Which breed should I buy?

[wombat]

If you are just getting started, golden comets are a sex link hybrid, and are quite friendly. They are good brown egg layers.

Wyndottes are beautiful, but can vary greatly in temperment.

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
Oh, also, mine are all hatchery birds and still wonderful.

A friend has Buff Orps, and hers are also lap birds- but she brooded in the house just like me, handling them all the time.

I should also point out that I have a different friend with hatchery Wyandottes that are sweet as can be- same way of raising.

I didn't feel raising them up was a lot of work- it was a lot of fun and joy! We just had to give them fresh water and food, and clean the sheets- every couple of days toward the end, but once a week when they were small.

This isn't any more work than what has to be done for the birds once they're bigger. They'll have to be let out of the coop each morning, get fresh water, food and scratch, and be put away at night...and presumably, if you WANT lap chickens, you're expecting to spend a lot of time with them, so you ought to try raising them- it's rewarding because they trust you entirely.

Which hatchery are your wyandottes from?

 

[Prize]

Thank you all so much for the great replies (and cute pictures!). I am actually wondering, can I mix the breeds of birds together if they are similar in size? I am only thinking of getting 2 chickens, would if be OK if they were not the same breed?
Also, some of you spoke of getting your chickens from a breeder- are there any you recommend?
Thanks again!

 

[jossanne]

I've got everything from silkies, bantam cochins, leghorns, to barred rocks running together. They weren't all raised together either. I've got some that are 15 months and some that are 2 months, and every age in between. They all run loose on my property. With the turkeys. All get along great.

 

[Salve&Fluffer]

Quote:
It would be okay if the 2 chickens were not the same breed. I had a Black Silkie Bantam, 2 BOs, a few Gold Links, 3 RIRs, and BRs together.

 

[phalenbeck]

My hatchery EE is a hearty friendly calm bird, a dependable layer, and looks tasty should the occasion arise. My Polish (poor layers, friendly but flighty) and Silkeys (not so tough) and harder for me to lap train. My Cochins are too early to tell. I wish I had EE only. Folks really want the colored eggs---mine are army green. I have quite a mix of Large/regular and banty no problem. I would go 4-5, not 2 due to predators, injury, ect. Also for winter warmth.

 

[vtsarahb]

I

my buff orpingtons!!! They are definitely lap chickens, and the friendliest out of all my birds (I have 6 different breeds)

wombat is right- wyandottes are hit or miss with temperament. Mine will come to me for treats, but they really hate being handled.

 

[ChooksChick]

All of my birds are from Estes Hatchery-

A friend's got a Wyandotte from them, and it's GORGEOUS!

I think it's fine to get different sized birds- if you are getting them at roughly the same time. It's not important at the beginning when they're chicks- but it's very important later if you try to integrate birds of differing sizes.

 

[Prize]

Thanks yet again all!!
I've settled on EE and/or Buff Orphington. Just have to wait until next spring-ish to get them, probably from McMurray. Trying to see if I can talk hubby into building my coop sooner, we will see.

Can't wait!!

 

[lone cedar farm]

I really like my BO's, Also have some Cuckoo marans that are cool just not as friendly as the BO. good luck with your pick!!