Any suggestions for breeds ro add to my flock?

[dandymandie]

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Hi. 

Sorry for your loss. 

I think it really depends on your purpose.... fun, looks, eggs, meat, chicks, broodies?

We mostly keep our chickens as pets and for eggs. I have never processed a chicken before and we have hatched some but that was my own spontaneity with some broody hens last summer. We found homes for all except for the now 5 month old and very eager silke/cuckoo marans cockerel. He's so good looking!

A young cockerel will not protect a flock at all because he hasn't matured into it yet. Also, a Silkie doesn't Quite count the same as a full size rooster would (IMO). They seem so slow and just not capable. Even my hens alert to danger, so that isn't enough reason to keep a roo. 1 of my boys (still maturing) actually runs toward the sound of his girls in trouble when they are out of his sight and hears them startle.  I agree my silkie rooster is not the best at protecting the girls. He came with my first order of chickens from my local feed store of five silkies. He's about two years old now and he does his best. The younger cockerel is now kind of top cockerel. I keep him because no one wants a rooster right now and I just can't make him to soup. They do try me with the simultaneous crowing, though!
When you talk about free ranging, how much space are we talking about? And if you already hatching chicks and can't get rid of boys what will you do with the future ones? Silkies are edible to, just a little smaller. 

My *now* 9 chickens free range on about one quater of an acre. It's dense with trees and bushes. They are ipen to pretty much everything around the house. I was warned we would have chickens at the front door, so true! Lol!

Sounds like you could use some color in your egg basket!    Maybe Easter Eggers? They are always docile and it's like a mixed bag of personalities, plus they don't usually look exactly alike as many breeds do. Mine are among the most active, all over the place. Some are leery but I have 2 that hang out on my lap and one of them runs to get into my daughters arms.
The neighbor has EE and I like them a lot too, I am not sure where they got theirs but they are cute and sweet with the 11 year old. They took the other Silkie/cuckoo marans cockerel we had and he is fitting in okay.