Isa Brown Chickens thoughts

[Chribroo]

Thinking of ISA Browns. Anyone have these before.? Speckled Sussex and Americauna are my other thoughts?

 

[junebuggena]

Isa Browns are very prolific layers, but with that comes increased risks of vent prolapse and other reproductive issues.
Do you mean Ameraucana or Easter Egger? Because they are not the same thing. Ameraucana tend to not be very good layers. Easter Eggers are much better layers.
Both Easter Eggers and Speckled Sussex make for good additions to just about any flock.

 

[Chribroo]

In some place you read they are the same thing. Hmmm Easter Egger I mean.. also looking for Kid friendly as much as possible. My daughter is almost 3 1/2 years old. Hoping she will enjoy the experience.

 

[junebuggena]

Easter Eggers and Ameraucana are frequently represented by hatcheries and feed stores as the same thing. It's false. The Ameraucana is a consistent, recognized breed, with a breed standard. Easter Eggers have not been bred to meet any kind of set standard, at all. With an Ameraucana, you know exactly what you are getting. With Easter Eggers, there are absolutely no guarantees regarding anything. They are all over the place in all categories, including temperament. That's what makes them so much fun.

 

[Chribroo]

So you which do you like better? Have any thoughts on Barred Rock?

 

[junebuggena]

I love Easter Eggers and Barred Rocks. My two favorites, so much so, that they are the foundation of my current breeding project. I wasn't expecting to really like Barred Rocks as much as I do. They are very inquisitive, active birds, full of personality. However, if you have to keep them confined 24/7, and only have a very boring, grassy lawn for foraging, they are not a good choice. They need elbow room and they need to be kept occupied, or they can become trouble makers.

 

[Molpet]

My ISA are friendly and laid all winter, but they will be 1 in March and in addition to was said they will quit laying long before a heritage bird...they are my smallest bird and can find a way out under the fence to look for goodies....my Barred rocks are even friendlier and took a break laying for a couple of months in the winter, they just started back up...I have a fair size poultry yard 70x 100' or so and one BR likes to jump the fence to look for goodies in the pasture.

 

[donrae]

If you've got a little one, go for a variety. It will make it easier for her to tell them apart.

Easter eggers should be mandatory for everyone with kiddos, IMO

Speckled Sussex are nice, calm birds. Not stellar layers, but decent enough.

Isa brown are stellar layers, but not always the calmest or friendliest birds.

Rocks are wonderful. My hatchery birds have been wonderful layers, friendly, just great backyard birds.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If you've got a little one, go for a variety. It will make it easier for her to tell them apart.

Easter eggers should be mandatory for everyone with kiddos, IMO

Speckled Sussex are nice, calm birds. Not stellar layers, but decent enough.

Isa brown are stellar layers, but not always the calmest or friendliest birds.

Rocks are wonderful. My hatchery birds have been wonderful layers, friendly, just great backyard birds.

X 2 -- I would also suggest black australorps and/or buff orpingtons -- both make excellent "kid chickens" and are pretty good layers too.

 

[Folly's place]

x3. Speckled Sussex hens are very friendly/ interactive, in my experience, from two different hatcheries. EEs are good too, and a variety is more fun, so it's easy to name and tell each hen apart, and for different colored eggs. Mary