Researching hen breeds for young family- newbie

[Anonymous]

Hi, We live in the lovely Gower area of Swansea and after chatting with many friends who have or have had chickens we would like to have some chickens of our own. we are fortunate to have a huge garden with a suitable area we can fence off for their run which also has partial shelter from the welsh winds! My children are 7 and 10 and for the last 4 yrs have spent their holidays chicken sitting our neighbours flock when they are away on holiday. They've been in charge of his incubator and handled the chicks and I think now he is sadly no longer keeping chickens himself, the kids are ready to have some of their own. Ideally we wouldn't want more than 3. Is there a minimum or ideal number? Our neighbour had French Marrans, some of these crossed with cute black bantams, and legbars as well as the last ones which were some very sad looking ex battery hens who ended up in chicken paradise next door!!! Can anyone advise us perhaps on suitable breeds that aren't too flighty, that the kids can pick up if necessary, good layers and happy in welsh wales? I think it's a good time to get some whilst we still have the advice and wisdom of our neighbour on hand. Where so we find chickens? it sounds like a daft question but there are a multitude of adverts and farmers markets to bewilder a first timer!! Claire

 

[daniellesdogs]

most fluffy breeds are calm orpington brahma my 2 fav but they are also very large heavy breeds not the best egg layers mine are in first lay and only lay about 5 a week each but had a long brake in winter. you can get both in bantam the orpington bantams i have jump up on my shoulder bent down when im in the garden but cant make the fence.
there lots of chickens as long as you take the time can become good pet. hybreeds like the sussex are cheap and pretty also lay lots of eggs

 

[E3lx]

Sussex are nice birds.
can have two or three but never only one.

 

[Tim]

You could have a look at the Chicken Breeds section of the site to get an idea of characteristics. Hybrids are also very good for newcomers, very hardy and will give you lots of eggs.

Let us know what you go for!

Tim

 

[Chuck]

Whatever you get and I would suggest hybrids, get them from the same place at the same time and make sure they have lived together before they come home to you. That will eliminate a lot of problems.
If you decide on pure breeds and you say you want eggs, make sure they are from a utility strain and not a show strain.

 

[Marigold]

I agree with Chuck - one more tip to keep things simple - decide how many you want in your first flock and get all of them at once. Don't make the same mistake as I did, and decide you've got room for another one, a week or two after getting the first lot, or the poor little girl may have a hard time of it when she arrives.
Also, if you get a batch of hybrids of mixed breeds, not only do they look more interesting in the run, and are easier to tell apart, but they'll each lay an egg of different colours and sizes, so easy to tell who's been a good girl that day!