Chickens were the first animals we decided to add to our homestead as they are relatively easy to keep and maintain and in a few short months we knew they would provide us with fresh eggs in return. We did months of research before we actual obtained our birds. This included researching coop requirements and started building our coop before the arrival of our chicks so that when they were ready to move out it would already be ready.
We ordered our 6 chicks (lost 1 shortly after it arrived) from Meyer Hatchery in March 2020 and they arrived on April 8, 2020. We purposely ordered only pullets as we did not want a rooster. A roosters main jobs is to reproduce and to protect their hens. Our goals was to have fresh eggs on a manageable basis and for a family of four, 5-6 laying hens is plenty of eggs for us. We also did not want to have to worry about the rooster attacking our two girls and lastly we did not want to have baby chickens all the time.
We chose the 4 different breeds of chickens that we have because they are all good with children, are reliable egg layers and are considered dual-purpose birds so that they can be eaten when the time comes that they no longer lay well. However, these chickens are more like pets at this point so I don’t think the last will ever come to be.
Light Brahma
A Light Brahma is super friendly, a good egg layer, and is a pretty beautiful chicken breed. We have a light Brahma of our own named Midnight and she is very unpredictable and very bold. Light Brahmas are a dual purpose bird which means they are good for eggs and or meat. This breed lays about 3-4 eggs per week. They are very good with children and are less likely to become broody. When they hatch it can take up to 7 months before they start laying eggs. Light Brahmas can get a lot of parasites such as lice, mites, and worms.
Our Light Brahma, Midnight is super friendly, bold, unpredictable, and very curious about everything. She is strikingly pretty and even poses for us. Midnight gets along well with other chickens and lays brown eggs. Though Midnight is super friendly, she looks a bit intimidating and mean.
Buff Orpington
A buff orpington is a docile and affectionate breed. Buff orpingtons are good mothers and will most likely become broody. This breed is also a dual purpose bird and lays 3-5 eggs per week. They will start laying at 5-7 months of age. Even though this is a lovely breed it has some health problems and will need to be checked daily for bumblefoot, spraddle leg, or an impacted crop.
Our buff orpington chicken, Nugget is very affectionate and loves attention. Nugget is always camera ready. She gets along with other chickens and like Midnight she lays brown eggs. She has gone broody several times before and has had to be separated from her flock for a little bit.
Black Australorps
Black Australorps are sweet and awesome birds. Black Australorps will most likely become broody during the spring and summer months. This breed lays large brown eggs and will start laying eggs at 5-7 months of age. They will lay 5 eggs per week. They are good with children and are a dual purpose breed. Black Australorps have no major health issues so over all they are a pretty great breed.
Our Black Australorps, Hocus and Pocus are very prideful and nosey. Hocus doesn’t like a lot of attention and likes to just watch us. Pocus on the other hand likes to follow us around and likes a little bit of attention. Both of them get along nicely with other chickens. Hocus has been broody before though.
White Cochin
White cochins are a quiet and friendly breed. Cochins are one of the top breeds to go broody and are very good mothers. They lay brown eggs and will lay 2-4 eggs per week. They will start laying eggs at 8-9 months of age. They are a dual purpose breed but later in time they will start laying fewer eggs. White cochins do very well around kids but can be picked on by certain chicken breeds. Some health issues that they can have are lice, mites, and parasites.
Our white Cochin, Sweetie is super shy and gorgeous. She’s very calm and does well with the chickens but she prefers to stay to herself. Sweetie is one of the chickens who hasn’t been broody but she has had mites before. She is lower in the chicken pecking order which is how we think she got the mites because she was not roosting up high with the other chickens. Sweetie is one of our favorites.