PoultryTalk.com

Which breed(s) do you think are best for beginners?
Some say hybrids, do you agree or do you think there are more traditional pure breeds that are better suited?

Tell us your views & discuss here...

I considered hybrid hens but was put off by the chances of prolapse increased so I decided that not only would I buy pure breeds I wanted them to look pretty as well I finally decided on light sussex blue leghorn and a maran. Since then my 3 hens have grown to 8 hens and a cockerel I hatched 2 welsummer chicks who thankfully are both hens and most recently I have given 3 more light sussex hens a loving home. I picked the leghorn and sussex breeds for their egg laying abilities too because let's be honest I keep them for pleasure but you can't beat a "home grown" egg for breakfast!!

I agree about the 'home grown' egg, but I went the other way and got a mix of hybrids, so a mix of egg colours, which is what I wanted, and they've been through two winters, and I 've never had a day without an egg or two. They've been easy to look after - though as a new keeper I've been very grateful for help from the seller (Kirsty from Hens4Homes) and from contributors here on PoultryTalk. I'm now ready to think about getting something listed as 'rare' because I can see that just keeping hybrids means that, eventually, we would lose genetic variability. Maybe hybrids, for me, were a route towards a pure breed, but i think i'll always have a few hybrids, too.

I also started with hybrids just a couple of battery hens. I think it’s best to start off with hybrids because they cost less and are easier to get hold of then pure breeds. When i started i didn't want to spend loads on a chickens just encase i look after it wrong. Four years later i have still got my hybrids but i got some pure breeds as well such as Lavender, Blue and Backsplash Orpington’s that is a must have if you live near Orpington in KENT! Then i have decided to extend my breeds so i got mixed coloured Indian runners. I started off with 6 hens know i have got 20 including cockerels. I also just started of 6 Indian runners know i have got 25. I plan to get some pure colours of them soon as well.

If you have had no previous experience in keeping poultry i would not go straight to the deep end and get pure breeds, i would start off with the prolific laying hybrids.

I also started with hybrids just a couple of battery hens. I think it’s best to start off with hybrids because they cost less and are easier to get hold of then pure breeds. When i started i didn't want to spend loads on a chickens just encase i look after it wrong. Four years later i have still got my hybrids but i got some pure breeds as well such as Lavender, Blue and Backsplash Orpington’s that is a must have if you live near Orpington in KENT! Then i have decided to extend my breeds so i got mixed coloured Indian runners. I started off with 6 hens know i have got 20 including cockerels. I also just started of 6 Indian runners know i have got 25. I plan to get some pure colours of them soon as well.

If you have had no previous experience in keeping poultry i would not go straight to the deep end and get pure breeds, i would start off with the prolific laying hybrids.

Large fowls: Buff Orpingtons, Light Sussex, Brahmas, Cream Crested Legbars.

I agree about the leghorn - I have a very nervous flighty leghorn hybrid that would have scared me half to death when I started! But she's a fabulous layer, and lovely pure white eggs. She has calmed down a bit, but I've never got her to hand-feed like all the others. I don't know if there are any other breeds like that?

rhode island red hybrids i have found to be really friendly while susssex have been very skitty and extremely hard to tame

We have supplied lots of schools over the years with our coops,and when asked,we always advise hybrid birds .As we all know,kids cant resist picking them up,and hybrid birds seem to deal with this quiete well.Personally,I think they just play ball for an easy life.
www.woodenart.org.uk

I would say Hybrids are probably best for most people starting out.

I am a begginer i bought my hens in june i have 2 sets my first set in my garden are 4 hens 2 cotswold cream legbars, 1 light sussex and 1 which looks like a battery hen, i got them mini meadows and have been very happy with the health and quality of the birds the 2 legbars lay lovely blue eggs of the other 2 the light sussex is very crazy it seems much more highly strung than others and the red one is by far the nicest for kids, the second lot of chickens i have i bought a few weeks ago from 2 local places and they are silkies, they are suppose to be in the garden at the other end but are currently in the house as they have had an infestation of mites and the one has had really bad eye infection but after treating with ivermectin and chlorephenical she seems lots better the silkies were just some 3 week old chicks we bought for the kids for fun but have been plagued with ill health and i wish i hadnt bothered i dont want them out as i worry they will spread the mites etc so really want them cured before they go, anyway long wafle but basically i would say pick your supplier as well as your type of chicken!