Your opinion Best Backyard chicken breeds? free range, friendly, docile, good egg layers and color

[connieconnie]

The biggest thing I have noticed is they are alot like any other animal... the more time you put into them, the more rewarding they will be. If you are gentle and friendly with them that's how they turn out. I'm sure the flock you end up with will be the same.

Handling the chicks everyday, and trying to get them used to humans I'm going to try my best

 

[Folly's place]

Mice are a primary host of the deer tick, which is spreading it's range too.
My most recent rescue dog, from a shelter, tested positive for Anaplasma and Erlichia, two tick borne diseases. She wasn't ill, and easy to treat, because I knew to have her tested, and medicated before illness happened.
Mary

 

[Birdielee]

Wow, so dogs might have been the spreaders! I have several dogs, but actually caught it when doing a wild meadow study at uni. I think mice might be a major carrier of disease as well how did you come to know so much about it? Did you or someone you know get it?

Mice are one of the main vectors, as far as i understand. Here in New Jersey, at least. I think the deer tick life cycle involves the whitetailed deer and the deer mice (or possibly the white footed mice,) mostly.

My mom has had it twice and my brother has a chronic case, pretty bad.
I pretty much don't play in the woods anymore, and i used to live there. My son's growing up without the woods. Very sad.

But there's hope! JAPANESE KNOTWEED is medicine against it. (A polygonium species.) And there's a bug spray called Sawyer that my bro tested. He says he watched the ticks crawl up his leg and when they reached where he'd sprayed, knee level, they suddenly dropped off. It's in consumer reports magazine July 2015 page 36. Hope the photo is clear enough.

My ma has learned a lot from this book: "Healing Lyme natural healing and prevention of lyme borreliosis and its coinfections". By Stephen Harrod Buhner

 

[connieconnie]

Mice are one of the main vectors, as far as i understand. Here in New Jersey, at least. I think the deer tick life cycle involves the whitetailed deer and the deer mice (or possibly the white footed mice,) mostly.

My mom has had it twice and my brother has a chronic case, pretty bad.
I pretty much don't play in the woods anymore, and i used to live there. My son's growing up without the woods. Very sad.

But there's hope! JAPANESE KNOTWEED is medicine against it. (A polygonium species.) And there's a bug spray called Sawyer that my bro tested. He says he watched the ticks crawl up his leg and when they reached where he'd sprayed, knee level, they suddenly dropped off. It's in consumer reports magazine July 2015 page 36. Hope the photo is clear enough.

My ma has learned a lot from this book: "Healing Lyme natural healing and prevention of lyme borreliosis and its coinfections". By Stephen Harrod Buhner

I'm so sorry it has effected you and your family so much In the UK we have lots of deer and mice, especially in the countryside. I'm the only one it my family that has had or got lyme. But my case was pretty severe (was in intensive care for 2 weeks, got brain swelling and now my body can't produce certain hormones or control my blood pressure, so I faint if I stand for more than a few minutes. Lyme can be really nasty, so I really sympathize with you and your family!). We're a pretty outdoor family too, but now we're hyper vigilant (like you) with tick sprays etc.) Already taking Japanese knotweed (and a whole load of other herbs and antibiotics) funny how an invasive species can become so useful!

Haven't read that one. Will definitely look it up! Thank you

 

[connieconnie]

Mice are a primary host of the deer tick, which is spreading it's range too.
My most recent rescue dog, from a shelter, tested positive for Anaplasma and Erlichia, two tick borne diseases. She wasn't ill, and easy to treat, because I knew to have her tested, and medicated before illness happened.
Mary

It's crazy how prevalent it is! I do find it mind boggling that they test dogs but not people (thank goodness they at least do the dogs!). Glad your puppy didn't suffer any symptoms!

 

[Fluffbuttbabies]

I've heard buff orpingtons have a lovely temperament (plus they're so fluffy!). Sadly Easter eggers are almost impossible to get in the UK Marans sound fantastic (definitely on the short list ). Haven't heard of austra whites, will do some research! Thank you

I have had two buff orpingtons, they are the best, so fluffy, beautiful cream colored eggs. White feet. Beautiful.
Both of my girls LOVED attention, and also snacks!
1000/10 would recommend

 

[connieconnie]

Just put some buff orpingtons in the incubator hopefully they'll be as nice as yours!

 

[Angileen]

I have Calico Princess, white Jersey giants, black Jersey Giants, speckled Sussex, Midnight Majesty Marans, Easter Eggers, Buckeye, Dominique's, lavender and Buff orpingtons. For Roosters I have 1 of each, Black Jersey Giant, Lavender Orpington, Buckeye and Midnight Majesty Marans. All my chickens get along well including the Roosters. The smallest egg layers in my flock are the Speckled Sussex and Orpingtons. The largest egg layers are the Calico Princess, White Jersey Giants and the Marans. The rest lay medium to large size eggs.
If you can't get Easter Eggers you could try getting Cream Legbars, Olive Eggers or Ameraucanas to take the place of Easter Eggers.

 

[Angileen]

Interesting! I didn't think about it, but of course some breeds are more prone to certain health problems (like dog breeds)! Are there any other breeds that might might be more prone to issues? I was thinking about cream legbars (as they're very common where I live in the UK and other blue laying breeds are impossible to find). And I suppose the alertness will keep the whole flock safe, but won't make them cuddlers.

I'm hatching some buff opingtons for a friend ... maybe I'll keep a few They look so cute and fluffy!

The white or lighter colored breeds also are more attractive to predators, they are easy to spot. And once a predator finds your chickens they will keep coming back until they are all gone. I would never let my chickens free range. I live in an environment perfect for predators and I love my birds too much. And it's not just wild predators you have to worry about. Dogs coming into your yard would make quick work killing all your chickens.

 

[Ribh]

Thank you! I'm really hoping at least one of the chicks I raise will end up being petable, trying to max out the likelihood by getting breeds that are more likely going to be calm, docile and friendly!

I can see though how socialization, care and training are the biggest factors. I've seen the cutest video on youtube of a white leghorn hen running up to and leaning into their owner on sight (almost hugging )! So I can see how flightly or more active breeds can end up being super sweet too.

Most birds will learn to trust you if you are patient & spend time with them. I have Campines [white eggs] who are considered very flighty & skittish but this is my Tuppence:

I've had both BAs & BRs & they are wonderful birds in a flock & excellent layers. My BRs have had a tendency to go broody though & I have found both breeds to be more dominant than some others.

I have Aracaunas for blue eggs. They are very calm, placid girls.

I also keep Wyandotte bantams as I prefer the smaller eggs for some things. They are wonderful birds in a mixed flock in my experience.​