2 Questions - Are these Right for Us & Rooster Help.!

[paulandashia]

Hi all.
I don't know if I posted this in the right place, I hope I did.

I have been researching for the past few weeks, and me and Hubby decided to place our order on mypetchicken.com in the next 3-4 days.
We have everything setup for the new arrivals, but I just wanted to make sure that the birds I picked are going to be suitable for what we need.
We live in Alaska. It gets cold here. REALLY cold.
We have the coop & fenced in yard all setup for them with heating lamps etc, and have everything ready to go when the babies are big enough (they will be in our living room for the first 3-4 weeks, then moved into the garage until the weather warms up, and they are big enough to go into the coop).
We are getting a total of 15 birds.
We want a colorful egg-basket, so we are going with 2 hens of each of the following breeds:
Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, Easter Eggers, Sussex, Leghorns, Marans and Welsummers.

We also want to get a Rooster (that would be our 15th bird), but I can't decide on which breed to go with for that. Hoping someone can give me some pointers.
I have 2 young kids that will be going in with me to gather eggs, clean, etc (6 yr old, and 4 yr old), and the last thing I want is a rooster that will attack! LoL I want to find a more "docile" kind of rooster.

I also want to know if the birds we decided to go with are appropriate. I know the leghorns are Egg-Layers, but all the other ones I believe are Dual-Purpose (Meat + eggs) which is what we want.

And advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Byrdj]

Orpingtons are known for their docile nature and are very cold hardy due to their heavy loose feathering. That would be my choice.

 

[australorpchick]

It looks like you have a nice assortment of birds. I would be a little worried about the Leghorn, aren't they more of a warm-weather breed? I think they can get rather large combs, so you've have to worry about frostbite. But, I live in South Texas and we don't get too cold. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me, will comment. Australorps and RIR are awesome layers too. My CM is my best layer. Chickchick hardly ever takes a break. All the aggresive roosters I've come across have been RIR, but every bird is different. Good luck with your flock!

 

[hcammack]

If I were you I wouldn't get the leghorns they are flighty and also have large combs that will become frostbitten. Get some Orpingtons and Faverolles they have tighter combs and looser heavier feathering which makes them more cold hards. Faverolles roosters are also very docile and friendly. I would be careful about larger combed birds.

Henry

 

[19hhbelgian]

Leghorns do get very large combs - inviting frostbite unless they are watched carefully. I had 12 RIR roos that came as packing peanuts, and they were actually nice birds. They would chase strangers off the property

so good for 2 legged predator patrol, and they never fought with each other. Back then, we only had ducks geese and the boys. All were outside 24/7 in every kind of weather - snow, wind, rain... I never had a problem with frostbite or anything. If it was really super ugly out, I would grab them once they were roosting,and put them in the horse trailer for the night. They were also very handsome boys...

 

[paulandashia]

Ok, Leghorns are gone. Hubby said he wants to replace the 2 Leghorn hens with another Maran and Welsummer hens.
For the rooster, I was thinking about either a Maran or Welsummer, but I'd appreciate any input anyone has.

Also, can someone tell me, from YOUR experience, what each of these guys lays on a weekly basis? (On average), and weather their eggs are Large, Medium, or small.
I researched, but honestly, my head is spinning, and I'm having a heck of a time keeping track! LOL

 

[MaggieRae]

My australorp roo is just the sweetest thing. Great protector, but the only thing he's ever attacked were my blue boots (and a coyote through the fence). He just doesn't think blue is my color.

Great with all the kids. They pull his tail and can carry him around like a baby.

ETA: I think he's just the cutest thing too. My hen lays really well too, even in winter. I don't know an accurate egg count, but she lays big beautiful eggs.

Lucy, but his full name is Lucifer.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Get a Marans rooster, then you can cross with your EE's to get olive green eggs.

 

[alicefelldown]

My Marans rooster was the sweetest thing - he adored his ladies and always waited for them to eat first. Gorgeous bird too. Good choice to breed with your green and blue layers for different shades of olive eggs.

Make sure you handle them a lot when they are growing up - the more you do, the more they will

you!!

 

[19hhbelgian]

Did you consider wyandottes? The Blue laced red are gorgeous, and I'm pretty sure you can get them from MPC, who you said you're already ordering from. I have a bantam BLRW and she is just too cute