What is your favorite breed?

[LaynaDon95]

I'm ordering some chicks soon and want to know, what is your favorite breed? If you could tell me what your fave is, why it's your favorite, and maybe even include a pic, that would be great!

 

[Lemontea66]

Marans I love the chocolate eggs.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I've thought about them. I love their egg color as well, but have never had any of my own. It would be a nice addition to the egg carton.

 

[Lemontea66]

Very docile breed as well

 

[TheWingedTurtle]

I love my Buff Orpingtons! They're so fluffy and nice. I've always loved silver-laced Wyandottes too, but I don't have any.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

My hatchery "Ameraucana" EE is fun. A friendly and quirky disposition and beautiful blue-green eggs.



The blue eggs are Monkey's from when she first started laying. They're getting bigger now.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I love my Buff Orpingtons! They're so fluffy and nice. I've always loved silver-laced Wyandottes too, but I don't have any.

I had 2 Buffs. They had just started laying when they were eaten by dogs. :\ I'm hoping to get some more though, because they really are beautiful.

My hatchery "Ameraucana" EE is fun. A friendly and quirky disposition and beautiful blue-green eggs.



The blue eggs are Monkey's from when she first started laying. They're getting bigger now.

My 2 "Ameraucana" hens were also eaten my dogs (which would be why I'm ordering more.) I loved them! They had also just started laying! I got 1 green egg and then 2 days later they were killed. I'm getting an "Ameraucana" chick (pullet she thinks) from a friend tomorrow or the next day. I'm hoping to replace them as quickly as I can. I really loved those 2 girls. Monkey is beautiful. Mine weren't near as colorful as she is.

 

[ManuelsChickens]

Silkies , Cause They Will Sit On Any Eggs So They'd Be Good Incubators Instead Of Having A Homeade Or Buying One lol.
They Also Go Very Broody Which Is Why They Mostly Only Lay 100 Eggs Per Year. But they Are Just Beautiful! I Ordered 15 From Cackle And There Suppose To Be Here Tomorrow Can't Wait !

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Poor chickens! All that work and gone before you got your egg payoff.

I wonder if dogs are the most prevalent chicken killer. Happens so often. I had to fence off a dog-free zone on our property because my own dogs are not trustworthy. You can see a bit of Belle pining through the gate behind Monkey. She's not guarding, just waiting her chance!

I got 9 different hatchery chicks from the feed store this spring, one of each. All have been healthy. In addition to the EE, I have buff orp, blk australorp, New Hamp, barred rock, gold sex link, Welsummer, sil lace wyandotte, and wht Leghorn (who is a changeling-- was supposed to be a Delaware!). They have all started laying on time, except the Welsummer who almost died as a chick and so was set back. They are all friendly, less so for the Welsummer and SLW.

The BR is by far the most personable (a favorite) and has the best chicken social skills. NH and BA are the most beautiful, next to Monkey

!

Most disappointed in the SLW. She did not get good lacing, isn't very friendly, or nice to the other chickens, even though close to bottom in pecking order. She was the first to start laying, but sets up quite a squall, very loud, more than the others combined! Changed her name to Grumpus. I've heard hatchery SLW quality varies greatly. Probably the only breed I would not repeat, or go to a breeder for better stock. All the others, I'd get more.

Most surprised by the WLeghorn. Smallest, but biggest eggs and top of pecking order. Likes to perch on you while working in the chicken yard (not necessarily a good thing). Chases all wild birds out of the yard and is quite alert (good, since we re-homed our EE cockerel). Friendly and inquisitive. Food fanatic. Can fly, but rarely does.

Hatchery RIRs are what folks usually called production reds, due to having very few RIR traits. I chose the NH instead, and am very pleased with her look and temperament. Beautiful red feathers with glassy orange on neck. Her eggs have been quite large from the beginning (as was Leghorn's) while every one else started smaller than a golf ball!

Good luck with your new chicks! Tough to decide, but chicken shopping is so fun!

 

[LaynaDon95]

Poor chickens! All that work and gone before you got your egg payoff.

I wonder if dogs are the most prevalent chicken killer. Happens so often. I had to fence off a dog-free zone on our property because my own dogs are not trustworthy. You can see a bit of Belle pining through the gate behind Monkey. She's not guarding, just waiting her chance!

It wasn't my dog who did any of this. She's very good with the chickens. She did slip in and steal an egg from the coop today, but she brought it straight to us, totally undamaged. My chickens are totally free range (except at night, when they are locked in the coop obviously) and Maggie is allowed to roam with them whenever she wants. 1 of the neighbors (it was 3 different neighbors' dogs and 5 dogs all total) took is very seriously. They chained up their dogs immediately, had a pen and big doghouse built for them the next day, and brought us the money they owed us the day after we sent them the amount. They got their business handled and we've had no problems. 1 of them said they would keep their dog inside until they could find her a new home. It's been 5 days since the attack and she has been out 3 morning, and they have decided not to rehome her. They put up an invisible electric perimeter that will shock her if she leaves the yard. If it works, fine, if not, we will shoot her if she comes into the yard again. The other household had not put up their dogs faithfully, has not paid, and has not even talked to us since the day it happened. Anyways, that's more than you probably wanted to know but I'm kinda worked up right now, sorry.

I got 9 different hatchery chicks from the feed store this spring, one of each. All have been healthy. In addition to the EE, I have buff orp, blk australorp, New Hamp, barred rock, gold sex link, Welsummer, sil lace wyandotte, and wht Leghorn (who is a changeling-- was supposed to be a Delaware!). They have all started laying on time, except the Welsummer who almost died as a chick and so was set back. They are all friendly, less so for the Welsummer and SLW.

Sounds like a lovely little flock. Most of mine are mutts.

The BR is by far the most personable (a favorite) and has the best chicken social skills. NH and BA are the most beautiful, next to Monkey

!

Most disappointed in the SLW. She did not get good lacing, isn't very friendly, or nice to the other chickens, even though close to bottom in pecking order. She was the first to start laying, but sets up quite a squall, very loud, more than the others combined! Changed her name to Grumpus. I've heard hatchery SLW quality varies greatly. Probably the only breed I would not repeat, or go to a breeder for better stock. All the others, I'd get more.

I haven't had good experience with SLWs either. My grandma had a breeding pair. The rooster was the meanest thing you ever laid eyes on and he ultimately killed the hen. I tried to hatch their eggs, but they weren't stored properly before incubating and only 2 hatched. 1 got sick and died at 1 week old, and the other was so lonely I gave him to my duck to raise. I thought I had made it to where he couldn't get into the pool, but he apparently grew and tried to follow his "mama" for a swim and drowned.

Most surprised by the WLeghorn. Smallest, but biggest eggs and top of pecking order. Likes to perch on you while working in the chicken yard (not necessarily a good thing). Chases all wild birds out of the yard and is quite alert (good, since we re-homed our EE cockerel). Friendly and inquisitive. Food fanatic. Can fly, but rarely does.

I had 1 Wleghorn. She was a meany to the other birds, very flighty and very sickly. We ended up having to cull her because she just couldn't stay well. She laid the biggest eggs, though! I would love at least one more.

Hatchery RIRs are what folks usually called production reds, due to having very few RIR traits. I chose the NH instead, and am very pleased with her look and temperament. Beautiful red feathers with glassy orange on neck. Her eggs have been quite large from the beginning (as was Leghorn's) while every one else started smaller than a golf ball!

I have a RIR hen, and she is okay, but not my favorite. She sure does scratch though! Very good at foraging.

Good luck with your new chicks! Tough to decide, but chicken shopping is so fun!

Thanks. It is fun. I really like it. Sad that it had to come about this way, but it could have been much worse.