Would you add Death Layer chickens to your flock?

[Barnyardgroupie]

Edited to update:

I'm hoping to hear about others' experience with the German Death Layer breed of chicken, which lays steadily all the way through to old age. I have read that they would prefer to roost in trees, so I'm not sure if they would just live outside the coop at night, if you had a total free range situation? Or somehow a big enough enclosure with trees inside it? A shy chicken sounds like one thing, but one that will prefer not to roost in the coop with the rest of the flock sounds like it might be a tricky situation to manage.

Any thoughts or input on the breed or ones with similar temperament / behaviour much appreciated!

---Original Question Below---

So thanks to this wonderful thread I was perusing,

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/oh-craigslist-you-amuse-me-so.436863/

I thought, "Oh yeah, let me just check Craigslist for... whatever. Punch in 'chicken.' See what comes up." (There's a vintage nesting box I have my eye on that someone wants way too much money for, IMHO, that I keep checking on... Anywho.)

I found a local ad for Deathlayer chicks for sale. [Or possibly hatching eggs.] The picture looks like the silver ones, and the price is high but maybe not Absolutely insane. I am just wondering if there is anything I should know about these chickens? I am new to keeping chickens, and I have tended to gravitate towards more docile, easily handled breeds, but I'm wondering if trying out this chicken might be worth it? Or would I just be in over my head? I don't see too much information about them here on BYC. Thanks!

I have deathlayers in my flock and love them. Their personalities are very different. They’re quiet and keep to them selves. Not very people friendly. I sit outside with my flock a few times a day and I actually hatched these.

 

[Chicalina]

If I had space I would have some. They are beautiful.

I had some Silver Sussex which also floated my black/white chicken love boat.

Don't read too much into "breed characteristics" as total gospel. Most birds might nod to that but individual personality is a bigger factor and you can't predict that.

 

[SSStewart]

Edited to update:

I'm hoping to hear about others' experience with the German Death Layer breed of chicken, which lays steadily all the way through to old age. I have read that they would prefer to roost in trees, so I'm not sure if they would just live outside the coop at night, if you had a total free range situation? Or somehow a big enough enclosure with trees inside it? A shy chicken sounds like one thing, but one that will prefer not to roost in the coop with the rest of the flock sounds like it might be a tricky situation to manage.

Any thoughts or input on the breed or ones with similar temperament / behaviour much appreciated!

---Original Question Below---

So thanks to this wonderful thread I was perusing,

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/oh-craigslist-you-amuse-me-so.436863/

I thought, "Oh yeah, let me just check Craigslist for... whatever. Punch in 'chicken.' See what comes up." (There's a vintage nesting box I have my eye on that someone wants way too much money for, IMHO, that I keep checking on... Anywho.)

I found a local ad for Deathlayer chicks for sale. [Or possibly hatching eggs.] The picture looks like the silver ones, and the price is high but maybe not Absolutely insane. I am just wondering if there is anything I should know about these chickens? I am new to keeping chickens, and I have tended to gravitate towards more docile, easily handled breeds, but I'm wondering if trying out this chicken might be worth it? Or would I just be in over my head? I don't see too much information about them here on BYC. Thanks!

I have 2 pullets and a rooster Golden Deathlayers. They aren't laying yet. I have them in their own run and coop, but it's right next to my backyard mix coop and run. I've had no problems with any diseases or anything like that. I got them to breed and sell, they are rare birds, they don't seem to be as friendly as my barnyard mixes, but not unfriendly. They love to free range. The benefit of this breed is they lay eggs until they die...so regular hens stop after a while but this breed does not. Supposedly they'll lay 4-5 eggs a week for 10-13 years, which is their average lifespan.