Last spring we (my girl) decided we wanted chickens... We got 6 from tractor supply (4 sex links, a silkie, and a seabright roo(accident)) ... Shortly after we added a leghorn, rhode island red, and 2 easter eggers from another feed store... Our rooster got eaten and i wanted another so we got a buff brahma roo and 2 barred rocks from meyer hatchery... Alls well in the hen house as they say... Here is where you come in... We have decided to add a second flock... Our origional 10 chicken mixed flock and now we want a breed specific flock... We each have a couple weeks to decide on 3 breeds and see if we agree on any of our 6 picks... If not we will be picking our favorites and flipping a coin lol... Any recommendations on what will make a good breed??? Im thinking large, pretty, no leg feather, friendly... Cold hardy to go along with michigan winter... Id like to avoid any breeds we already have... What do you think?? If you had to pick one breed to have, what would it be and why???
If your wondering why that doesnt add up to 10 its because a sex link and silkie both got eaten as well... Its tough free ranging surrounded by farm land and woods ... Hense the brahma roo.... Put up more of a fight than the seabright did
I would recommend Wyandottes. They are pretty, smooth legged, and very good layers. Plus, they're pretty common.
Orpingtons, any sort of Rock (barred, white, partridge) and Wyandottes are nice. I think the Orpingtons are hands up in the "friendly" category, Rocks are good too, but the 'Dottes have the rose comb which is better for Michigan winters. They're all good layers.
At the moment im leaning towards a laced wyandotte... We each have 2 more weeks to decide tho with plenty of breeds to read up on
I breed and raise Orpingtons. My birds are absolutely massive and lay great in winter months. I haven't raised wyandottes but I have had barred rocks. They lay good as well but have large combs that get frostbite pretty easy. Have you considered a sex link? They lay pretty well even in the winter. The down side is there large comb. They lay more eggs per year than the majority of the breeds. Nate
I think speckled sussex are nice birds! They're big, can with stand a winter, mine is friendly, she's hasn't begun laying yet but i bet she will next spring, and she's sooooo gorgeous! I love to take pics of her cause no matter which way she poses she looks awesome! I agree with the other chickens people have said too, though! Orps, rocks, etc.
