I lucked out when I rescued a few RIRs, they are incredibly friendly, sing the prettiest songs and keep the flock in order. Scarlett likes to perch on my knee and let me know what's going on with everyone. She's that fabulous chicken you just love to introduce to folks. I take her along when I teach Chickens 101 - she's a professional chicken!
The thing with Rhodies is they are infinitely curious - she jumps in the rabbit pens to eat the seeds, wanders in the dog door and hangs out on the front porch when she gets bored. They have no concept of boundaries, which makes for some very interesting adventures. One day she decided she'd like to meet the mailma'm, so she perched on the mailbox until the mail came. Thankfully, our mailma'm is a lovely Philippina and used to chickens!
What I'll never do, again:
Polish. Amen! Ditsiest things on the planet. Wouldn't come back to the coop at night, screamed every time I picked them up and just needed more attention than I could give. I sold two, and gave my prettiest Polish to a dear friend as a birthday present. (Gotta love chicken folks, we're thrilled to get chickens for presents!)
Black Copper Marans, mine were Bev Davis line. They went through the adolescence from Hell, anxious and flaky, drove my dogs insane. One of the cockerels kept attacking my BIL's old Lab, much to everyone's annoyance. No one was surprised when that sweet old dog finally had enough and bit the cockerel. I nursed it back to health and sold him. Ugh.
Barred Rocks. Another tough bird to get through adolescence in my experience. Kept going after our rabbits' food and got violent when the rabbits tried to defend their feed.
Brahamas. Ditto on the theme: Too slow to grow, too much food, not enough eggs.
Ameraucanas. Ugh. They roosted in the trees at night, got half the flock to do the same. I finally sold them. I just finally got the rest of the flock back in the coop at night, though I think the weather had more to do with it than anything. Not the friendliest birds, either.
Dorkings - LOUD. I mean CRAZY LOUD. Guinea-level LOUD. I was convinced she was a rooster with that kind of racket coming out of her.
Hamburg - tiny eggs, twitchy, pretty as all get out but basically not very useful on a farm.
Andalusian - gorgeous hen, but never again. Tiny eggs, slow to grow and flighty. Screeched when I go near her. Ugh.
The thing with Rhodies is they are infinitely curious - she jumps in the rabbit pens to eat the seeds, wanders in the dog door and hangs out on the front porch when she gets bored. They have no concept of boundaries, which makes for some very interesting adventures. One day she decided she'd like to meet the mailma'm, so she perched on the mailbox until the mail came. Thankfully, our mailma'm is a lovely Philippina and used to chickens!
What I'll never do, again:
Polish. Amen! Ditsiest things on the planet. Wouldn't come back to the coop at night, screamed every time I picked them up and just needed more attention than I could give. I sold two, and gave my prettiest Polish to a dear friend as a birthday present. (Gotta love chicken folks, we're thrilled to get chickens for presents!)
Black Copper Marans, mine were Bev Davis line. They went through the adolescence from Hell, anxious and flaky, drove my dogs insane. One of the cockerels kept attacking my BIL's old Lab, much to everyone's annoyance. No one was surprised when that sweet old dog finally had enough and bit the cockerel. I nursed it back to health and sold him. Ugh.
Barred Rocks. Another tough bird to get through adolescence in my experience. Kept going after our rabbits' food and got violent when the rabbits tried to defend their feed.
Brahamas. Ditto on the theme: Too slow to grow, too much food, not enough eggs.
Ameraucanas. Ugh. They roosted in the trees at night, got half the flock to do the same. I finally sold them. I just finally got the rest of the flock back in the coop at night, though I think the weather had more to do with it than anything. Not the friendliest birds, either.
Dorkings - LOUD. I mean CRAZY LOUD. Guinea-level LOUD. I was convinced she was a rooster with that kind of racket coming out of her.
Hamburg - tiny eggs, twitchy, pretty as all get out but basically not very useful on a farm.
Andalusian - gorgeous hen, but never again. Tiny eggs, slow to grow and flighty. Screeched when I go near her. Ugh.