Breed suggestions??

[snacks_on_snacks]

First time chicken owners here!

We are raising up a small group of Bielefelders and mixed light Brahmas. Some are still in the incubator, and some are about 3 weeks old now.

We are thinking of adding a few more breeds/types, just for fun and some variation! We are hoping to free range with a LGD, and live in central MN.

Any suggestions on breeds to add to our little group? Or those to avoid? I know the two breeds we already have are on the larger side. Should we be worried about getting some more “standard” sized or smaller sized chickens?

TIA!

 

[Calista_]

I personally, have always preferred to have chickens the same sized, however I rarely have issues with my bigger buff Orpington and my Easter egger, I love Easter eggers and ameraucanas, their fluffy cheeks are super cute and their eggs are very pretty!

 

[FrostRanger]

Can't go wrong with easter eggers imo

 

[AGeese]

Welcome! Jersey Giants would fit right in.

 

[snacks_on_snacks]

Welcome! Jersey Giants would fit right in.

Just looked these up, they’re beautiful!

How has your experience been with them, are they fairly friendly/docile?

Any recommendations where to get them from?

Thanks for the reply

 

[AGeese]

Just looked these up, they’re beautiful!

How has your experience been with them, are they fairly friendly/docile?

Any recommendations where to get them from?

Thanks for the reply

Haha, well. They're dominent if they're anything like mine. Of the two I have they both run my flock. In the begining they were tyrants, but they've settled down some now that they're firmly on top. That may change soon with my introduction of Liege Fighters (we'll see!)

But don't let that hold you back because I'm sure your birds are big enough to hold their own around them. Mine came from Meyer Hatchery. Honestly for a time I thought they might have been mixed or actually Black Astralorps which are very simliar. I don't think mine actually reached 9 lbs. Last I checked they were around 6 lbs.

That said they are hardy! Self sufficient excellent free rangers, who can handle the cold, that I don't worry about. One even survived a Husky attack that bit through her back (with the assistance of my local vet of course

So I do recommend them.

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

We are accidental Jersey Giant owners (We order Barred Rocks). Unfortunately one of them turned out to be a cockerel (8 months old now). He is my least favorite as he likes to spar with us. Cannot turn your back on him. The NJ pullets are fine. That being said we have not had issues with larger birds with smaller ones. The smallest we have is Araucana and they do fine among the Orpington and NJ. We have Welsumer and Crested Cream Legbar in the same coop/run.

 

[AGeese]

We are accidental Jersey Giant owners (We order Barred Rocks). Unfortunately one of them turned out to be a cockerel (8 months old now). He is my least favorite as he likes to spar with us. Cannot turn your back on him. The NJ pullets are fine. That being said we have not had issues with larger birds with smaller ones. The smallest we have is Araucana and they do fine among the Orpington and NJ. We have Welsumer and Crested Cream Legbar in the same coop/run.

Yeah I've heard good and not so good about the Jeresys. May be the breeder. Mine are totally friendly towards people, and generally are fine with my small flock of Buckeyes.

I'm thinking more of hardy free rangers, but if you want personality and friendly, along with free range then I offer up my Buckeyes, they will establish an order, but generally chill together without too much issue.

My Black Copper Maran is an excellent free ranger, and she's got a lot of personality too.

 

[Debbie292d]

Here is an older but informative article written by a member here. It doesn't discuss EVERY breed, but does have great charts of lots of them.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ide-to-picking-backyard-chicken-breeds.64518/

I'm partial to silkies, but I'd only get those if you have a desire to raise chicks, as they are some of the broodiest chickens! We've had only those for eight years and wouldn't change for anything!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We had a lovely BJG years ago that was a total sweetie. Had another just a few years ago that lost part of his comb and some of his wattles to frostbite, broke my heart to see him in pain. He was a sweetie too. He was barely an adult when we lost him to a coyote, defending his girls. I won't have another due to the frostbite but I do love them.