This hen is named Peep. Spring time is almost here and chick days are starting to pop up at all of the local feed stores. These big birds are robust and are known to thrive in typical chicken coop environments. RIRs are part of the “heavy” class of poultry, weighing in at around 7-8lbs when grown. Our Rhode Island Reds have always been incredibly sweet, docile, and easy to handle. They lay brown eggs and are another dual-purpose breed. Polish chickens are adorned with poufy feathers on their heads and sometimes can cause problems like limiting their vision. This is a special breed of chicken very popular, they are excellent layers. Australorp chickens are a great choice for any flock owner. The temptation to pick up more of these little cuties is hard to resist. View our disclosure policy for details. They make great pets for families with children or older people. This ornamental bantam breed hails from Malaysia. The silkie chicken is at the top of our list for kid-friendly chicken breeds. So which chicken breeds are best to raise and keep as pets? Chickens were once thought of strictly as farm animals, but as more cities allow backyard chickens, these birds are now being kept for their pet potential, as well as their eggs.The following recommendations of the best chicken breeds for pets are based on keeping pet hens, since roosters are naturally more aggressive. For us, they have been little sweeties. What are the best chickens for pets? Due to their smaller stature and crests, Polish will typically end up on the bottom of the pecking order if kept in a flock with larger, more aggressive breeds. The breed originated in the U.S. One of the best things about Sussex hens is that they enjoy free-ranging in the garden without destroying it. The Australorp is an excellent layer and very hardy. Wins all around. Eggs per Year: Approximately 180-220 eggs per year. Some of the best kid-friendly chicken breeds include Cochins, Orpingtons, Brahmas, Silkie Bantams, Easter Eggers and Golden Buffs. Due to their unusual looks and docile nature, some chicken owners keep them as indoor household pets. Chickens aren’t scary and are becoming more popular as therapy animals to help develop communication, play, and interaction skills. So that’s something to keep an eye on if you don’t want them to hatch eggs. Posted on December 2, 2020 by December 2, 2020 by Kids who need structure or autistic kids can find a lot of growth in interacting with chickens. So it’s best to give these chickens a free-ranging environment. And children learn chicken chores at an early age. Here are a few reasons why you should consider adding some chickens to your homestead. They can be fattened to a rooster weight of 10 lbs (4.5 kgs) and a hen weight of 8 lbs (3.6 kgs). They start to lay eggs at 20-24 weeks old. Orpington chickens will lay around 150 eggs per year. Its also hard to resist the urge to collect all of the chicken breeds! Bantam Brahmas are sweet, docile and look very chic with their pea combs and feathered feet. These chickens lay a little less than other breeds, but still a lot at around 180 eggs a year. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. While the pictured hen does not, some varieties of Polish have beards. - our website will automatically give you a custom breed recommendation.Click on the breed name for full information including where you can buy them and pictures. Polish are the involuntary comedians of the chicken world. Best Backyard Chicken Breeds for Beginners Best Backyard Chickens: Production Hybrid Many of the best backyard chicken breeds fall under this blanket term. They are dual-purpose birds (useful for both eggs and meat), are friendly, and hail from Australia. Best Egg Laying Chickens For Beginners. EEs come in a variety of colored plumage and frequently have pea combs, muffs and ear tufts. Best Chicken Breeds: 12 Types of Hens that Lay Lots of Eggs, Make Good Pets, and Fit in Small Yards (Booklet) - Kindle edition by Ruppenthal, R.J.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. These easygoing chickens were originally raised as broilers but make good layers of large brown eggs. Barred Rocks are friendly, hardy chickens that are great layers of large brown eggs, making them quite popular for backyard flocks. Smallish and friendly, bearing confinement well, Australorps are known as a great breed for people looking for pet chickens in their backyard flock. Roosters can get between 8-10 lbs, which makes them a great size. Buff Orpingtons are known as the lap dogs of the chicken world and this hen named Lulu fits the bill. Chicken Breeds Ideal for Backyard Pets and Eggs, How to Get Your Chicken Coop Ready for Winter. They are very comparable to our Rhode Island Reds in this regards. Here we are describing about some best egg laying chickens for beginners. 1. These chickens are pretty entertaining around our ranch. In the few urban settings in the U.S. where roosters are allowed, Seramas are popular pets. The solid gold plumage on her head, her white ears, the barred plumage on her body and her upright tail make this golden variety hen named Jenny a strikingly beautiful bird. Some breeds just don’t have a kid friendly temperament and I wouldn’t recommend keeping them as pets. They are super cute and affectionate and make great backyard pals for toddlers to teenagers and all in between. Serama roosters pack a ton of personality in their tiny bodies. Posted December 2nd, 2020 by & filed under Uncategorized. Many birds who are bred to be good table birds will lay few eggs, and some hens haven't been bred for the purpose of egg-laying or providing a family with meat, especially now that … They are also known as a gentle giant. If you want a hen that lays pastel blue, green or pink eggs, then the Easter Egger is the one for you. Popular picks for backyard flocks, these breeds rate high for their friendly personalities, beauty or unusual looks, hardiness in hot and cold climates, and reputations as good egg layers. This is another super sweet and gentle chicken breed. We don’t currently have these breeds on our ranch, but I know several people who love them! As with many breeds, it comes down to whether they are handled frequently when they are chicks and whether human interaction is encouraged with treats. Dual-purpose chickens have been bred to produce the best quality of meat and eggs. Choosing Breeds Uncategorized best chickens for pets and eggs. Sussex chickens are traditionally raised for both eggs and meat. Some chicken owners say RIRs have easygoing personalities; others say they are bossy. Leghorn: The best backyard chickens for lots of eggs, these chickens lay extra-large white eggs, producing over 300 a year. I find our silkie hens to be the best mamas. Silkies are one of many breeds that have feathered feet. This Red Star named Sunset is a prolific layer of extra-large dark brown eggs. Reading Time: 5 minutes Raising a flock of backyard chickens as pets with “benefits” is a fun, fulfilling activity that the whole family can get involved in. Her good looks combined with the breed's penchant for foraging and flying have led Jenny's owners to nickname her the "traffic-calming chicken," as she's frequently found strutting up and down the sidewalk where she lives, causing drivers to slow down and check her out. Brahmas make an excellent choice of breed for children and to keep as pets. Modified: Aug 17, 2020 by Mary Beth. Egg Size: Large EEs are regarded as hardy, friendly and good layers. They sure make a great little addition for anyone who wants a fun chicken breed to keep as a pet. Super tiny chicken breed. These are excellent dual-purpose birds. This is number one on my list for a reason – they’re a top choice on our ranch. They are a medium sized breed, mostly known for their egg-laying productivity. — Denver Tax and Business Law — best chickens for pets and eggs. December 2nd, 2020 by & filed under Uncategorized. This EE is named Quilla and lays pale blue eggs. Australorps lay about 250 large brown eggs a … You’ll find comfort food recipes & kitchen gardening tips here. It’s also a nice benefit that these chickens are about half the size of the rest of the birds on this list, so they’re easy for kids to handle. This rare breed is said to date back to the time of Julius Caesar. Their eggs are large and brown. The speckled feathers offer some camouflage from predators. 2) ... docile birds and therefore make excellent chickens as pets as well as a breed for the novice chicken keeper. If you want an egg-laying machine that will hang out with you in the backyard, get a Red Star. We keep a mixed flock with a variety of chicken breeds and they seem to mesh well. They’re calm and laid back, and will eat from your hand. This is another breed that isn’t consistent with egg laying and they go broody often. And have been for years! Personally, we have never had that issue in close to 10 years of chicken keeping. A really excellent choice for egg laying! As a beginner, you have to choose relatively docile, healthy and productive breeds that can produce adequate amounts of eggs for your daily family needs. These aren’t the greatest egg layers, but they sure are fun and definitely unique. Brahma. They originate from England and come in buff (golden), black, white and blue varieties. This breed can usually serve as a dual purpose breed for both meat and eggs. Brahma chickens are pretty regular egg layers. Copyright Boots & Hooves Homestead © 2020, 5 of Our Favorite & Best Chickens for Pets, « Most Toxic Items in the Home (and what to replace them with! This is such a fun breed. Because they’re smaller the cost less to feed. Plus, they give us farm fresh eggs, daily. Children and chickens seem to go hand in hand. I’ve seen them called Black Sex-Link, Red Star, Golden Comets, Production Reds, Golden Buff, Isa Brown, Cinnamon Queen, and so on.. Whatever their name, these chickens have two things in common. Trimming these feathers can be helpful. They lay pretty good in winter, but they often go broody and their eggs aren't that big. In this article, I’ll answer some frequent questions about keeping chickens as pets: the good, the bad, and the ugly … Just like our personal favorite chickens, these breeds are known for their sweet and docile personalities. They also make an excellent choice for young children because of their loving nature. But they can be lazy and get fat very easily if they don’t have plenty of space to roam around. Many chickens will molt during the winter and stop laying eggs … She's an Australorp, the "national breed" of Australia. These popular additions to backyard flocks are known as egg-laying machines. A few more things that are important for keeping our chickens: they must be a good laying variety and they need to heat & cold tolerable. The extremely beautifully colorful chickens are a sight that few can resist, and they tend to be broody, so if you allow a clutch of eggs to hatch for a sustainable flock, the hen will do a good job with the chicks. All rights reserved. "Pick a Chicken!" The egg colors range from brown to cream and the chicken is white with black neck and tail feathers. Add to Favorites . I am also having really good luck with a RIR I adopted. However, they aren’t as productive as the Rhode Island Reds. Silkies are one of the best chicken breeds to keep as pets. Their soft feathers feel almost like hair, and their fluffiness makes them look more like a Muppet than a chicken, which really makes them appealing to children. While Brahmas are one of the largest chicken breeds, this white hen is a Bantam or miniaturized variety. Resembling a puffball with a beak, Silkies are one of the most popular ornamental chicken breeds. I’m a loving rancher’s wife, mama of four little ones, and the face behind Boots & Hooves Homestead. These birds are calm and docile – and an excellent breed of chicken for beginners and more experienced flock owners. Brahma chickens are pretty regular egg layers. #3 Buff Orpingtons A really excellent choice for egg laying! Therapy Chickens. Brahmas come in both standard and bantam sizes.These chickens are friendly, not skittish, and trainable, making them good birds for children to show. 8) Easter Eggers I hardly hear of this breed being recommended for being a good and friendly addition to the family. Just watching them run across the yard is sure to fill us all with laughter. Sex link chickens lay about 260 brown eggs each year. Breed Selector Tool. Orpingtons are docile with quiet demeanors and are good layers of light brown eggs. Our two roosters, Doc Brown & Marty (bonus points if you get the reference) are probably the best roosters we’ve owned. These are dual-purpose chickens that lay around 250 eggs a year. This rare breed is a good layer of light brown eggs. Owners of Red Stars are passionate about the breed, raving about the birds' extremely friendly personalities and amazing level of egg production. Sultans are exotic chickens that make excellent pets. Wyandottes come in a variety of colors and are popular for the lacing pattern on their feathers and for being good egg layers of large light brown eggs. Earliest mentions of Silkies date back to the time of Marco Polo. Ours have always been incredibly friendly and enjoy being carried. The comb on the head of this hen named Myrtle looks a bit like a beret. Buff Orpingtons are known as the lap dogs of the chicken world and this hen named Lulu fits the bill. Getting chickens for an ongoing supply of fresh eggs is a great reason to start keeping them. The alternating bars, or lines, of white and black on the feathers of this hen named Doodle make her quite attractive. (Not all breeds have pictures yet, but we're working on it!If you have pics, please share.) But are commonly known for their amazing egg production. The Sussex originates from England, where the breed first became popular in the mid-1800s. Not sure which breed is for you?Just answer these eight quick questions and voila! Buffs tend to go broody often. Hi, I'm Mary! These are great for pets, families, and kids to raise. This breed is hands-down the sweetest, most mild-tempered chicken out there. Here are our top 5 favorites with a few honorable mentions at the end. Kids love to help collect eggs, refill feeders and waterers, and watch the chickens chase bugs in the yard. 15. Also called Top Hats, their striking bouffant-like crests on their heads bounce when they walk and somewhat obscure their vision, causing them to bump into things and startle easily. So, having the right breeds in our flock is important. Exceptionally hardy, the Rhode Island Red lays large brown eggs. A flock of chooks provide love, a sense of responsibility and teach our kids the importance of compassion and care. While this picture shows a rooster, both sexes look virtually identical. This hen named Fronk is a fine-looking specimen of its breed, one that dates back to the late 1800s. They are also hardy and disease-resistant. Campines come in two varieties — golden and white. These chickens originated as court birds for the Sultans of the Ottoman empire. Low Maintenance Pets. I have always loved Black Sex-links (Murray Mcmurray calls them Black Stars) mine have all been super friendly and great layers. Breeds of Chicken That Are Good Layers (Best Chickens For Pets And Eggs) Not all breeds are good layers and good pets as well, so I will mention a few of the spectacular birds that fall under this category. They are bantams, which are miniaturized poultry. This breed is a bit more docile than most others. With a little sprinkling of farm life too. Are you looking to keep chickens for eggs, meat, pets or a combination of these reasons (although the meat and pet options probably don’t go too well together!)? These easygoing chickens were originally raised as broilers but make good layers of large brown eggs. If you are only interested in keeping chickens for eggs, then you should be looking at the following chicken breeds: Leghorns; Spanish; Minorcas; Anconas; Andulusians; Chicken Breeds for Meat and Eggs Finally, if you want to keep chickens for both meat and eggs then you should be looking at keeping: Rhode Island Reds; Plymouth Rocks; Orpingtons; Wyandottes This breed began in New England. Chickens make the best pets for your growing children. The RIR is the state bird of Rhode Island. Our children have learned valuable chicken care and daily chicken chores. In this post, I’m sharing our favorite friendly chicken breeds that make the best pets. They are generally calm, peaceful, dignified, and friendly, and excellent layers of light brown eggs. Silkies I would say are the breed most often raised for pets. Orpingtons are calm and friendly, so in my opinion they are one of the best chicken breeds for kids. This hen named Oli is a Delaware, a U.S. heritage breed that was developed in the 1940s in the state they are named for by crossing New Hampshire Reds with Barred Plymouth Rocks. Here are a few more very popular breeds you may want to consider. Getting chickens for an ongoing supply of fresh eggs is a great reason to start keeping them. The Australorp's black feathers have a greenish-blue iridescence. Isa Browns are the true workhorse of the egg laying world. Sultan . Easter Eggers are technically not a breed, though they resemble Ameraucanas and Araucanas. Most chicken owners have more than one breed of chicken, though some will specialize in a single breed. Barred Plymouth Rock. This, however, puts stress on a chickens body and they *can* have more health problems. It seems every hatchery has its own term. The curious nature of the Sussex is captured in the picture of this speckled hen named Dover. Even with their smaller size, they make a good dual-purpose chicken ; using them for meat, once their laying production declines. Silkies get their name from their soft feathers that look more like fur. There are reports of Australorps laying eggs nearly year round. Things like letting the chickens out of the coop in the morning, filling feed & refreshing waterers, collecting eggs, and basic cleaning tasks. And many owners believe their chickens are the best form of therapy (and you even get eggs….find a therapist that can do THAT). Start Laying At: 35 to 39 weeks old. Buff Orpington. You’ll love them because of their traditional reddish-brown feathers, but also because they can lay between 300-350 eggs every year! They are also one of the cutest chicken breeds. The Rhode Island Reds have also been a top egg layer for our family. Wyandotte chickens are gentle, calm and terrific foragers, which means they are some of the best chickens for free-range.