What Breeds are best for me??

[doubleatraining]

I'm planning for my first backyard chickens. They will live in a 32sqft chicken tractor with 2 laying boxes. I'm starting construction this week.

Ideally I want 2 large egg layers and 1 bantam egg layer. I live in NC so we have hot/humid summers and occasional snow in the winter. The past few years the winters have gotten more cold/damp.

Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[Eggcessive]

I like to look at a mixed flock, so I have a few of many different breeds. Buff orps, barred rocks, and New Hampshires are all calm friendly, heat and cold hardy good layers. Many breeds come in both bantam and standard sizes, so you could choose just about any one bantam, although they are more for pets than lots of eggs. Bantams are not always cold and heat hardy either. Some examples of bantam breeds are easter egger, barred rock, millie fleur d'uccle, buff brahma, and silkies.

 

[Debbi]

You might try the "Chicken Breeds Index" right here on BYC. It will give you pictures and a good idea of what the different breeds are like.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/breeds/

 

[doubleatraining]

Thanks for the information. I'm only going to have 3 hens so I can't get as much variety as I would really like to have. LOL

I really like the barred rocks...now to find a bantam one.....lol

 

[austincoopersilkiesies]

my pet chicken has them in bantam size.

 

[doubleatraining]

I am going to try to buy local and not order. I would rather not raise chicks.

 

[austincoopersilkiesies]

oh ok

 

[char259]

Quote:
Does somebody want to explain Chicken Math to her? I'm just learning about it myself as I jumped from 3 to 9 fairly quickly.....

.............

Best of luck with your little flock!

 

[doubleatraining]

LOL I understand chicken math but smallish yard + close neighbors + rented property + 1 chicken tractor = 3 hens

 

[Zaxby's2]

Try getting a buff orpington.

They are good layers, great moms, cold hardy, okay with heat, friendly, and pretty. They also come in bantam size, so it's a win win.

There are plenty of threads about orpingtons, even one for bantam orpingtons. You might want to check them out.