[Foghorn]

Hello to everyone. As a newbie to everything chicken I would like some advice on the best breed to get for the novice. I would like a good layer plus birds that are friendly and can be handled. Any advice much appreciated.

[WR1]

RIR are good layers but any bird is friendly if you handel it from young !!


But I think that Silkies are very tame and dont peck at all and are very good layers ... well mine are !

Hope that helps

Catii

[Debz]

I am a relative newbie too having had my girls for 4 weeks.  I have warrens.  They are quite tame and can be picked up and lay regular eggs.  As with most pets (which my hens are) I guess it depends how they have been handled and how much contact they have with people before you get them.  I got my hens from a recommended supplier and could not be happier with them.

[Jellyhead]

Silkies, Cochins, Polands, Pekins all very friendly, cute and cuddliable   and so are all the others, they just need andling as Deb said :roll:  

[chookiepaula]

Welcome to the chicken world! All hens are fairly friendly and easy to keep but I would advise staying away from breeds with feathery feet as these need a little more attention and checking over winter/wet months.

Heavier breeds can be a little more docile such as orpington.

My favourite has to be the ex-battery hen or other brown laying breed. They are averagesize, give lots of eggs and are friendly, mine sneak in the house at any oppotunity!


 

[rainbowspells]

mine sneak in the house at any oppotunity!


Mine too!   I found one sitting on hubbys lap watching telly yesterday,

 
I have 3 black rocks (and 3 light sussex chicks) they are friendly and lay well too.

[Aunt Sally]

My favourite has to be the ex-battery hen or other brown laying breed. They are averagesize, give lots of eggs and are friendly, mine sneak in the house at any oppotunity!

Warrens, ISA browns, Meadowsweet varieties (particularly ranger and goldline) are some of the types to get for a new keeper.

In my opinion though ex-batts need a lot of tlc and can be too challenging healthwise for a nervous newbie which could serve to put them off chicken keeping

[compostqueen]

One of my Isa browns, the lovely Ginger, is getting a nasty little so and so now that's she's elected herself pack leader so I've re-named her Evil Edna     Now she's found her feet she's changed  

But don't let that put you off