Which Breeds Would Be Good for a Newbie?

[nolotus]

I don't have chickens (illegal ) but I do have advice on incubating! I love to hatch them because it is so amazing to watch them hatch! They just pop out and it is very startling when all they have been doing for their whole life is sitting in their egg, just hanging out.

I have a little giant incubator with a (diy forced air) computer fan held up to the plexiglass panel with pipe-cleaners. It works surprisingly well! There is no way I would buy another one if I could go back in time. I would just get a styrofoam cooler, square plexiglass window, and a heater and make it myself, because they are basically the same thing and it is considerably cheaper than the $40 styrofoam box . I do enjoy that it was pre-built because the temperature regulation sounds intimidating to me, haha.

If you don't know already, you will have to turn the eggs if you are hatching them, so if you don't want to do that, you can look at an incubator with an egg turner. I made one myself, a little extra work but it was worth it! I only incubate a small number of eggs at a time (10-20ish), so I have the option to hand turn them, I'm not sure how many you are wanting.

Good luck with your new coop/chickens!!!

Thanks! Sounds like you've got a good system going. I'm not very clever at building things though. I agree the temperature regulation AND humidity requirements sound intimidating. I had a little incubator years ago and had to turn the eggs. I rather enjoyed that part. I don't expect to try and incubate very many to start with. Until I get the hang of it anyway. I'm learning from BYC how much I DONT know about raising chickens. Only way to go is up.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

Some good breeds I would recommend are:
- Ameraucana
- Rhode Island Red
- Red Sussex Cross
- Bantam Cochin

 

[HappyClucker7]

Cochin bantams are definitely the best breed ever created. But, you have to keep in mind that since they are bantams they won't lay that many eggs, and their eggs are kind of small. For some people that doesn't matter since they keep them as pets. For others looking for lots of eggs, bantams are not the best choice.
I will also say that my cochin bantam cockerel is the best little boy ever. He is super friendly, doesn't go crazy mating the girls, and he protects his flock really well. Of course, a bantam might not do the best job actually fighting any predators off, but he will watch out for predators like hawks. As a matter of fact, my cockerel just saved the flock from 3 hawks yesterday.

 

[cinnamoncockatiel]

I recommend D´Uccles and Seramas! I can answer any questions you have about them.
If your interested more in eggs, I love easter eggers.

 

[nolotus]

Some good breeds I would recommend are:
- Ameraucana
- Rhode Island Red
- Red Sussex Cross
- Bantam Cochin

Thanks! I'm not familiar with Sussex chickens so they'll be on my research list. I appreciate the input!

 

[nolotus]

I recommend D´Uccles and Seramas! I can answer any questions you have about them.
If your interested more in eggs, I love easter eggers.

Thanks! I am not familiar at all with D'Uccles or Seramas. I'm needing chickens that are comfortable with heat and cold and are not that broody. Also, they'll be free ranging. Does that match with those breeds? When I first decided I wanted to raise chickens I had no idea how many choices there are! I'm raising them for the eggs so that helps narrow it down a bit. thanks again for your reply !

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you do not want broody hens I'd stay away from bantams. They tend to go broody. Also their eggs aren't that big and many bantams don't lay a lot of eggs, not like many others. Many people love their bantams but their goals probably are different to yours. Your goals are the ones that count.

Pretty sure I gave a link to Henderson's Breed Chart earlier in this thread. That may help a little but it does not contain every breed. I don't know what is available where you are either, availability can be important. From what I understand of your goals leghorns may be worth a try. If you are in the US many hatcheries offer their own mix or strain that may work well for you. They are not a breed and only they have them, like Bluebells or Sapphire Gems. Just all kinds of them. Some offer what they call production reds, those might be a good fit. These are not really breeds but may be a great fit for you.

You've hit the real problem. There are a tremendous number of choices that actually suit your goals, let alone everyone else's. The problem is making up your mind. Too darn many options. It is not that there area lot of bad choices, there are too many good choices. It's a good problem to have but still a problem when it comes to making up your mind. With the work you are putting into it you will probably be happy with whatever you decide.

Good luck!

 

[cinnamoncockatiel]

Thanks! I am not familiar at all with D'Uccles or Seramas. I'm needing chickens that are comfortable with heat and cold and are not that broody. Also, they'll be free ranging. Does that match with those breeds? When I first decided I wanted to raise chickens I had no idea how many choices there are! I'm raising them for the eggs so that helps narrow it down a bit. thanks again for your reply !

D´Uccles and Seramas are bantams. They are small. My D´Uccles are 1/2 lovely foragers 1/2 not so lovely foragers. I would get a standard breed and a few bantams if I were you. Seramas are not cold hardy. Neither lay many eggs at all. My easter eggers lay almost 1 egg a day each in warm weather!

 

[nolotus]

If you do not want broody hens I'd stay away from bantams. They tend to go broody. Also their eggs aren't that big and many bantams don't lay a lot of eggs, not like many others. Many people love their bantams but their goals probably are different to yours. Your goals are the ones that count.

Pretty sure I gave a link to Henderson's Breed Chart earlier in this thread. That may help a little but it does not contain every breed. I don't know what is available where you are either, availability can be important. From what I understand of your goals leghorns may be worth a try. If you are in the US many hatcheries offer their own mix or strain that may work well for you. They are not a breed and only they have them, like Bluebells or Sapphire Gems. Just all kinds of them. Some offer what they call production reds, those might be a good fit. These are not really breeds but may be a great fit for you.

You've hit the real problem. There are a tremendous number of choices that actually suit your goals, let alone everyone else's. The problem is making up your mind. Too darn many options. It is not that there area lot of bad choices, there are too many good choices. It's a good problem to have but still a problem when it comes to making up your mind. With the work you are putting into it you will probably be happy with whatever you decide.

Good luck!

Thanks, Ridgerunner. You did indeed give me a link to Hendersen's Breed Chart, which is bookmarked in my Chickens folder. I figure I can always add different breeds to my second round of chicks. If chicken math gets ahold of me. Thanks for your input!

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks, Ridgerunner. You did indeed give me a link to Hendersen's Breed Chart, which is bookmarked in my Chickens folder. I figure I can always add different breeds to my second round of chicks. If chicken math gets ahold of me. Thanks for your input!

It's not a bad idea to get an assortment of the birds you think you might like to see if you really do like them.