what breeds do I want to start with?

[racuda]

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I'm surprised you didn't say...Buff Orpingtons!

 

[Louieandthecrew]

I'm getting fifteen Buff Oringtons this upcoming Spring and so I figured they were good

 

[ChickenWisperer]

I DO NOT recommend RIR or Leghorn for any beginner chicken owner. They are highly bird aggressive, especially to any other docile breeds. While they may be pretty, and may lay well, unless you want to deal with aggressive hens and possible cannibalism, don't buy them. Unless you want to pay a pretty penny for quality birds from a reputable breeder.

I've heard the buckeyes are bird and food aggressive as well, but I've never had them.

I've heard good things about orpingtons, but I had a bad experience with my roo. I would go ahead and try them.

EasterEggers are extremely varied in their temperaments, as they are mutts. Ameraucanas are great, but both breeds practically STOP laying in the winter, and are less winter hardy.


My TOP suggestion are Australorps - a PERFECT fit for you. They are super friendly, AMAZING layers (my 4 year old hen lays a fairly dark egg every other day), and bird friendly. I don't know what I'll do when my Aus hen isn't the Alpha. Never does any of my birds wrong, calls them to food. A perfect beginner breed.

I would also suggest Sussex. They are good layers, SUPER friendly, and bird-friendly. They are fairly hardy.

Marans lay nice dark eggs, and lay fairly well. They aren't aggressive.

 

[punky rooster]

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[domino7]

My australorpes are from a hatchery and have been the most bird aggressive chickens I've had. They do lay well, but I don't really like them. So obviously, temperment can vary greatly.

I also have cochins, and while they are docile, mine don't lay very well.

 

[shend]

Thanks! Great info so far!

How hard is it to start with 3 day old chicks? Not sure what items I need to start with babies. I'll check one of those topic posts

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
Yep. A lot of it is the quality of the breeder or the stock of the breed itself. A lot of "RIR" circulating actually seem to be production type, overbred or poor examples - which is most of the problem when people go to buy birds or eggs.

I'd say most of the reason my Australorp girl is so good is because she was "heritage" bred, as I was told by the Amish I got her from. However, the RIR and Wyandotte I bought from them were awful in temperament - as were the RIR I bought from a breeder before that (however, I was a newbie back then).

The only way to ensure good temperament is to buy from a reputable breeder, not a hatchery. Sometimes, you get good birds from hatcheries - I couldn't ask for a better chook than my faverolle. But other times, you get landed with awful birds - for example, my delaware/brahma doesn't have the best temperament.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
You'll need a -
heatlamp (and a way to hang it)
warm, draft free, predator free brooder coop/box
Chick food, preferably medicated
chick feeder/waterer
paper towels for the first few days
bedding after that (large wood chips worked well for me. They will eat shavings sometimes).

And after a bit, they will "need" a place to roost so they learn how to.

 

[cubalaya]

since these are your first chickens, i would keep it simple and just have one breed to start off. black australorp, barred rock, or rhode island red would be good choices. if you just want eggs and dont care about a rooster or hatching chicks, go with sexlinks like black stars.

 

[call ducks]

Yes Any colour of Australorp is a good starting point, also any Colour of Plymouth rock is a good starting point/breed

You may also want to use this feature of BYC, a breed selecting tool: https://www.backyardchickens.com/breeds/breed-search.php