Sexing Chicks...: Chickens

» Leghorn - Chickens

Dirtlover...
The answer to your question about Rhode Island Reds being game chickens is no..They are considered to be a "dual breed" This means that they are not the best layers or the best meat birds but lay better than meat birds (such as your cornish-rock crosses) and are better suited for meat birds than conventional laying breeds (such as your leghorns)

Your game chickens are the wilder breeds of chickens. This is the typical bird that is used for the "cock fights". The roosters are usually characterized by the variety colors..most being down right beautiful.

As for the type that is most gentle, that is a touchy subject.. Personally, stay away from the leghorns, the roosters seem to be down right mean.. The most gentle of the breeds I have, are the Rhode Island Reds.. This maybe influenced by the fact that i have had them since the 1st day they hatched and have spent alot of time with them. I have now around 50 reds...I can walk out towards them and they will run up to me and I even have a hen that will fly up and sit on my shoulder...As for the roosters, there are 6 of them and none of them has ever attacked me..To me the Rhode Island Reds seemed to be a social bird.

I have Plymouth Rocks (hens and roosters) and they are not mean, but are skiddish.. I have Old English Game Cocks and they are down right mean..
The Australorps are skiddish to a degree around people...the Araucanas I have are more on the wild side...Sooo...as you can see from what I have written, I would suggest the Rhode Island Reds for someone who is getting started with chickens.

The Rhode Island Reds will give you a beautiful looking flock, they are docile, friendly, not skiddish and lay nice brown eggs..
As a matter of fact, my Reds have a lay rate of roughly 87%...not bad since from what I have read and learned from the poultry extension specialist for Texas is supposedly 66%

In closing, really all the different breeds offer you something that will cause everyone to have their own opinion as to which is the best to start with..all I can do is offer my opinion and wish you the best and to welcome you to the "wonderful world of chickens"... If I can be of any help, email me and I will try to help or atleast point you in the right direction.
...STEVE

-- posted by Leghorn