Adding a Second Flock

[Eggcessive]

Speckled sussex and black australorps are very good at free ranging and excellent (4+ per week) layers. Meyers also has them. They are good sized and are good dual pupose (for meat and eggs.) I have a mixed flock and these breeds have fit in well. Wyandottes are very good layers, but mine were mean to my other chickens, so I gave them away.

 

[themenagerie]

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.

I love my Speckled Sussex's, personality wise, they're my favorites in the flock. Mine don't lay as well as the Orps, Rocks and Wyandottes (less often and only medium sized instead of large) , but they're so friendly and inquisitive I'll always have them in my flock.

 

[pluckylucky]

It also depends on what size egg you want. Orpingtons lay well throughout winter and lay a very nice large egg, they eat a bit more feed but are typically a friendly bird. Sussex, Light or Speckled lay well also with a medium to large egg as did my Delaware that lay more on the large side - however I do have comb issues on occasion. My Wyndottes only lay medium but they are lovely to look at and the comb is easy to manage in the cold. So many choices, good luck.

 

[Hillschicks]

Lol, yes it is hard to pick just one breed, thats why our first flock is very mixed... Our origional flock we from here on out are focusing on large egg and high quantity... Our single breed flock we are more flexible... Cold hardy, big, pretty

 

[Hillschicks]

Well, the verdict is in... We just cant seem to decide one a single breed, so our next flock being added will also be a mixed flock lol... A light brahma, a dark brahma, and whatever the little women wants

 

[featheredmom]

Im a mixed flock kind of gal myself, no way could I pick just one breed.

However, unless u are breeding them, there is no reason to have a single breed flock(unless that is what you want). You can even still breed your mixed flock, either have breeding pens or have barnyard mix babies.

I have actually really come to enjoy the hatchery mix birds. Its a guessing game what you are gonna get and it is so much fun trying to guess what they are!! Plus, then there are no decisions I have assorted tophats, assorted feather footed bantams, and we will have rainbow layers/brown layers/rare layers once we get our replacements.

Our original flock is production red, some type of red/white layer from TSC(I truly have NO CLUE what they are), barred rocks, and EEs for egg color.