Ygerna Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I AM going to get chickens, I am saving madly to buy my eglu But, I am looking at the breeds trying to decide which chickens to buy. My list of criteria are Docile/placid/friendly natured because of the 3 children. Quiet due to living in a Suburb of London. Pretty coloured eggs no larger than a medium size bird, though small would be acceptable. So, what would you suggest? Open to all ideas on this, consider it a brainstorming session TIA Ygerna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 You really can't beat the hybrids for friendliness and docility,plus lots of eggs. Unless you get a blue egg layer, each egg on it's own could be described as plain, but even a clutch of varying shades of brown eggs from the hybrids looks pretty - they seem to have much more colour than shop bought eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Get some gingers! These come under various names - Red star, warren, isa browns, goldline, columbian blacktail, ginger rangers. They are inquisitive, nosey, friendly & make lovely talkative trumpeting cooing noises as they go about happily. Eggs are a good size & various pinky brown shades. Another good breed is the black rock (black with ginger flecks) or Amber star (white with ginger flecks). Pekin bantams are great & extremely friendly, cute & small. Easily tamed. But the eggs are little - creamy white coloured. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKH Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 oh DEF. get some ex-batts its so wonderful too watch them discover the world to learn to scratch and dust bath and run around, they lay lovely eggs and they are soo grateful to be given a second chance. they are also very placid and easy to handle, min love a cuddle (especially if you've got some bread in your hand) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 As much as I agree with getting ex batts, I would be wary of doing so for children. The only reason being that because of their tough lives so far, they may be more likely to not live as long. That is the only reason though! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 My three are lovely girls, Maisie (on the left) being especially docile . They lay different coloured eggs too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 (edited) My three are lovely girls, Maisie (on the left) being especially docile . They lay different coloured eggs too . Ooh, pretty, pretty eggs I went to the Omlet 'Breeds' page and could only find the Rhode Island Red, not the Colombine or the Suffolk. Would these have other names perhaps? Edited December 22, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 My three are lovely girls, Maisie (on the left) being especially docile . They lay different coloured eggs too . Never mind the chickens (which do look great BTW), that egg holder is fab . Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 This website gives you some info about other breeds and includes the Pied Suffolk and the Columbine . Re the Egg Skelter, you need to read this thread . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 The colombine is also known as a skyline, or jasmine. It is a cream legbar hybrid. The suffolk is also known as a pied suffolk, daisybelle or magpie, it is a sussex/maran hybrid (I think!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 My three are lovely girls, Maisie (on the left) being especially docile . They lay different coloured eggs too . Never mind the chickens (which do look great BTW), that egg holder is fab . Andrew http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=36264&p=559828#p559828 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Eggcellent, that's Santa sorted for me! We already have one of these Spiral Egg Racks, but the egg-skelter looks even more fun! Thank you ANH! Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Light sussex! Light sussex! They're lovely! Or Rhode Island Red. Or Pekin bantams, which are very cute. Or.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 light sussex/sussex ranger is a lovely bird thats hardy and quite friendly. for children i would DEFINATLY get a bovans goldline (or just goldline, im not sure) as they are the friendliest birds i have ever encountered and put up with a lot from my little sister and cousins . Bantams are also fantastic for little kids, as they are very handelable and the right size for little hands, and they jump onto laps for a cuddle but they are a different type of chicken all together and have different requirements, so im not sure if thats the kind of thing you want! good luck with your search! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 Ok, I *think* I have a shortlist. I am hoping that you more experienced keepers would add you thoughts on the following... pied suffolk leghorn (white star amber star-are these the same?) aracananas suffolk noir isa brown corals black rock (I do get confused by the several names for one hybrid type so, if any of the above have pseudonyms, can you tell me, thanks ) I am going to get the Eglu, as opposed to the Cube and am hoping for 4 birds, all different One for each of the children and one for me DH wont get one, if we got a cube then he could but... So, please, your thoughts, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I have pekins and a hybrid..........the hybrid is mine ( for eggs) and the pekins are just pets. LMW wandering around the garden with a bantam under each arm is a familiar sight in the summer, they don't seem to care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 The White leghorns do have the lovely white eggs but I have heard many people comment on hear that they are completely loopy, and very flighty. be prepared for that lady to not be very cuddly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 The White leghorns do have the lovely white eggs but I have heard many people comment on hear that they are completely loopy, and very flighty. be prepared for that lady to not be very cuddly hmm, will scratch tha one off the list then; I don' want to scare the children Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 The White leghorns do have the lovely white eggs but I have heard many people comment on hear that they are completely loopy, and very flighty. be prepared for that lady to not be very cuddly hmm, will scratch tha one off the list then; I don' want to scare the children If you are wanting a white chicken and not bothered about the colour of the eggs there are friendly versions. My dolly is an Amber Link Hybrid, she is white from a distance, but sort of creamy close up. She lays brown eggs and is very friendly, she is a real softy, I call her my cuddle chicken. It's really confusing at first with all the breeds and hybrids and different names, and there are no guarentees as they each have their own personalities too. The best part is though, you'll fall in love with them in a day no matter which you choose . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 How about a Silkie??? Not too big Very Friendly Very cute and cuddly Lay white eggs Easy to keep Don't Fly Perfect! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 How about a Silkie??? Not too big Very Friendly Very cute and cuddly Lay white eggs Easy to keep Don't Fly Perfect! Tom What is the average size egg from a silkie please? Love the look of the girl in the photo but one of the ways of 'selling' the whole chicken in the garden thing to my DH is the getting of fresh eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 As silkies are in between bantams and large fowl their eggs are medium - small and around 180-200 eggs a year but I have a friend who's Silkie has laid 260 this year! They are fantastic little birds and are soooo friendly they will be following you everywhere! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Here is a rubbishy picture I just found on the internet about egg size but it might help Silkie eggs are medium - bantam sized Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
