breakroom. the shaded spot in front was nice and cool at 90. the AC would make you sick!

Same when I sewed in the parachute plant.

We *could* take our breaks in an air-conditioned room but if we did it was 100-times worse when we came back out so people only used the AC if they felt they were getting heat stroke.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

You guys are making me laugh. I may be a Yank, but I've lived all over. I still think it's funny out West when they tell you, oh it's 112 or 116 but it's not that bad bc it's more like a hair dryer than a sauna! Lol I agree about the AC, too. The most annoying thing was having to bring a cardigan in my purse everywhere I went bc it would be a bajillion degrees outside, and then you'd go into a shop or something and have to put on a sweater. Like guys, just set the heat to 80. That would be great!

 

[Sammi04]

Iv never had chickens before...but we got our big girls at the start of lockdown 2020 and there these big american brahams.. looked tiny in the photo went and picked them up and thought what the chuff... there going to eat me!! There massive.. but wouldnt change them only cluck when laying or goes nuts if something is wrong ( we have 2 cats 3 dogs) so if anything else comes into the garden as they free range the whole garden they soon let us know there like guard chickens they come to us when call them and they follow us everywhere
The 2 little chickens are lavender pekins they are the most quickist little feathered birds they making squeaky noises like there squeezed a dog ball and let it go.. and make cat meowing noises there like there a parrot..makes me chuckle too when they squat down next to you for some fuss