Best breeds for home coop

[Hipkiss1987]

Hi, I am looking at getting a few laying hens 4 - 10 for my own use and family and friends.

I was wondering on thoughts of what are the best breeds for decent egg laying but also friendly enough for my young kids to interact with a little.

Do they get on with mix breeds sharing or is it best to keep to single breed.

Any suggestions and thoughts appreciated.

Many thanks

 

[scottish-lleyn]

Any hybred layer will suit what your after just go to a breeder or one of there agents and pick the colours you like most chickens are easy to tame with treats. Make sure you work out how many eggs you can use as ten first year layers are going to lay you 70 eggs a week when they are going full tilt and not far off that for the next few years aswell.

 

[Hipkiss1987]

Any hybred layer will suit what your after just go to a breeder or one of there agents and pick the colours you like most chickens are easy to tame with treats. Make sure you work out how many eggs you can use as ten first year layers are going to lay you 70 eggs a week when they are going full tilt and not far off that for the next few years aswell.

Thanks for the response. I did think 10 was going to be a few to many to be honest so thanks.

So interbreed groups work ok/well?

It’s not about being prolific layers although that is the whole idea of me getting them it’s more of my first attempt to start the ‘good life’ [emoji849]

So even if they weren’t cross breeds would be ok as long as you know you get a regular layer

 

[JP1]

Buy from a good local source who specialises in commercial hybrids and focusses on healthy point of lay pullets

You can buy from the same source and have a few of different egg colour strains; blue, speckled, dark brown etc. The eggs are just the same inside but it is a nicer experience going to collect them and sharing them

 

[Netherfield]

If it were me, i'd wouldn't buy all at once, but spread them out say 3 lots of 4, 4 months apart, that way as one one lot goes into the moult you'll still have some laying, you'll need artificial light to keep them laying through a full year.

 

[Millerich]

Buy from a good local source who specialises in commercial hybrids and focusses on healthy point of lay pullets

You can buy from the same source and have a few of different egg colour strains; blue, speckled, dark brown etc. The eggs are just the same inside but it is a nicer experience going to collect them and sharing them

This sums it up perfectly.