What breed of chicken?

[Grockle]

I have acquired an Eglu (the classic one) and need some chickens. But what kind? I know nothing but am keen to learn and DS is desperate for some chickens.

I assume I could only get 2 (maybe 3?) in the Eglu.

What kids of chickens do other people have?

We have kept three chickens for a year now and wouldn't be without them (despite being named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!!) Until recently we had three eggs a day which first arrived when they were 22 weeks old. They even produced 3 a day through the last exceptionally cold winter. Recently, one went broody and we breifly went down to two and though we are now back to full speed she is not laying in the nesting box, in fact anywhere but (advice on this anyone would be greatly appreciated)! They are Black Rocks and would hignhly recommend them to you.

Good luck and you won't regret it.

I keep pekin bantams. They don't lay as many eggs as hybrids, but live longer, don't destroy your garden and have bags of character. It really depends on what you're looking for.

rescue some ex batts, very rewarding.

I have wondered about an ex-battery but I think I want to have a couple of other birds first.

I need something robust, friendly and that lays well and that will tolerate a 5 yr old.

If eggs are important, you can't go wrong with a hybrid. You can get lots of different types, they're hardy, and you can get some very pretty birds. Some even lay blue eggs

Have a look here www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens for information on breeds. We've got an Orpington - really friendly, a real pet, a Sussex and a New Hampshire Red - both a bit stand-offish and skittish. There are so many breeds to choose from!

We've got brahmas (wonderful breed - my fave out of my girls), an Orpington and some ex-batts.

The ex-batts are very rewarding - we've only had them a couple of weeks but it's lovely watching their confidence and health grow. Yesterday I saw one of the girls take a dust bath for the first time, which is something she would not have been able to do in a battery cage. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy .

We have 2 orpingtons and they are great. Very friendly (even let small children pick them up) and fairly reliable egg layers. (And nice and meaty, if you are thinking of eating them later - we're not)

Thank you all - I have spent many hours googling and researching. I am leaning towards Orpingtons although have easier access to Warrens. Does anyone have those? They're not as pretty as other chooks.

We have two Warrens and an Amber Star. The Warrens are great with children, mine were 3 and 2 when the chickens arrived and they now following my children round the garden like dogs. They're very inquisitive, always pleased to see you and easy to handle from early on. Yes, they're not as showy as some chickens, but they lay lovely brown eggs every day! The Amber Star is very pretty and lays huge eggs, but they take a while to settle down and allow themselves to be handled.

When we went to choose our chickens, the farmer had different barns of different breeds, and the Warrens were the only type that walked towards us when we went in, all the others flapped and tried to get away. Warrens are naturally nosy and that makes them more likely to hang out with you in the garden. In fact, Marigold, my special favourite (don't tell the others) actually jumped up to be on my shoulder when we first went in. Super friendly birds. Have fun!

I have blue Marans. V chic French grey birds with red comb and black legs . They lay daily and are friendly but not cuddly.
I do long for a big mumsy Orpington or similar too though .

Orpingtons are lovely, but do bear in mind that they are absolutely huge and might feel crowded if there are more than 2 in an eglu.

I have an eglu and cube. I currently have 2 hybrids and a cochin and a cream legbar (blue eggs!) in the cube. In the eglu I have a light sussex, a partridge cochin and an araucana (green eggs!) - they'll all be merged into the cube flock which has a 4m run, although the girls generally free range all day.

Warrens are always a good choice as a family hen.

We have a Speckledy (reliable friendly hybrid;a proper chicken IYKWIM)lays shiney speckled eggs;a Welsummer beautiful and pure breed lays scrummy terracotta eggs,a colombine who lays olive green eggs and a white hybrid chosen by ds3 who lays lovely cream eggs but is a bit skittish ,but starting to settle.

We also have two pekins a lavender and a buff ,fluffy footballs ,appalling layers but great charecters and very friendly!

If you are new to chickens I would recommnend hybrids,we started with the speckledys and its difficult to go wrong just bear in mind the more eggs they lay roughly the more they eat ,relevent if you are going to let them free range and you have a garden!