Which breed should I buy?

[Prize]

Hi all! I am trying to settle on a breed of chicken to buy. I need something docile, clean, winter-hardy, quiet, a reasonably good egg layer, healthy and friendly. I'd love to end up with "lap-chickens." So far I've narrowed it down to Ameracaunas (or some other type of Easter Egg-er) or Orpingtons. I considered Silkie Bantams but I get the notion they might be more high maintenance, feel free to correct me if I am wrong. If you know of any other breed that would better suit me, I'd love to know!
I live outside of Philadelphia so we have all 4 seasons. Also, my yard is not large at all, so it's time would be spent between coop and tractor, rarely if at all free range.
Thanks in advance!

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

You'll get way more eggs from the Opringtons than from the Silkies for sure.

 

[CelticMoon1]

Have you considered Wyandottes?

The ones we've got are all of what you're asking - they are good layers even in winter, and the rose comb does not freeze in the cold, even when it gets down to -20 degrees Celcius. Our chooks are outside in -15 degrees no problem. They also come in a wide variety of colors

We've had Orpingtons, but I've found that the softer feathers makes it less winter-hardy.

 

[ChooksChick]

My 6 Barred Rocks gave me 5-6 eggs a day all winter, and we get some mean, mean winter and some hot, hot summer. They do great.

They are absolutely the friendliest birds I know, but that is also true of all of my breeds, excepting the 4 chicks I'm letting momma raise.

I think it has to do with us handling them for at least a half-hour daily (generally an hour) whil brooding them in the house.

Once outside, I'd go out for a while and handle them, and my kids did the same. They fight over the limited lap space.

Some also come to their names.

My breeds are Buttercup, Polish, EE, BR, bantam Cochin, and OEG.

Oh- and they live in a backyard in the middle of a city.

 

[Prize]

No I didn't think of Wyandottes, they are now on the list replacing Orphs., so cute! Thanks for the suggestion.

ChooksChick, do you think they would be as friendly if I bought them as juveniles? I have been considering that possibility to save on the cost of supplies to raise them from chicks. That and I heard it's a lot of work. If I could get your (and any other) opinions that would be great.

 

[feather leg farms]

Show Birds

Silkie
Game Birds

Egg Layers
Buff Orphington
EE
Rhode Island Red

Pets

silkies

 

[Cats Critters]

Have you tried this test?: http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx
I'm in PA and my EEs do well here and are my favorites.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Quote:
Amen sister!

I have both silkies and orpingtons. This is the silkie cycle: lay eggs, sit on eggs, hatch eggs, raise chicks, do nothing for a week, lay eggs, sit on eggs, etc. The cycle never changes!

I think Orpingtons are far superior to Wyandottes personality-wise. My wyandottes are hatchery birds and are not friendly. They do lay slightly better than the orps but they are mean. Wyandotte people who did not get their birds from a hatchery will swear by there chickens

But I would take an orpington anyday.

 

[cochin123]

what about cochins ??/

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
Honestly, I have to say NO to that- I think it really is a matter of handling them from the outset, in that they bond to you (or humans, in general) more this way.

On the brooding, I did it the cheap way- the bathtub!

If you have a second tub that you can retire temporarily (a couple of months?) this is a great way to go-- there's info in the column link in my signature. If you don't want to use your tub, you can use a big plastic tub from one of the superstores...they run less than $10. The only expense is a clamp light, feeder ($3) and waterer ($3).

I used a big tub this Spring, and I use paper towels for bedding. I hang the light over one end so they can get away from it. I've seen others use a big cardboard box, which you might score free!

If you brood in your spare bathroom or a closet, you can spread an old sheet over the floor and let them have free range of a larger space. This was what we did after the first 2 weeks this year, and it was wonderful. We'd go in and just pull the sheet away from the wall, sit on the floor, and get covered in chicks. If they got cold, they went under the light, but they ran around free otherwise.

We had two sheets so we could wash one while the other was on the floor. We'd just take it out in the back and shake it- all the little dried poos would fall off, and then it could be washed easily.

I did put the waterer on a brick when they got big enough to poop in it- somehow with a whole room to poop in they'd manage to hit the drink half the time...

I have to stress that it's the time hanging out with the kids that makes the difference- you'll hear lots of people complaining about Buttercups' flightiness and shunning people. Ours seek us out and like to sit on us- one preens me. It's the socialization, and while they may have been biologically more inclined to stay away from people, they have been loved and know they can trust us.