Which type of Chickens should I choose?

[lyndatu]

Hello!

My coop is almost finished! Now I'm planning on what Chickens I should have. Unfortunately, I'm limited to only 5 chickens because we had a lot of chickens before but our neighbors complained about the noise and smell. Some even broke into their houses! I'm planning:

2 egg layers
3 chickens for meat

This really isn't my plan. I was really planning 3 egg layers, 1 silkie hen and 1 rooster, but my family mainly wanted chickens for their meat. I wanted chickens for eggs and as pets. But, I'm following my family's plan and I have no choice. What breeds would you recommend for the types of chickens above? I really want chickens that are white or brown, fat and feathery because they look really good and I like to watch them live out. Thanks in advance!

 

[SpottedCrow]

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

This is a good starting place.

My Miss MoneyPenny is a Silkie/Cochin mix. She's fluffy and orangey/brown and teeny. LOL Nice personality and she lays small tan eggs. She also can go broody at the drop of a hat.

Most of the meat birds are Cornish/Rock crosses. Cornish come in a bantam size but I don't know how much meat you get off one...

 

[Corey NC]

Remeber that silkies are batams and 3 batam eggs equal 1 standard egg.

 

[FutureChickenMan]

Eggs:
Rhode Island Reds = Brown Eggs
Pearl White Leghorns = White Eggs
Speckeled Sussex = Light brown eggs, better for colder climates than RIR or PWL but doesn't lay as many eggs as RIR or PWL.

Meat:
Dark Cornish Roo - Doesn't grow quite as fast as the cornish x rock, poo machine.
Cornish X Rock - Grows lightning fast; poo machine.

 

[arlee453]

Pick whatever you like - you've got good suggestions already...

I'd just add that to keep the neigbors happy, be sure to keep your chickens up.

I love my chickens a bunch, but would hate to have someone ELSE's roaming around the yard - same as for dogs. Its OK if MY dog poos in my yard, but not so cool for the neighbor's dog...

Anyway, sounds like you are building a proper coop this time and keeping them up will help your neighborly relations.

Also, avoiding roosters can help a lot there too..or at least eating them before they start crowing too much.

 

[karri25]

If you are looking for good egg layers, why not ed sex links??? The days are WAY short here now and I am still getting almost 100% laying without any extra lighting!
Good luck on your choice. Sounds like you have pretty mean neighbors:-(

Oh, they lay brown eggs!

 

[lyndatu]

Good suggestions! Thanks!


I never saw a brown egg, but it looks tasty! I'll get a chicken that lays some!

And, I don't really want to eat my pet chickens. Just imagine, you had a good relationship with your chicken, then she's going to your stomach?! I prefer chicken from the market!

Anyways, thanks for your help!


I like silkies! (but only a little because they look like mutants from The Hills Have Eyes)

Oh, and one more question: are mating services available in stores? I want to keep a rooster to fertilize my hens, but they're too darn noisy! I want to strangle him; Just kidding. Thanks in advance!

:|

 

[SpottedCrow]

LOL!!!
Silkies aren't really chickens: They're really mutated bunnies from Chernobyl and 3 Mile Island...