LolaCola Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Hi, I'm a newbie to the forum, I'm not that new to chicken keeping, but last time, a few years ago, we just rocked up to a local garden centre and picked 2 random breeds, a blue ranger (coconut) and a Columbine (bubblegum) they were great birds and the kids adored them. But this time I'm planing on getting three chicks, from an online shop. I thought buying chicks might make them tamer. I want three different breeds that are good with kids and breeds that will get on well together. Two that I like the look of are Speckley hen and white star. So any advise on those breeds or any others that someone would recommend would be very welcome btw, am only planing on hybrids as cost is an issue. And does anyone know what colour the chicks are from each breed, and what colour eggs? I'd ideally like 3 breeds with different eggs, as the children loved eating there own chickens eggs! Thank you in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Hello welcome to the forum All the hybrids are good and as pretty as pure and apart from columbine and white star are calm. But you have already proved that wrong. I'd do what you did before and pick what you like the look of on the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busy bee Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Hi and welcome I am relatively new to keeping chickens and also got different hybrids for the children and myself. We have a Bluebelle, Speckledy, Blacktail Columbine and a Warren/gingernut ranger. When we went to see the breeder she said that the gingers were most definitely the easiest for children. She said that they tend to show more interest. My speckledy is quite cheeky, and daring. Bluebelle is rather shy and doesn't really like to be stroked. Both of my gingers and easier to handle and don't worry as much. We were going to have a Blue Ranger for the coloured eggs but she didn't have any in stock. She did say that they could be a bit more flightly. Saying that if you have them from chicks and handle them then they could be very different. As for different coloured eggs. I have these four different chickens and cannot tell between the eggs!!!! As much as I try, occasionally I can pick out Bluebelles! Good luck in your choosing, I am sure whatever you get they will be lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Hmmmmmnnnn interesting question You said about potentially getting chicks as this will make them tamer.... If you do consider chicks depending on the age will depend on whether their need additional care rather than just being in a garden (brooder, heat lamp etc). However, they could definitely need growers pellets (and chick crumb if young) prior to going onto layers pellets. I have hatched, I have bought in chicks.... I wouldn't say this makes them any tamer or friendlier if I'm honest! So, taking into consideration that you want different coloured eggs so your children can see who has laid what I would recommend hybrids or some large fowl pure breeds. So will answer with breed by egg colour! White eggs (in my experience all white egg layers tend to be a bit flighty until they come into lay!!) - White star (hybrid), Appenzeller (pure breed), Gold legbar (PB), Leghorn (various colours, PB) Blue eggs - Cream Legbar (PB. some will lay green now, but should be blue, again flighty until come into lay) Green eggs - Columbine (80% chance of blue/green eggs, go for darker feathers to increase chance, hybrid, flighty), Arucana (PB), Cotswold Olive (Arucana based hybrid available from Cotswold chickens) Normal brown eggs - Loads!!! Such as Warrens, most standard ginger hybrid, black rock Dark brown eggs - burford brown (hybrid), welsummers, Marans These are all my initial random thoughts! I hope they help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Another potential upset with getting chicks is the fact that you may end up with a Cockerel Personally I would go for hens that are ready to live outside with no problems. In my experience (I have children & have kept hens for 5 years)point of lay hens do get tamer with proper regular handling & again they calm down once they are in lay. Any hybrid,with the exception of White Star / Columbines/Skylines, should be easy enough to handle although you will always get the odd hen that hates it. Like any animal,it isn't clear cut with hens & personality..... White Stars are one of my most favourite breeds due to the huge pure white eggs they lay,but they can be more skittish.....that said,they have heaps of personality to make up for it,& are quite bonkers! Bluebelles are generally a nice placid bunch,but my current hen hates being touched & screams blue murder if we try to pick her up at all What I would do is take your children with you to the chicken shop & let them choose a hen each that appeals to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 If you want guaranteed females as chicks then hybrids are a good choice so you are on the right tracks there Speckeldy chicks are black with some yellow on their head, columbine chicks will be brown/fawn, anything brown such as the Goldlines will be Amber, White Stars will be yellow, black chickens will be black and blur chickens a sort of grey colour For different colour eggs the three obvious ones would be White star, Burford Brown, Columbine I am also one that thinks that birds bought as chicks become more tame. If a bird is bought at 16 weeks and is handled enough it should become tame quickly. The equipment needed to rear chicks can be expensive plus they'll need different feeds at different stages Another consideration would be to get bantams that are older and sexed, Silkies and Pekins make good pets amongst others and them being small would make them easier to handle, you wouldnt get as many eggs though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 ive had a few different breeds, the best for my son who is 4yrs is deafo hybrids ranger- amber star are so tame i have a columbine who lays a lovely blue egg but she is flighty and not tame. any breed with leghorn/legbar tend to be flightier than other hybrid breeds. i have had batams two sussex and marrans and still go with hybrids every time for my boy they even come in the house in summer when back door open, and get on with my lab dog who is 14yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaCola Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Thank you everyone! Great help, still want chicks, and am going to lay out for a brooder and incubator ( I'm hoping to hatch some ducklings at some point!) hence why can't afford PB hens. Can believe how tame some chickens can be! My girls were lovely, and I thought tame, but would have never have had let you hold them I have one more question, are Blue Rangers and Bluebells the same chicken?! They look identical! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 yes they are just 'brand' names Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I have 3 black star (black hybrid) girls. They are all lovely and friendly and have eaten out of my hand and had cuddles since day one. Their feathers are a lovely deep black with a green / purple shimmer to them and golden flecks around their necks. They're definitely my favourite of all the hybrids, calm,friendly, pretty and super duper layers! I want to get some chicks next time and another billy bonus with these is that they can be sexed at a day old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracyann Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I have pure breeds, cross breeds and hybrids, the friendliest are the hybrids, lohmann browns follow me everywhere. For different colour eggs you might try a legbar, a welsummer (dark brown eggs) and a leghorn of some kind for white eggs... The choice is yours really, but all hens tame down and will eat corn and treats out of your childrens hands. Be wary where you get them from though there are some unscrupulous sellers out there. Don't purchase any with runny eyes, slime coming from their beaks when picked up, feathers missing, look for scaly leg and mites around the vent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoeBunny Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I also picked breeds that would be 'child friendly' and possible to tell eggs apart - we went for a Speckledy, Sussex Star, Bluebelle & 2 cream legbars - which gave us a Large brown spotted, Pale pink, purplish pink & blue eggs respectively. My son is 2 and his favourites were the Speckledy & Sussex - both very placid & easy to handle/hug!! Don't be fooled by the 'best breed for children' tag that the Bluebelle sometimes gets, our was positively mardy and anti-social, the 'flightier' Legbars on the other hand were lovely & just as calm as the others once they went into lay. Unfortunately we lost 4 of our girls on Weds to a hungry fox, but will definitely be getting another Speckledy as I think on all counts she was the 'best'. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
