Backyard chickens make charismatic pets and lay eggs. We have two ISA Browns, an Australorp and a Leghorn chicken. Each breed has unique characteristics.

My wife, in her wisdom, decided to buy two chickens for eggs and as pets for my daughters. One of them grew so quickly that everyone told us it was a rooster. My wife, again in her infinite wisdom, decided to buy two more chickens so that when we had to get rid of the big rooster, my daughters would not be so upset.

The big bird turned out to be a hen after all, so we have ended up with four laying hens — two ISA Brown, an Australorp and a Leghorn. We also have two large Hungarian Vizsla dogs and a tiny backyard in suburbia!

ISA Brown chickens

ISA Browns are technically a hybrid bird, not a breed. While my birds were sold to me as ISA Browns, they were not from a ISA breeder, so they may actually be a hybrid of some other breed and therefore not strictly an ISA Brown!

The ISA Browns lay brown eggs daily, although one of them occasionally misses a day — perhaps one out of seven days she does not lay an egg.

While three of our chickens are always together, one of the ISA Brown chickens is very independent. She is the most adventurous bird, whether it be entering the dogs’ area, trying to come inside the house, or something else. I used to think she was the stupid bird, but I now wonder whether she is just the most outgoing one.

The ISA Browns probably make the best pets for my children. They are happy to be picked up and cuddled and withstand some fairly robust treatment from my daughters. I spotted one daughter making an ISA Brown chicken give high fives with its claws a while ago. A few days later I saw the other daughter with a ISA Brown in a plastic tub. She had made a bed for it and only its head was sticking out between the sheets draped across the top of the tub.

Australorp chickens

The Australorp lays light brown eggs daily.

On first inspection, the Australorp is a boring, plain black chicken. When the bird struts into the sunlight, the Australorp’s feathers glisten and have a beautiful green sheen to them. The Australorp is definitely the best looking out of the chickens.

The Australorp is a large bird. At one stage while it was a chick, it was almost double the size of the ISA Brown that we bought at the same time (both were bought as three day old chicks). The Australorp was the one that we thought was a rooster, but has turned out to be a hen.

The Australorp is not as affectionate as the ISA Browns, but still does not mind being handled by my children.

Leghorn chickens

The Leghorn lays almost white coloured eggs daily.

If you are buying chickens and have children, Leghorns are probably not the best choice. While beautiful white birds, they are the most timid and not keen on being handled. The Leghorn is always the bird that we have to chase around the yard to pick up.

The Leghorn is a lighter build than the others. With its skittish nature, it is therefore the most likely to get a fright and fly over the fence.

Drawbacks of having backyard chickens

Before you go out and buy yourself some chickens, a couple of things to be aware of:

1. Chickens can be very noisy just before daybreak as they lay their eggs. If your neighbours are close by, think carefully before buying chickens. If you already have chickens and have had neighbourhood complaints, you may want to try using a blackout box.
2. Chickens will demolish your garden as they scratch and forage for food. We have a tiny backyard. Our birds have nearly stripped our backyard of grass and plants! I have even seen free range chickens on acreage demolish garden beds!