Hi
Im hoping for some advice on which hens to buy for our 1st hens.
I have bought and set up the hen house, which has room for about 10 chickens, and an enclosed run which is 13ft by 4 ft, so I believe enough run for 6 large chickens. We need an enclosed run due to major fox issues, plus I want to be able to move it around the garden to save the grass. We want the chickens for the eggs, but also I have heard they can become friendly and make nice pets, so I want my 4 year old to start helping to look after them, collect the eggs, and hopefully learn to stroke them etc - an introduction to where food comes from.
So the choices are - save some ex-battery hens. I would be 'doing some good' plus I know they produce a lot of eggs.
Or get some fluffy bantams - probably less eggs, but I hear the fluffy feet breeds are softer on the garden, plus they are cuter so would be more appealing as pets so better for gaining my daughters interest. If I got some rare breed bantams, presumably I would also be helping a rare breed survive?
Any advice on what would be better as starter hens?
Thanks