Reviews by americanvalkyrie

When I ordered a mix of chicks, I got the exchequer leghorn to be pretty and to give me a lot of eggs, but I expected that I'd have to keep her in my smaller enclosed coop because of flightiness. But she is the sweetest, friendliest chicken of all my 22 ladies! She comes when I call, I pick her up with one hand, and she relaxes in my arms until I'm ready to stop cuddling. Of course, she doesn't mind if I give her a treat while she's up there. She does fly very VERY well, and gets over the 4-ft fence into my garden, but she doesn't tear it up like the larger hens would, so I don't mind. She just started laying, at 19 weeks old, and isn't much larger than a pigeon at the moment. Thank goodness the first eggs are pigeon-sized as well! Both eggs and pullet will get bigger.

I have 3 faverolles, and I'm glad I have 3 so they can stick together. As I add to my flock, I think I'll be concerned about these girls being at the bottom of the pecking order. They are very quiet, very sweet, and completely nonaggressive. Not my smartest birds, they follow my Delaware around and let her show them where to go. Great for children, though more shy than friendly. They'd rather run away from my kids than come up and beg for a snack. The only big con: though they lay very well (4-5 times a week) the eggs are medium-sized so I don't use them to bake with. Three of their eggs equals two large in a recipe.

I had two to begin with, but one turned out to be a rooster and I had to cull him. Both were the friendliest and smartest of my birds, and they sat beside me while I gardened, waiting for me to throw them weeds or worms. Now that the chickens are laying age (sans rooster,) the hen gives me a large egg at least 5 times a week. She's extremely intelligent, and she knows exactly where her treats come from. If I don't let her out during the day, she can be quite vocal about her desires, while the other hens cluck happily in confinement. Very well-mannered, hasn't been aggressive at all. But if I walk in her area holding something in my hand, she will assume it's a treat for her and will jump up to grab it from me.