PoultryTalk.com

A family friend is interested in purchasing some chickens. She has two small children and is keen for them to be introduced to animals. What breed is best ??? bare in mind they need to be easy for beginners, friendly and docile birds which dont mind cuddles and being stroked by little children. Would bantams or normal size chockens be better????? she has a fairly large garden and they would be let out a lot. She likes unsual looking chickens, would anyone of those nbreeds be suitituble like silkies etc. She lives in colchester area does anybody know any poultry suppliers in that area?????

Matt :P

Hens4Homes aren't too far away, and Kirsty who runs it is a brilliant chicken guru - she's a vet nurse and her website is full of good advice and guidance. I'd get your friend to read it, even if she doesn't get the chickens from her.

iv buff orpingtons that even my rooster (rip)was so plasid when the kids came to stay could hug him big softy the polish x silkies are a bit like that to a lot smaller can sit on your shoulder but not as hardy so iv been told.
i did have 2 old girls ambers i got off the travlers that would walk up to the kids while playing hop on laps and go to sleep but only 1 egg a week

Gingernut rangers.....lovely placid, friendly birds that follow you around. All that and an egg a day!

Hi all,
Im new here, Im also looking to start keeping chickens. Im looking at getting 3 hens to start with and then maybe more at a later date.
Apart from the above dose anyone have any other ideas on what hens would be good to start off with?
Would a pure breed or a X breed be better?

I would be gratefull for any help.

Mnay thanks in advance.

Hi all,
Im new here, Im also looking to start keeping chickens. Im looking at getting 3 hens to start with and then maybe more at a later date.
Apart from the above dose anyone have any other ideas on what hens would be good to start off with?
Would a pure breed or a X breed be better?

I would be gratefull for any help.

Mnay thanks in advance.

My first set of chickens were silkies. They are very fluffy creatures. Then I got the bug and bought some Lemon Millefleur Sabelpoots. Out of the two breeds I find that Sabelpoots are very tame and loving birds.

Hi all,
Im new here, Im also looking to start keeping chickens. Im looking at getting 3 hens to start with and then maybe more at a later date.
Apart from the above dose anyone have any other ideas on what hens would be good to start off with?
Would a pure breed or a X breed be better?

I would be gratefull for any help.

Mnay thanks in advance.

My first set of chickens were silkies. They are very fluffy creatures. Then I got the bug and bought some Lemon Millefleur Sabelpoots. Out of the two breeds I find that Sabelpoots are very tame and loving birds.

Hi many thanks for the info. Also many thanks for the welcome on my wall. I tryed to reply but could not work out how too.

hybreed is best for eggs light sussex, bluebell, amber, black rock are all good. not cuddly but quite happy to eat out your hand and follow you about.

I completely agree my bluebells trick me all the time! I think they want me to pick them up because they walk up and go through my legs and the second you try to pick them up they are off! lol mine are just starting to lay bigger eggs with a better shape :)

I like the look of the light sussex. Dont think iv ever seen a bluebell, so when i get in from work tonight ill have a hunt about online for a photo of one. ambers look good too. Am i right in thinking that ambers are the ones that they use in bat cages?
I think one of the local chicken farms/breeders sell them. also the black rocks.

Many thanks for the posts off the three of you.

bluebells are a dark gray rocks are black with red round ches and head. they have got sevral names because the just really been made up by the breeder really just mix breed of a serten colour.
i do have a polish x silkie that likes being picked up and a orpington who loves t cuddle,
they all diffrent

hiya,i have a blue bell 30 weeks old, shes huge, and leaps around the lawn. a very flighty bird but happy... she does make us laugh..she isnt nasty at all and u could mix her with any bird. my little pekin penny who is a dot is the boss of my gang. she stands no nonsence and as them all in line.:0

hello iam hoping to start as well seams that theres alot of ue this is been amzing learning and so much support great site look forward to more info and making new friends

Hi I always recommend serama if there are children. They are small birds easy to tame and you can even have the cock birds as their crow isn't offensive as other breeds. I sold a trio to a lady with two small children and she called me to say that they tap on her back door for tip bits and get in the house when ever possible to sit on the dresser in the kitchen. The other good ones are peekins as they are cuddly and don't fly and soon learn their names.

Hi, I started with Japanese and Belgian, the japanese are very simular to the seramas, just a bit bigger. Beautiful birds and become exceptionally tame in no time! Belgians are aswell small little birds (true bantams like the japanese) and as well do become amazingly tame! Cockerals aren't vicious at all, gentle lovely birds. Lovely to watch and good layers as well for a pure breed.

i think most breeds are good for newbies people just go on what size garden they have and what they want them for ....pets,eggs,meat breeding etc ....i would stay away from gamefowl until you know about them or if you want to get into them ..have ko shamo,indian game until you know thats what you like then move up to to the big boys ...o shamo,asil,malay,oxford game ,taiwan etc