Which chicken breeds to get for newbie?

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PatrickM

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Hi, I'm a newbie so sorry for any daft questions.

I have my run built (9 metres x 6 metres) and got a large raised Nestera coop (green frog as was). I'm thinking of starting off with 4 chickens and my main criteria is friendliness and easy to keep for a beginner (ie, ideally not prima donnas). I'd ideally like slightly quieter breeds as the run is not that far from neighbours, and I'd kind of like 4 different breeds for interest but that's not essential.

I've read that Buff Orpingtons, Salmon Faverolles and Light Sussexes might all fit my bill for breeds. But I'd welcome any advice on what breeds might be good for my first foray into chicken keeping....!
 
Marigold

Marigold

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Ah, now that’s a good question, Patrick! There are no daft questions, only daft answers. Welcome to the Forum, by the way, and congratulations on making such an excellent home for your new girls.
You will realise that all of us have different preferences and I hope you’ll get lots of contradictory advice to mull over, which may or may not help you in your choice.
I really recommend you to follow the link to the main Poultrykeeper website, if you haven’t found this yet. It’s a mine of information, with lots of advice for news keepers.
See https://poultrykeeper.com/
The first choice you have to make is between purebreds and hybrids. All the ones you mention are purebreds. These have some disadvantages for a new keeper. Proper purebreds are going to be much more expensive than hybrids as they will be bred on a smaller scale, often by independent breeders who don’t have the resources to vaccinate them as chicks against the many chicken diseases that they may be infected by. Some of these diseases e.g. mycoplasma, are easily transmitted from the parent birds, are expensive to treat and can linger within your flock for years. Many small flocks of purebred chickens are endemically affected, and will bring complications you want to avoid. It will be much more difficult to get the variety of breeds you may want, all at the same time and from the same supplier. It’s good to get all four of your new birds in one go, as this will help them to settle down quickly together, and also won’t expose them to the biohazards of meeting other birds from a different flock. Many purebreds are more likely to go broody than hybrids, which is a pain to overcome if you are not intending to breed from them. They may go on laying for a longer time, but will tend to lay less often compared with hybrids, who are bred for reliable egg production on a commercial scale.
They may also have been bred more for beauty in the show ring than for productivity and hardiness.
Hybrid chickens come in a big variety of interesting and attractive plumage, sizes and egg colours. They are usually bred commercially, fully vaccinated, and sold on to local dealers at around 16-18 weeks old, when they can be expected to come into lay between about 20-24 weeks, having had a chance to settle in to their new homes. They are not very expensive - here in Hampshire you might expect to pay £18 -£20 per bird at 16+ weeks old, compared with twice that for proper purebreds. They will all have different personalities and characters, but will all settle down and become as tame as you want them to be, depending on how you approach them and give them room to get to know you as a quiet and gentle person. Hybrids which are part-Leghorn may be more flighty than others, (mine love high perches in their run, ignore the coop and roost up on the open perch from choice in all weathers.) Also there are some breeds of brown hens which are used in commercial egg farms because they are so docile and tolerant of crowded conditions. Most dealers will offer several breeds for you to choose from and will be happy to advise on characteristics of each kind. I wouldn’t worry too much about which are tamest - as with any new young creature, this depends on how you go about training them. As a prey species, most hens dislike being cuddled, but there are exceptions.
Don’t worry about noise - hens do sing an ‘egg song’ after they’ve laid an egg, but it only lasts a few minutes, and otherwise they just ‘talk’ quietly to each other unless badly alarmed. No problems if you stick to hens and don’t get a cockerel,
I totally agree with the idea of getting four different breeds, which will each lay a different coloured egg so you’ll know who has laid that day. You’ll need to ask the breeder about this, to get a range of colours, from green and blue, through shades of fawn and brown, to pale cream and white.
Do let us know what you think, and how you get on.

P.S. Simply as an example, here is a link to the supplier I use, with pics of the range of breeds typically available. This firm is a family business, has good clean conditions for the birds,and is friendly and helpful. Whereabouts do you live? A personal recommendation would be useful to you, maybe.
https://www.staghillfarm.co.uk/online-store/Hens-c127550501
 
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Margaid

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Whereabouts are you PatrickM? This is a link to my local supplier in Shropshire. They have an excellent reputation.

https://cyril-bason.co.uk/laying-pullets-suppliers-uk/
 
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dianefairhall

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Hi PatrickM, welcome to the forum.

I started with hens 3 years ago, but being in the Western Isles there are not so many breeders here. I chose three hybrids - a Light Sussex, a Bluebelle and a Cuckoo Marans cross. The first two are lovely, calm birds and very good egg producers. My experience with the Cuckoo wasn't so good. She was very flighty, a poor layer and attacked the other two during flockdown. That's just my experience, for what it's worth.

Good luck -it's an exciting time for you.
 
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bigyetiman

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Hi and welcome from Essex.
Most hybrid layers are very quiet, apart from as marigold says, the " look at me I've laid an egg" moment. We had one that made such a song and dance about it, we christened her " Bette Davis" As it was such a performance
We have had the standard brown ones usually Colombian, black or white tails, hybrid Light Sussex, really quiet birds, and good lookers, Cuckoo Marans, we found them fine but a bit bouncy, Barred Rock, a speckled grey type, Bluebelles, they have all been good, and once you get used to each other they are quite content with you around. Like people you will always find one every so often that doesn't conform to the rule book.
We are a friendly lot on here, and no question is daft, we were all beginners once.
Look forward to hearing what you choose, and we love pics of peoples hens
 
Marigold

Marigold

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Margaid said:
Whereabouts are you PatrickM? This is a link to my local supplier in Shropshire. They have an excellent reputation.

https://cyril-bason.co.uk/laying-pullets-suppliers-uk/
Click to expand...

That looks a good selection, Margaid and much lower prices than round here.
 
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Icemaiden

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The Beechwood Blue has either been heavily photo edited or given a bath in blue food colouring!!! :)07

It's literally blue (if you're gullible enough to believe the photo), with a bright fuchsia pink comb & wattles!!!
 
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Margaid

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That looks a good selection, Margaid and much lower prices than round here.
[/quote]

I've heard very good reports and a friend from the old forum came from Southam near Stratford on Avon to collect some. The shop is about quarter of a mile from me and is the best ironmongers for miles!

Maybe it's your screen colour Icemaiden as the comb and wattles aren't bright pink on my screen.
 
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PatrickM

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That’s so helpful thank you all very much.

So, I had been thinking purebreds but it definitely looks like for us hybrids will be better. I’m in Guildford and am looking to get my first girls from Hollywater Hens who seem to have a good selection and be well set up. Run should all be complete in a week or so and hoping to get the girls in two weeks time.
 
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bigyetiman

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Glad we can help, we were all newbies at one point. As you seem very well organised, I am sure you will find it all plain sailing.
 
Marigold

Marigold

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Great news, Patrick! Please be sure to post some pics of your girls when they arrive.
(Forum software is not the simplest so this might help with uploading)
http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=11259
 
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Icemaiden

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Ahah. Seeing your question on this board answers my question Diane. I saw it on the weather thread & was debating whether Cheshire Blue was a kind of chicken or a crumbly blue cheese :)
 
Marigold

Marigold

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Plenty online if you Google Cheshire Blue chickens eg
https://www.pagespoultry.co.uk/the-birds/our-hybrid-breeding-birds/cheshire-blue/
 
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