What chicken do you guys think suits my needs?

[dreamcatcherarabians]

I am looking for a a chicken that lays super/amzingly well for a long time ( so not a sexlink or hybrid), looks good and has a great temperment?
Thanks

Wellllll, except for the laying super/amazingly well part I'd think Cochins would fit your needs. Maybe just buy a few more? LOL! They generally lay 2-3 eggs per week, some more some less, but they are gorgeous and super docile lovely birds.

I tend to make up my egg layer flock with Orpingtons, Wyandottes (Just cos I like the way they look) and EE's and then I order 10 Cochins so I have my eye candy, cuddle birds. The other birds are nice and lay great, they are pretty even tempered but the Cochins just seem to be the chicken that ends up being my buddy. I even have one that rides on my knee in the truck when I go to the gas station and back. Never messes in the truck either.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I am looking for a a chicken that lays super/amzingly well for a long time ( so not a sexlink or hybrid), looks good and has a great temperment?
Thanks

I think you're going to have to be a bit more specific about your criteria here as to what you are looking for.

As someone else mentioned, chickens are hatched with a finite number of eggs and they can either dole them out really fast over a shorter period of time or they can lay for a long period of time. There are many breeds that lay reasonably well for a long time, but none that will lay "super/amazingly well" for more than a few years. If you want an egg every day with hardly any days off, you're looking at a bird that's going to "run out" of eggs by the time they are 3-4 years old. And all birds are going to lay better in their first year or two of laying than they will as they get older. Any bird from a hatchery, pretty much regardless of breed, is going to be bred for production. So while Wyandottes from a serious hobbyist/breeder may lay reasonably well for a long time, the same breed ordered from a hatchery is going to burn out sooner.

"Looks good" is extremely subjective. Take silkies or naked necks for example, it seems people either love the way they look or think they're one of the strangest, most hideous creatures on the planet. Some people like slim, upright birds with really tight feathers, such as games, and some people like big, curvy, fluffy birds like cochins or wyandottes. Some people like extra toes (silkies, favorelles, dorkings) and some people think extra digits are creepy. Some people like huge combs and wattles, others like beards and muffs (although some of this preference may also be directly related to the climate where you live, huge combs and wattles tend to do better in hot climates with mild winters than in areas with long bitterly cold winters). Some people like feathered legs, some don't. The list goes on. It's why there are so many different breeds and why so many of them look so different from each other.

"Great temperament" is also subjective. Obviously no one wants a flock of aggressive hens that they have to tend to daily. But some people like a cuddly lap-pet type personality on their birds and others prefer more of a "you do your thing, I'll do mine" attitude from their flock. Leghorns, for example, are renowned for being "flighty." To some people, this translates to "crazy and neurotic" and they feel that they are not well suited to a home flock. To others, that flighty behavior translates to "really good at watching out for and avoiding predators" and they feel that they are an ideal chicken for their environment. Plus, just because a chicken does not allow you to walk up to them and scoop them up for a cuddle any time you want does not necessarily mean that they can not be calm once you do catch them or that they won't be your constant companion as you do your chores around the yard. How a chick is raised also plays a part in temperament, so it's not all about the breed here either.

Personally, my vote goes to orpingtons. Mine has a very mellow temperament. I got her at 4-6 months old, so I can't say for sure how she was raised but I'm sure it wasn't with a whole lot of cuddle time. She definitely prefers to be admired from afar and is not one to let us just walk up to her and pick her up. But she certainly doesn't panic at our approach either, she just kind of slowly walks away. Once picked up, she's very calm while being handled. She lays about every other day, and her eggs were a large right from the start. A lovely pale pinkish-brown too. I'm personally a fan of the big round fluffy chicken look, and she certainly has that going for her. They are however a breed that is known to be somewhat prone to broodiness. Mine went broody after laying for about 3 months, then raised a clutch for about 6 weeks before kicking them out and going back to laying.

 

[questions543]

thanks everyone who answered Im allowed 8 birds so I'm getting all dual purpose heritage breeds that should lay decently with one leghorn to lay even in the worst conditions

 

[Bullitt]

It may also be a good idea to stagger the ages of your chickens so they do not molt all at the same time. I would say at least a 4 month age difference on half the flock should do it.

This way, when half the flock molts, the other half of the flock will still be laying eggs for you.

 

[lvalley]

I think Black Australorps are great for beginners as they provide nice eggs and have a good temperament too. I have 4 BA hens and a BA rooster which are all great. I also bought 2 Rhode Island Reds pullets recently that have just started laying and they have nice brown eggs as well.

 

[Winisk]

I will agree with others to suggest Australorps. Mine were very quiet and generally passive birds relative to others. Beautiful sheen on the adults though not too fancy looking. My Wynadottes show more wildness. They seem more skittish. They are large handsome birds that do get broody so I like that side of them. Rhode Island Reds have been the most friendly of the bunch. All are good layers.

 

[questions543]

okay, there is a breeder that sells australorp x rhode island red chicks

Do you guys think this would be a good bird?

 

[Winisk]

Yep. I have one and it`s one of my favourites. Mine is black like an Autralorp but with beautiful brown streaks on the neck. If you aren`t interested in raising pure breeds they will certainly please you.

 

[questions543]

great sounds good

 

[Bullitt]

Yep. I have one and it`s one of my favourites. Mine is black like an Autralorp but with beautiful brown streaks on the neck. If you aren`t interested in raising pure breeds they will certainly please you.

I would like to see a picture of your Black Australorp and Rhode Island Red cross. Was it produced with an Australorp rooster or a Rhode Island Red rooster?

Either way, I would guess the cross would be a very good egg-layer. What is the behavior of your hen? Does it lay well, does it go broody, is it calm, etc.?