Which Breeds Would Be Good for a Newbie?

[black_cat]

If you are planning to get 5 chickens.... make your coop big enough for a dozen.....

!!!! This....especially since you can't order too few from hatcheries at once.

 

[nolotus]

If you are planning to get 5 chickens.... make your coop big enough for a dozen.....

OK, you guys are scaring me now. I was planning on a dozen to start with.

 

[black_cat]

OK, you guys are scaring me now. I was planning on a dozen to start with.

O ho ho!! Always make the coop at LEAST twice as big as you think you need, as it's way easier to build something big than it is to add on to same thing. If you're in a position where you can afford to build big, that is.

 

[WVBirdsAndBees]

Thanks for the really informative reply. Especially the note about rooster temperament.
So is the "50 chickens later" an example of chicken math? Should I prepare myself . . . and my long suffering spouse? And I'm glad to know that having trouble deciding is not just me! Thanks again!

No problem!

And 110% an example.

I told my wife I was fine with getting chickens as long we didn't add other animals into the equation. Well there's now 2 goats out back and the chickens are multiplying. 4 coops and counting.

So yes, prepare yourself and your spouse. Chicken math is coming.

 

[WVBirdsAndBees]

OK, you guys are scaring me now. I was planning on a dozen to start with.

Ahh yes, I remember our first dozen. And second dozen. And 3rd dozen. And selling a few - to be replaced by another dozen.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Here are some great breeds:

Dominiques are sweet, docile chickens that lay a lot of eggs. They are an heritage breed and can live in any climate. You really can't go wrong with Dominiques.

Easter eggers are amazing! They are adorable, can lay any color egg (but mostly blue and green), and are friendly. Definitely recommend them.

Cochins, brahmas, and silkies are some of the most friendly breeds, but they don't lay very much. These are some of the best breeds if you want a sweet friendly pet chicken though!

Orpingtons and Autralorps are some of the most well rounded breeds. Australorps lay more eggs, but Orps come in a lot more colors (buff, black, blue, lavender, and jubilee are available in hatcheries). They both would make a great starter chicken.

Rhode Island Reds are great too. They are super productive and don't often suffer reproductive problems. Mine is one of the friendliest chickens I have.

Red Sex Links (often called Red Stars, ISAs, Golden Comets, Golden Buffs, Cinnamon Queen, and some other names I probably forgot) are really productive, but they are prone to reproductive problems. Prolapse and egg binding is common in RSLs.

For a rooster what about getting an adult instead of a chick? Then you be able to know it's temperament and make sure you are not getting an aggressive one. Plus you would be saving someone's rooster from possibly becoming a meal and be giving him a new home. Or if one of your pullets was mis-sexed and is a roo, you wouldn't have also ordered another rooster and ended up with two roos.

And yes, be prepared for chicken math.

 

[nolotus]

Here are some great breeds:

Dominiques are sweet, docile chickens that lay a lot of eggs. They are an heritage breed and can live in any climate. You really can't go wrong with Dominiques.

Easter eggers are amazing! They are adorable, can lay any color egg (but mostly blue and green), and are friendly. Definitely recommend them.

Cochins, brahmas, and silkies are some of the most friendly breeds, but they don't lay very much. These are some of the best breeds if you want a sweet friendly pet chicken though!

Orpingtons and Autralorps are some of the most well rounded breeds. Australorps lay more eggs, but Orps come in a lot more colors (buff, black, blue, lavender, and jubilee are available in hatcheries). They both would make a great starter chicken.

Rhode Island Reds are great too. They are super productive and don't often suffer reproductive problems. Mine is one of the friendliest chickens I have.

Red Sex Links (often called Red Stars, ISAs, Golden Comets, Golden Buffs, Cinnamon Queen, and some other names I probably forgot) are really productive, but they are prone to reproductive problems. Prolapse and egg binding is common in RSLs.

For a rooster what about getting an adult instead of a chick? Then you be able to know it's temperament and make sure you are not getting an aggressive one. Plus you would be saving someone's rooster from possibly becoming a meal and be giving him a new home. Or if one of your pullets was mis-sexed and is a roo, you wouldn't have also ordered another rooster and ended up with two roos.

And yes, be prepared for chicken math.

Thanks! Great advice and I'll take it. I will check with a neighbor about an adult roo.
I appreciate your information. It's helping me pare down my wish list a bit. I'm going to fight against chicken math for as long as I can!

 

[The Happster]

@OneHappyRooster .......

Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps, Orps.

Get twenty buff Orps - must be the puffy kind - fifty chocolate Orps, about a hundred gold laced Orps, at least a hundred and fifty lavender, some Silver-Laced (900+) and any rose combed breeds. Rose comb Leghorns are acceptable, as are Wyandottes, Sebrights, and RIR.

Then I'd say you're set.

 

[nolotus]

So should I add Orps to my list? Actually Buffs are on my list. And I saw a gorgeous white orpington that I'm obsessing about. Same with a golden laced wyandotte. However, I'll have to rein myself in or I'll have to find a place to live amongst the chickens. My husband's patience has it's limits I've found.

 

[The Happster]

So should I add Orps to my list?

Are they not already on it?