Which are better girls

Hendry · **Joined:** Sun Jan 06, 2013 5:08 pm **Posts:** 3

Which are better girls for the family the isa brown or the rhode red for eggs eating and with young children I do not want bossy girls that may peck at the children or me for that matter

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hendry,

Bantams are good with children, maybe bantam Rhode Island Reds? How old are the children? Chooks sense threats and fear and will respond according, younger children would need to be supervised.

Isa's lay prolifically for the first 18 months laying over 300 eggs, then as they were mainly bred for commercial purposes, possibly may have a shorter life span and a few health related problems such as calcium deficiencies. RIR's lay about 200 eggs and are less aggressive than Isa's.

Basically, eggs are eggs on the inside, what they taste like depends on what you feed your chooks.

Chicken Legs · **Joined:** Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:29 pm **Posts:** 11

I agree look at the bantams first so your kids get used to smaller friendly chooks then you could get larger hens down the track

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

for cute and birds that will follow the kids around like lost puppies you cant go past the Silkie

FYI - they are not Silkie bantams - just Silkies but they are small = not much bigger than the average bantam and soooooooo cute and fluffy as anything :-D

they come in lots of colours and most dont seem to mind a bath every now and then (adult only procedure of course)

Rhode Red · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2013 1:06 pm

Hendry,

While I have a bias veiw on RIR's and do prefer the large fowl over the bantams, they have a much better personality in general. I have a few Isa Browns in the laying pen to ensure that there always a few eggs. The RIR pullets are generally good layers but some have a tendency to go clucky. This is good if you want to experiment and hatch some chicks of your own. The RIR hens are generally very friendly, some times enjoy their food too much and can tend to get a little over weight. This generally happens when they are not laying such a a moulting or coming off the chuck.

The Isa's tend not to have the same issue with weight, but be remined that they may have a short but productive life. An RIR hen will continue to lay some eggs for a number of years if feed and housed correctly. I have found the RIR's can dominate the roost a bit, but Ihave had a few Isa's that I call cruel and bullies. One would not leave the bantams alone just kept picking on them, so off they went.

Rhode Red

Bobkat · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:56 pm

RIR! I have one who is Top Chook and she is never cruel or horribly bossy to the other girls. Calm, bold, curious and lovely with children.

You could get bantam RIRs if your children are young, or the standard if not.

There's always a bit of luck involved. A breed may be known for particular qualities but your individuals will have their own personalities. As a generalisation, I think RIRs traits are nicer than Isas.

Hendry · **Joined:** Sun Jan 06, 2013 5:08 pm **Posts:** 3

Thank you everyone I really appreciate all the advice so far. I really would like the full size hens for the full size eggs and to be honest I have seen a bantam and was not to keen on them. The rhodes are the one I seem to be draw to for the colour and just the shape aswell that may sound silly I guess

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Hendry wrote:

I really would like the full size hens for the full size eggs. The Rhodes are the one I seem to be draw to for the colour and just the shape as well, that may sound silly I guess

Well it seems you have gotten ‘the bug’
I’d say Rhode Islands it will be – once your heart sees what it wants chooks wise it wont be satisfied until it gets it

Sooooooo

GO FOR IT = get some Rhodes

just supervise and teach teh kids how to interact with them - simple

WestBest · **Joined:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:16 pm **Posts:** 1

Yes learning curve for both chickens and kids so slow and steady

Hendry · **Joined:** Sun Jan 06, 2013 5:08 pm **Posts:** 3

Thank you for the help yes we are getting them on sunday all so very exciting

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