[confustication]

We had them on our farm when I was growing up, and I now live on a nice 3 acre-ish plot in a rural town... so I'm looking for chicks. I'd love suggestions for breeds to consider (we're thinking 6-12 would be the right number for the size space we have and the homesteading we want to do.) I love the pretty green eggs, but if I remember, the hens we had who laid them were pretty flighty. I'm hoping for some pretty docile girls to wander around the enclosure who are also pretty cold tolerant (Montana gets chilly!)

 

[lexbeach]

Our Araucana chickens were always the friendliest of the flock (often squatting instead of running away when we'd try to catch them). We're getting 8 baby chicks in May (hoping for at least 6 pullets), and we decided to get all Araucanas because they're our favorite (in temperament and because the egg colors are so cool) .

Lex

 

[karne]

We have two Rhode Island reds, 1 Aracuna, and three Barred Rocks, at the moment. We are considering Bantamas as well as meat birds. Our flock is amazingly socialized and follows us all over our property. They love to stand and watch the kids play t-ball and will run after the kids as they chase the ball! They are very interested in the dog, who is scared to death of them. I don't know if it's the breed or us or what, but they are very friendly!

 

[MamaMonica]

We have an Auricana (used to have more), too and she is a total pet. They were flighty as pullets and kept flying out of their pen, but calmed down. They are also good foragers and have peacombs, which should be good for Montana winters.

 

[spring978]

we have Asterlorps sweet docile and cold hardy, We are adding 2 silver lace wyendots to the flock, but I think one of the might be a roo to early to tell but if it is I will get more asterlorps. My asterlorps started laying right at 6 months and except for jan and feb they have laid everyday.

Mypet chicken has a bread finder that will help narrow down your choices based on what you want

 

[E.V. Lowi]

Our Buff Orpingtons are very docile and sweet but their large size scares the neighborhood kids. The buff are good layers but tend to go broody more than other backyard breeds.

 

[Bluegoat]

I had Silver-Grey Dorkings. They were great, a good sized bird, decent layers, very good at finding food and good moms. They were very calm, even the roosters. They come in red as well.

 

[talia rose]

we really really want chickens. my daughter can't eat eggs if the chicken has eaten grain (and CAN if they haven't) so we have extremely limited access (one friend raises gluten free chickens). we began a greenhouse/chicken coop combo a few years ago and then our business got us busy and we never got back to it. this year for sure!

 

[Sasha_girl]

We're partial to Aracaunas too. We also have had success with Buff Orphingtons. Now we have mostly Golden Comets and they're good layers so far. I'm not so sure about their friendliness yet (we've only had them a week) but I've promised myself that as long as I have laying chickens I'll have at least a few Aracaunas.

 

[UUMom]

My Dominiques are the sweetest girls! I also adore my Australorps, (fantastic layers & gorgeous) Barred Rocks, and my Aracunas. Silkies are fabulous and docile, but they need a little bit more care and do better when separated from the bigger birds.

 

[AllisonK]

We have 2 Easter eggers, 2 RIR, 1 polish frizzle, 1 black astralorp, 1 golden sex link, and 1 black star (I think?). OUt of all of them I love our golden sex link and the black star the best for friendliness and good laying. Our RIR's are really aggressive and sometimes scare the kids but excellent layers. The EE, frizzle, and australorp are irregular layers but also sweet chickens. We have 1 buff orpington and 3 Barrred rocks but they are only 2 months old so I am excited to see how they are.

Chickens are so much fun!

 

[fek&fuzz]

I'm getting 6 I think, a mix of Aracaunas and Barred Rocks, which are supposed to do well in the cold.

 

[griffin2004]

I got 2 red stars and 2 black stars last week. They are 4 months old. They get along well with each other, and by the second day were comfortable enough to let me stand next to their pen.

Someone has given us 2 gorgeous big, brown eggs.

I could watch them for hours on end. They're so cute and inquisitive.

 

[confustication]

Well, we went chicken shopping yesterday.

3 Araucanas
3 Black Australorps
3 Buff Orpingtons
3 Gold Lace Wyandottes

They are currently living in a 200 gallon metal livestock watering tank *in my livingroom* while we build the coop. The hope is that we'll be done building when they're ready to move outdoors.

My livingroom has gone from 'country decor' to 'yes, we do live in a barn'.

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