all one breed or mixed, which is best?

[scooterward]

Definitely mixed! It's wonderfully interesting.

I have 10 right now (7 girls and 3 boys) and they are 14 weeks old. I did get two of several kinds though. I have 2 Australorps (they are THE SOFTEST ever on the face of the planet!!) but they usually don't hang together. Sophia is towards the top of the pecking order and Chloe at the bottom. I have 2 Golden Laced Wyandotts but they usually don't hang together either as Abigail is at the top of the pecking order and Rebekah towards the bottom. I have 3 NH Reds (2 boys - Sammy and Wyatt (I'm only keeping Wyatt) and one girl, Roza). Those roosters are vying for the #2 rooster position right now. I think Roza is next to last on the pecking order). I have a Dominique, Tess, who's in the top middle. And I have Bubbles, a Salmon Faverolle, who is just in her own little world.

Stu is our freebie exotic chick that is a Cuckoo Marans. He's top dog right now but he's not staying. I only need one rooster for my flock.

I am very glad I got a mixed flock. Even though I got two of several, their personalities are totally different. I would totally recommend mixing.

 

[Bill D]

I would have to chime in here and say mixed as well. I wish I mixed mine up more - I have 3 Buff Orphingtons, 3 Black Sex Links, 1 Plymouth Barred Rock, 1 Americana, and 1 Rhode Island Red. I want a Maran for the egg color to finish up my group (I am only allowed 10 chickens in the city).

Mine don't hang out by color, but by age. The first six I got together as chicks and then added the other three later. The last three are 4 weeks younger and are the ones who get picked on.

Enjoy your chickens - they are fun!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I guess I'm the "odd ball" here.....

I say 1 breed, multiple colors/varieties

For example (in my case) Plymouth Rocks - barred, blue, black, splash, columbian, partridge, buff, white, silver penciled

Wyandottes - BLR, Black, Splash, Columbian

Orpingtons - Blue, Black, Splash, Buff, Lavender

Etc, etc

I like to find a BREED that I am fond of for personality, egg laying, friendliness, etc, etc then get multiple colors/varieties

Just my 2 cents worth

 

[elmo]

Quote:
All of the birds in my flock are similar in color (mille fleur), so I think the distinction is even more subtle. My half d'Uccle hen seems to like the pure d'Uccle chicks we raised this spring even better than she likes her own chicks who are only 1/4 d'Uccle and show very little foot feathering and/or muffs. The mixed Serama/OEGB/d'Uccle chicks all hang out together even though they come from different clutches.

 

[wsdareme]

Quote:
Hmmm, that's interesting. I have a mixed flock, but have 3 Cochins and 2 Wyandottes (different colors). They all get along and sleep with their heads laying over each other's backs. But the Cochins don't hang out together, and neither do the Wyandottes. I think if they're all raised together as chicks they really don't see each other as being different. I love being able to tell all my hens apart!

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Except mine all were raised together!

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I agree with your decision!

Mixed flocks are way more fun in my opinion. It's nice to have a variety to look at, it's easier to identify individuals, and it makes your flock more unique. Plus, there are so many great breeds out there--how could a person just stick to one?

 

[gryeyes]

Mixed flock. I love mine. And I even have some bantam breeds in the mix, too.

The chickens tend to hang out with their brood mates. I have 2 LF and two bantams that were brooder mates, and they are their own little gang. The Delaware is that gang's ring leader, and the Golden and Silver Sebright pullets follow her everywhere (they all sleep in a pile, too). Sometimes they wander a little distance away from Delilah, but then they look around and quickly run back to where she's hanging out.

But you can tell from my signature paragraph that I have LOTS of different breeds. And except for the two randy little Silver Sebright roos and their best friend the equally sex-crazed bantam Buff Brahma, everybody gets along. (The hens and pullets wish the bantam roos would just leave them alone, fer gawd's sake!)

 

[greenfingers]

I have to agree with mixed. I started out with all BOs, rooster and 5 hens. I like BOs, but quickly got bored with just one color. Now I have all different colors and several different breeds, plus a 5-some of gorgeous bantam gold laced Cochins! What fun!

 

[Montana-Hens]

I vote mixed too. But I would say don't end up with only one light or dark one....that seems to me to cause more pecking problems, if all but one of them are generally dark. I have a light and buff Brahma, and the rest are medium and darks (7 total) and it seems to work out well.

I agree if you are going to involve you children, different breeds/colors make it "more fun"

Good luck!