Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, or welsummer?

[Jdc361]

I have options to get 1 of these three birds and was just wondering, which is best? Best egg layer, best temperament, and friendliest. I need a gentle breed. I know those island red is the best egg layer but I've also heard that they aren't the friendliest. Is this true? How welsummer and wyandottes lay? Which breed and why. Thank you! Sorry to hit you with so much at once!

 

[Herdsman01]

Are these going to be hatchery birds or from a breeder? That will affect things as far as disposition is concerned. As many will tell you on here hatchery birds tend to be flightier and more aggressive that birds from breeders. Of course this doesn't always hold true, there will be exceptions. Where they come from will also affect laying ability. Hatchery birds are mostly bred for egg production so they do tend to lay better than birds from a breeder. Again there are exceptions to every rule. Hatchery Rhode Island Reds are commonly labeled as aggressive. We had a quite a few Rhode Island Reds from hatchery stock and they did lay VERY well. Ours weren't aggressive, but they were flighty and not friendly. The reds were great foragers though. Wyandottes are suppose to be an easy going, friendly breed. I've heard hatchery stock does tend to be on the aggressive side. I don't know much about Welsummers, hopefully someone can add something about them.

 

[Jdc361]

Hatchery

 

[Herdsman01]

I'd probably recommend the reds but go with what ever you like best. All should be good layers and disposition can depend on many factors.

 

[Jdc361]

Ok well it was at Meyer hatchery. I decided not to go with them any more considering shipping was 50$ it's self! I'm now going with chickensforbackyards. Does that change anything? They are more of a small scale hatchery. But I added a light brahma to this question. So now my question is RIR, Wyandotte, welsummer, or light brahma

 

[Jdc361]

I'd probably recommend the reds but go with what ever you like best. All should be good layers and disposition can depend on many factors.

 

[Michael OShay]

I've had all three breeds and if sheer egg production is your main priority, then the RIRs are the best layers (5-6 eggs per hen per week). RIRs are sometimes aggressive (especially the roosters) and I've had to cull some of them from the flock. Wyandottes and Welsummers will typically give you about 4 eggs per hen per week. If temperament is a major concern, Wyandottes are usually the most docile and friendliest of these three, although on rare occasions I've had an aggressive Wyandotte; but that is the exception and certainly not the rule. My personal choice of the three would probably be the Welsummer as (in my personal opinion), their chocolate eggs are the prettiest in the chicken world. Whichever breed you decide to go with, good luck with your flock.

 

[Jdc361]

I've had all three breeds and if sheer egg production is your main priority, then the RIRs are the best layers (5-6 eggs per hen per week). RIRs are sometimes aggressive (especially the roosters) and I've had to cull some of them from the flock. Wyandottes and Welsummers will typically give you about 4 eggs per hen per week. If temperament is a major concern, Wyandottes are usually the most docile and friendliest of these three, although on rare occasions I've had an aggressive Wyandotte; but that is the exception and certainly not the rule. My personal choice of the three would probably be the Welsummer as (in my personal opinion), their chocolate eggs are the prettiest in the chicken world. Whichever breed you decide to go with, good luck with your flock.

My main priority is friendlyness. So wyandottes is the best choice? What about brahmas?

 

[Herdsman01]

Brahmas are also suppose to be very friendly. I don't think I've heard of a mean brahma. I had a couple once. They were really friendly and easy going if I remember right.

 

[Jdc361]

Brahmas are also suppose to be very friendly. I don't think I've heard of a mean brahma. I had a couple once. They were really friendly and easy going if I remember right.  

I've been looking at salmon Faverolles as well but I hear they're socially awkward