Chickens as Pets?

Hi all--

I have had Wyandottes (Gold and Silver Laced) and loved them. Gorgeous birds, even tempered, cold hardy, decent layers, and the odd mean one (often named "Sunday Dinner" around here) is big enough to make several good meals and soup.

The old type or "heritage" breeds will work best for most of us--these are birds that are often listed as "dual purpose" (meaning meat and eggs) and usually combine cold hardiness, decent temper, and ability to cope with less than ideal conditions. In general Wyandottes, Barred Rocks (although the roosters can be mean IME), Orpingtons, Faverolles (lovely sweet birds with feathered feet), Cochins (feathered puffballs), Brahmas, and Langshans are good to work with. Oh, and many of these types come in bantams as well (eggs are just a bit smaller, and the roosters' crows are squeakier, but they take up a lot less space).

Looking for a lighter breed that lays green (yes, really!) eggs? Go with the Ameraucana--again, decent tempered, hardy, pretty birds, and still big enough to have one for Sunday dinner....

The Faverolles, Brahmas, Wyandottes, and Langshans are by far my favorites for personality, and the Ameraucana is my choice for egg production....There is a book out from Storey colled the Illustrated Guide to Poultry (Chickens?) which has a good picture of each breed and a short summary about it.

BTW, there are also breeds of ducks that lay very well, and are more cold hardy and even tempered than chickens. Check out Runner ducks ("like wine bottles with beaks"), Campbells (Khaki, Dark, and White), Welsh Harlequins (both the silver and gold forms are beautiful), and Bali/Crested. All are big enough to provide a duck dinner, although our ducks are so personable it's really tough to do one in. No, they don't need a pond, but they will splash the water out of any bucket or bowl you give them, so be prepared to give them lots of bedding.

Hope this helps and gives you some places to get started!

Originally Posted by Show Me

I love your video, chickens are so relaxing to watch. I used to hang out on the backyardchickens.com forum!

Thanks!! Yeah, i love watching the girls and boys when i have them out free ranging. Its great to see the girls fluff up at the boys too, tell em whos REALLY boss

I think my favorite roo, personally, is my RIR boy. ( I have three, all raised together, so they pretty much all get along VERY well.) He is pretty laid back and just darned pretty. I have a silkie mix Roo from TSC and a pure silkie as well that i hatched, all three are very people friendly, overall. We get anywhere from 7-15 eggs a day usually. Though its generally around 10 every day and just on and off days inbetween. The Silkie mixes are seriously hefty layers, i was not expecting them to be such machines. Our crested polish are pretty intense too, i figured they would not lay as heavily as they do. The cresteds are NUTTY birds. I love them, but watching them interact with the others is kind of amusing! They will just be foraging, and then BAM RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES FLAPPING. Ill have to get video of that one of these days!

Our most powerful layers are the RIR cross girls called "red stars" from TSC And our, Australorp crosses called "Black Stars" I dont think those girls have taken any days off since they started laying, honestly. These are birds i have a strong feeling lay 340 days of the year. Docile and sweet as can be, to boot. I have nothing but praises for those birds!

I lived on Maui for two years, everybody there has pet chickens. its a good idea