Will Welcome Your Advice

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ktahmase

ktahmase

In the Brooder
5 Years
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Mar 13, 2014
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Dear BYC members,

This is my situation: I want to get 2-3 chicks for my young children (and my own personal interest). We live within a city in North Carolina but do have a half acre back yard with a six foot wooden fence (and yes I have built a chicken coop from a kit). Local farm store is bringing the following breeds next week: Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Jersey Black Giants, Araucanas, Speckled Sussex, Production Reds, Golden Comets, White Leghorns, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Dark Brahmas, and Partridge Rocks. Can you tell me which of these breeds will be good with kids, won't jump my fence, and can handle the heat and humidity in North Carolina? I appreciate your advice and your time.
 
Howdy, neighbor! Out of the list that you gave, I've had barred rocks, brahmas, speckled sussex and ameraucanas (which is what a lot of places really have when they tell you they have araucanas). My ameraucanas have been the most easy going with the sussex right behind them. I had some great b.rocks but that is just how I'd list those three for children. A lot of the others that you have on the list tend to be a bit flighty and you really don't want that for kids. Also, a lot of people tend to get bantams like silkies for kids. Hope this helps.
 
We have two Production Reds one is flighty and skiddish and the other will jump in you lap for love. Our Barred Rocks are pretty tame. We also have Brown Leghorns and they are crazy. It may just be mine but they are the craziest of the bunch. I think the more you mess with them as chicks the tamer they will be. GOOD LUCK!!!!
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Hi thanks so much for the quick reply. So as for the Ameraucanas, do they have all the egg laying problems people list for araucanas? Do they still have blue eggs? What about jumping fences? I have small trees near the fence. I hate to be running after chickens in middle of RTP!! I do have a pet parrot so I was planning on cutting the chickens' wing feathers like I do for the parrot.
 
Also, is it a bad idea to get one of each of the breeds you recommend? Or should I stick with one breed only?
 
ktahmase said:
Hi thanks so much for the quick reply. So as for the Ameraucanas, do they have all the egg laying problems people list for araucanas? Do they still have blue eggs? What about jumping fences? I have small trees near the fence. I hate to be running after chickens in middle of RTP!! I do have a pet parrot so I was planning on cutting the chickens' wing feathers like I do for the parrot.
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Half of my ameraucanas lay blue or blue/green eggs, some lay a rosy pink and I have one that lays a very light brown so it would really depend on the bird's genes and how close to the araucana breed that strain still is.

Mine have never been the jumping kind but each chicken and flock can be different. In either case, clipping the wings would probably be a good thing until you know your birds.
 
ktahmase said:
Also, is it a bad idea to get one of each of the breeds you recommend? Or should I stick with one breed only?
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My first flock had about six different breeds and they all got along fine. It is a personal choice on how colorful you want your flock. I now have Ameraucanas, a Lavender Rooster, and in the process of getting Augsburgers. If my hatch this past weekend would have been successful this past weekend I would have had some Black Copper Marans too!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Barred/Partridge Rocks, Jersey Black Giants, Speckled Sussex, and Araucanas (which are going to be Easter Eggers since they are from a hatchery) all seem to be pretty easy going and should get along fine together. The Easter Eggers should mostly lay green/blue eggs, but some will lay brownish eggs also.
Pretty much all chickens can and will fly over fences, especially when they are younger. Clipping wing feathers may help, depending on how high the fence set up is and especially with trees near it they could use to get over, but you may have to plan on doing something in that area to keep them in better if you plan on letting them loose in the yard.
 
Mixed flock is more fun in my opinion, unless you are trying to breed a certain kind I see no problem with adding a little spice to it, we have about 10 different breeds in our small flock and the only times we have fights is when one of the young girls tries to move up the roost....
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I agree, since I am doing this more for family fun than anything else.
 

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