What do I get now?

[firebugfab]

I have 2, 10 week old RIR's. My first chickens as well as my very first chicken experience at all. I have absolutely fallen in love with them! They are so much fun! I don't have room for a lot of chickens but I think I could handle 1 or 2 more. Of course I'm waiting to find out what sex I have so I'm not getting anything yet but I'm planning ahead. My first priority is disposition. I need nice chickens because my kids like to play with Snowball and Chirp (the kids named them). They will never be eaten so I'm not interested in meat birds. My son loves eggs so BIG STRONG eggs are somewhat important. My daughter loves "pretty" eggs so coloring might be a thought.

SO, do I stick with RIR's, or do I venture out and get something else? Do different breeds work better with RIR's? I love the dark red color of the RIR's but I also like the really light colored birds as well.

What say you?

If it matters, they stay in the coop at night but I do let them roam around the backyard sometimes during the day so a bird that likes to fly a lot is out. I have a friend with a couple of dozen various breeds that says the bigger the breed, the less they fly since it's harder for a 757 to take off than a sesna.

 

[jessica117]

I am hooked on standard cochins. They're really friendly, don't fly, and just beautiful (only a little biased here...

) They aren't going to be as good of layers as your RIR's but they still do lay a fair amount.

I would steer clear of americana/aracauna/EE as my experience has been that no matter how much you handle them when they're little, they never become friendly.

Jess

 

[mmajw]

I would try a different breed there are so many to choose from.
We have several breeds listed below.

 

[Davaroo]

Stick with RIR's. You don't need a menagerie right now, you need to get used to chickens.
Your kids especially. You didnt mention your childrens' ages, but kids and chickens share a tenuous existence. More than a few things must be ironed out between them.
The RIR's will also give you a good output of strong, brown eggs.

But you wont listen to this advice, will you?

 

[firebugfab]

Quote:
2 kids, 8 year old daughter (who's idea it was to get the chickens) and a 3 year old son. My daughter has always been into any kind of critters and animals. One day when she was 5 or so, we pulled into the driveway and there was a little garter snake crawling across. Very excited, she yells, "Daddy is it venemous?" I told her no, it wasn't, but it could still bite and it might hurt. She said, "ok" and grabbed it. She says she wants to be a vet, hepetologist or a entemologist.

Anyway, don't be so quick to think I won't take your advice. I'm not going to have a yard full of chickens, only a few, so I kind of think the idea of having only 1 breed might be cool. If I have a rooster, I could sell fetilized eggs or something. I dunno yet, we shall see. I think I do want 1 or 2 more.

 

[Beekissed]

What the heck, get one of each kind!!!! I just ordered from My Pet Chicken and I got 5 each of New Hampshires, RIR, Partridge Rock, Buff Orpingtons, Black Stars, Dominiques.
I won't lie to you, I wanted good egg-layers, but the variety and beauty of this flock will bring a small shiver of delight each time I look at them! I try to stay business-minded when I get chickens, but they are soooooo pretty!

 

[rooster-red]

Barred rocks might be a good choice for you, they have good personalities and get along fine with RIR's.