Best Layers for Newbie

[TomZilla43]

Hi Afrodigh, if you get them fairly young and let them "grow up" together you can mix and match as you like. I have a small flock similar to what you are considering and have Speckled Sussex, GL Wyandotte, Cuckoo Marans, NH Red and a Black Australorp in my flock and they all get along great together. Orpingtons are good layers(I had a Buff Orp but lost her to illness). I've stayed away from Sex link type birds just because I've heard like you that they tend to be aggressive and I just like the heritage breeds because they lay for a longer period of time and often have less health issues since they are not laying machines. So since with 5 chickens I have more eggs than I need(getting to share eggs is great) that's just been my approach. My most consistent layer is my Austolorp but all of mine really lay well(I'm averaging about 4 eggs a day out of my 5 chooks). Hope you find the breeds that you like and they lay like crazy for you

 

[coop410silkies]

@ Jed Jackson: This has been my experience as well. really. I DO have sex-links, both BSL and RSL. They tend to be loners and somewhat pushy when it comes to feeding, but the one BSL is a timid little thing around other birds, loves people she knows. She attached herself to the SS chick she was raised with and never made friends with any other bird when they were separated. My sex-links are hardy and easy-do for newbies; the RSL would probably not get pushed around by the BR, and they don't seem to form any kind of alliances to go peck on another bird; they ARE a bit quirky, though. The point about heritage hens laying longer is well taken.