What do YOU suggest I get. (restocking flock)

[lowillobe]

In my chickens I am looking for:
-egg laying
-friendliness
-brains. (is there a breed of chicken that is a little more inteligent)


I'm thinking about a black australorp, a partridge rock, a wyandotte and perhaps a leghorn, easter eggers, brahma, dominique, buff orpington.

Are there any that you suggest? Note: we are are ordering them from Cackle Hatchery and a lot of the fanciers ones are straight run and we only want pullets.

Thanks

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Sumatras in my opinion are my "smartest" chickens. And, they are the only hens laying this past week (one egg each, per day) with temps OVER 100 degrees.

 

[lowillobe]

thanks. its been pretty hot here too.

 

[hatchaholic]

for egg laying, I like our black sex-links or barred rocks. Pretty much an egg a day.

 

[Judy]

Leghorns are usually very flighty and unfriendly, from reading and IME. I have two, about 1.5 years old; they never got used to my picking them up, even off the roost, and run away from me. Most say EE's are friendly but I have 6 and they are not. Buff Orp are definitely friendly but not bright. Partridge Rock, I have 3, they seem to be relatively smart and calm, not really friendly but not scared of me either. Australorps are definitely friendly and on the smart side, and are great layers, all year here. Hatchery wyandottes seem to have problems like internal laying and awful coloring. Never had a Dominique, bet they'd be great.

JME.

 

[lowillobe]

thanks. I don't think I will get a leghorn now. I really want the friendlier chickens.

 

[Pathfinders]

Buckeyes!

Friendly, smart, cold hardy, heat tolerant, pea combed, sometimes broody but not excessively so, regular layers of medium brown eggs, good rangers, an excellent all-around heritage breed of chicken.

See this website for more info on Buckeyes: http://buckeyechickens.com

And this: http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/buckeye.html

I've just started a club for them: http://www.americanbuckeyechickenclub.com

 

[LA~Poulet]

Our two Barred rock hens are the friendliest, I'd recommend them. Out of our chicks, the Delawares & RIR are the easiest to handle-they will fly up to you and sit on my kids' shoulders... the Welsummer chicks are the most wild.

 

[lowillobe]

I like the buckeye. Are they similar to Rhode Island Reds?

 

[vnploveschickens]

I have 3 buff orpingtons that I just love! They are so friendly, they just run up to you when they see you. They don't mind being petted or held and will even jump into your lap. They are 6 months old now and have been regularly laying beautiful shades of brown eggs for about a month.

I also have 3 ee's that also cute, and lay beautiful shades of green eggs. But I find they aren't quite as friendly, don't want to be held or petted. But they do like treats from your hand.

Hope that helps. Good luck!