New to chickens

Hello;

We are just starting to raise chickens. I was wondering if anyone could give me advise on what is a good type of chicken to start with. I like the silky bantams and the rhode island reds. I am also interested in showing at the fairs.

good luck with your chickens, my advice is to read as much on this forum as possible, hope to have chickens within the next year, would like buff orringtons, I have learned alot just reading everyones posts. good luck

anastasiast, what do you want the chickens to do? By that I mean, do you want eggs, meat, or pets? Different breeds have different strong points, and some are "dual purpose".
If you want to show, I'd see what kind of local "chicken clubs" you can find, and they'll help with that aspect.

Here's a hatchery that I've used with great results, but most of all, they have great pictures and description. I have a weakness for Black Silkies, but my all around favorites for eggs, and personality, are Turkens :))

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

Hello;

Thanks for the responses. I am interested in raising them for the eggs and showing a couple. I am also interested in the silkies but I am told that their egge are very small. So maybe I will show them. We have been looking at the leghorns, rhode island reds, and the salmon faverolles. My husband also likes the golden sea brights.

I have been to the mcmurrary hatchery website and it is wonderful. I have also heard good things about them.

Both Leghorns and RIR's are great layers. I had Brown and White Leghorns, and the Browns were much less nervous and flighty. The RIR's were very nice birds. Silky eggs are small, and so are all bantam eggs. Small chickens, small eggs:). I have made deviled eggs with them for parties, and they are the biggest hit! Truly bite sized, and OH! so cute:). It's also great fun to serve someone a plate of teeny tiny sunny side ups.....

I never thought of teeny deviled or sunny side ups!
How cute!
I don't have any special chickens, yet, just a couple
of mixed yard birds I've adopted. but, we do have
some due to be delivered around the 11th. I think
of all that I've checked out so far, I like the cochins.
They are so cute, and lay brown eggs and are supposed
to be very good mommies.

may the princess have carefree chickens

I was talking to some of my friends and they told me that they think that we cannot have chickens where we live. I know we cannot have roosters but I thought we could have chickens. If we find out that we can't and do it anyway do chickens make a lot of noise that will disturb my neighbors? In other words would my neighbors find out?

Sometimes they do. Usually not, tho. They will cluck if they are disturbed. It all depends on if your neighbors are the type to complain.

Hopefully they won't know. Unless, as granny said, they peek
rudely onto your place.

may the princess have unending patience

This message was edited Feb 7, 2008 12:27 AM

This is when you get creative, and look for some of the more exotic chickens:). If you get some of the Crested Polish, or Phoenix, maybe Frizzles or Mille Fleurs, no one will know they're chickens. Tell them they are a rare species, Gallus Gallus.

Yeah, what catmad said. I thought crested polish were
funny, then I saw a frizzle! LOL

(((((tammy)))),/i>