Mine is the Blue Orphington. These birds lay large brown eggs and are very docile and quiet, great for urban gardens. They are very tameable and make great mothers. Ours put up with the kids carrying them around like dolls and putting them in swings!!!! They make a better pet than a rabbit as you get eggs from them! not to mention all the great gardening they do.
We have Hamburgs and we knew they are a flighty breed, but we like the look of them. However when it comes to anyone picking them up forget it. They run away if we get within 10feet of them. Trying to administer oil onto their legs is a nightmare, but I managed it once. We think they might have leg ites, though we don't really know. They occasionally can be seen pecking at their legs.
Trying to rub almond oil on each one's legs goes like this: get them in the run, get inside with them, lie as low as you can, and they will be huddling in one corner sounding very disturbed. Reach out and try to grab one, do the oil, let him go, then carry on with the rest, one at a time.
So I'd vote no to more Hamburgs!
I want a breed that looks good as well as can be picked up by the grandkids.
My family and I are first timers to chicken keeping (since March 28th 09), our 3 are Rhode Island Reds, crossed with I'm not really sure. They are great layers and produce great sized eggs. See photo's on my Ooooby page.
Our 3 kids have a chicken each on our 1/4 acre section. There's Mavis, a Buff Orpington (very stocky with fat ankles, hilarious to watch when she's running), Gladys, a Gold Lace Wyandot (a beauty, really tame), and Doris, a Black Wyandot (amazing feathers with a blue/green sheen). They are all very friendly, will feed out of your hand and love to follow me around in the garden. I love their nosiness - they hate to be left out of anything. Ours have learnt (after much clumsy trial and error) to fly up on to the window sills and tap on the windows to get our attention.
I love my blue orpington, her name is Twiggy. we also have a black called Boom Boom Baba and a buff called Rosie, (the kids named them). I agree totaly with you on all of the mentioned. My daughter just loves picking them up and my 4 yr old son hand feeds them.
I don't really have any input because I don't have any chickens yet, but I will have to keep this breed in mind. I'm an early childhood teacher, so a chicken that puts up with children 'loving' them would be ideal for me.
Replies
We have Hamburgs and we knew they are a flighty breed, but we like the look of them. However when it comes to anyone picking them up forget it. They run away if we get within 10feet of them. Trying to administer oil onto their legs is a nightmare, but I managed it once. We think they might have leg ites, though we don't really know. They occasionally can be seen pecking at their legs.
Trying to rub almond oil on each one's legs goes like this: get them in the run, get inside with them, lie as low as you can, and they will be huddling in one corner sounding very disturbed. Reach out and try to grab one, do the oil, let him go, then carry on with the rest, one at a time.
So I'd vote no to more Hamburgs!
I want a breed that looks good as well as can be picked up by the grandkids.
They love to be patted and feel just like a cat.
They are fantastic mothers.