OK, all. I hope to get a few hens. I have about reached the saturation point reading information about the characteristics of chicken breeds. While there does seem to be basic consensus regarding certain types of chickens, the amount of contradiction is also impressive. I have to conclude that there is A LOT of variation within breeds. This must also be the result of how the chicks are bred/raised/socialized as well as other environmental factors.
So, I am coming to you for your ten cents here. I would love some quiet hens which are docile and good layers. The list so far includes the usual suspects:
Delawares
Buff Orpingtons
Black Australorps
Easter Eggers
Brahmas
Cochins (friendly but apparently not good layers, though)
I hope to end up with quieter hens, but this seems to be impossible to ensure with the amount of noise they make depending on the birds’ position in the pecking order, whether or not they are laying, and whether or not your neighbors are light sleepers, among other factors.
Any help/recommendations/experiences would be greatly appreciated.
This has been useful, as have several forums:
http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx
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Hi!
I found the same problems when trying to pick a breed, but when it came down to it my choices were limiting to what was availible at the store. I intended to buy two Rhode Island Reds, but ended up getting one Danish Brown Leghorn and one Silver Lace Wyandotte. The Wyandotte is a great leader, but headstrong and not very social with humans. The leghorn is quiet, nice, easily handled….and not that bright. They make a good pair. Anyways, they haven’t started laying yet so I don’t have many comments about that, but Leghorns are the breed used for commerical layers so I assume it should be a good layer. Wyandottes are suposed to be decent layers also and they are very pretty. You can see pics of ours on the website, but I really need to update the pics – our chicks look like real chickens now! I hope everything goes well with yours!
Thanks for the input, Rhiannon. I heard positive things about the Wyandotte. They are pretty things. I will go check out your birds on your site.
The chicks have been ordered and will get here at the end of the month, beginning of July sometime–I chose Australorps, Orpingtons, and Easter Eggers. Looking forward to their arrival and to posting pics.