Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[pam771771]

Hi all,

 

So this weekend I'm finishing off my base for my coop then I'm going out to buy my first chickens so excited!!!

 

I only have a little coop so plan to buy 3 chickens, medium sized, and ones that will make good pets.

 

I've done my research but there seems to be so much choice out there. So come on guys, let me know, what are your favourite breeds?

 

Pam

[merlina]

I began with warrens (aka rangers and various similar names), and think they're a great hen to start with. Generally they have fabulous personalities and don't have any big downsides or special needs - and they lay lots of eggs.

 

My favourite is probably my araucana (although I've only had one, and not for that long), just because she's utterly and completely batty and tears round the garden like roadrunner and makes me

I wouldn't necessarily recommend one for a beginner though - they're very flighty and generally a bit 'odd'

[Jenthelibrarian]

We celebrated our first 'hen-iversary' in April.

 

At the small-holding where we bought them I asked for 'beginners hens' and happily chose a warren, because she looks like a proper chicken, and a black star so we could tell them apart!

 

They were cheerful, confident looking girls from the front of the crowd that came up to the fence when we visited, they are silly-tame, come when called, follow us around, join in with gardening and leap into our laps to share treats. We mostly get two eggs a day, too.

 

They may not be very fancy or glamorous but I love them to bits and they have really been very little trouble or worry.

 

Good luck with whatever you choose, post pics and be assured that this forum is lovely, no question too daft or issue too minor for real help to be offered

[good_egg]

I love all of mine but really like the fact they all look different and lay different eggs (or don't)... I would see what is available nearby and choose the ones that you fall for on the day. Would always try and mix looks though - hybrids or pure breeds.

[Luvachicken]

I had 2 gingernut rangers and a Miss Pepperpot to start with. When they died I moved on to 3 wyandottes - I thought these were very sweet to start with, but sadly the smallest one died and left the 2 I have now who have turned into viscious ladies on my cute little pekins.

 

For this reason I would pick pekins, they are sweet and fluffy and not too big. They are sometimes a bit noisy but definitely the cutest chickens out of all the chickens I've had, and when my wyandottes go to the big chicken coop in the sky, pekins is what I'll be getting more of.

[Egghead68]

Pekins and Silkies.

[Chantelle]

Pekins pekins pekins!!! I love my babys they dont destroy my garden and are Mzing to watch they were very easy to tame and my 3 children love them!!

[Chicken deficient]

Pekins!

They are utterly adorable and lay lovely little eggs. They are very chatty, busy, friendly, intelligent, easy to handle and long lived. They burble and meep when they are talking to you. One of my Pekins used to get in my son's buggy with him when he was little and purr like a kitten when he stroked her. They do much less damage to gardens than hybrids and you can get more for the same space as they are so dinky.