I used to raise chickens 30 years ago as a kid, but am just getting back into it. Instead of buying all of one kind, I chose to 'shotgun' and get a whole bunch of chicks to see which ones I'd like the best.
I got 4 red sex link pullets, 3 white pullets, 4 easter eggers, and two cuckoo marans to start.
I then added 7 Cornish rock, a bantam (unknown variety), a silver laced wyandotte, and a barred rock.
Next came 4 lavender orpingtons, and I thought I was done, but then we adopted 9 rhode island red chicks that came with one ancona pullet.
What I've noticed so far is that the Easter Eggers grow more slowly, take longer to get their feathers, and keep their down longer. They are also the friendliest and love to hang with the red sex links.
The red sex links grow quickly and lose their down the fastest, and the second friendliest, and are the most athletic and adventuresome.
The white pullets (lineage unknown) are FAST growing, quiet, quick, and are good 'mothers' to the others, but generally avoid people.
The Cuckoo Marans both turned out to be roosters (argh!), but grow very well, are curious, but they only socialize with each other, and often start fights with the reds (who hold their own despite being smaller).
The Cornish rock are delicate but manageable, and fit every description given to them.
The Wyandotte is scared to death of people, yet very hardy and resilient. An average grower and has no problem competing for food.
The Barred Rock is athletic, quick-growing, and feathers out quickly, and quite curious. It 'pecks' more than any other, and is quick to scratch and is a good lookout.
The Rhode Island Reds are aggressive eaters, very curious, vigorous, competitive, and I imagine the most hardy chicks I've ever seen. Fast growing and resilient, these guys I imagine if I depended on chickens to survive, would be my mainstay.
The Ancona holds her own with the RIR's, but I had to isolate the Lavender Orpingtons. The Orps seem to grow very slowly, haven't feathered out yet, and were very stressed out to compete and live with other chicks. I've found them to be delicate and peace loving, although VERY vocal, more so than any other chick.
Anyone else have similar issues? I'm particularly concerned about the Lavender Orps.
Thanks!
Steve N Tracee
I got 4 red sex link pullets, 3 white pullets, 4 easter eggers, and two cuckoo marans to start.
I then added 7 Cornish rock, a bantam (unknown variety), a silver laced wyandotte, and a barred rock.
Next came 4 lavender orpingtons, and I thought I was done, but then we adopted 9 rhode island red chicks that came with one ancona pullet.
What I've noticed so far is that the Easter Eggers grow more slowly, take longer to get their feathers, and keep their down longer. They are also the friendliest and love to hang with the red sex links.
The red sex links grow quickly and lose their down the fastest, and the second friendliest, and are the most athletic and adventuresome.
The white pullets (lineage unknown) are FAST growing, quiet, quick, and are good 'mothers' to the others, but generally avoid people.
The Cuckoo Marans both turned out to be roosters (argh!), but grow very well, are curious, but they only socialize with each other, and often start fights with the reds (who hold their own despite being smaller).
The Cornish rock are delicate but manageable, and fit every description given to them.
The Wyandotte is scared to death of people, yet very hardy and resilient. An average grower and has no problem competing for food.
The Barred Rock is athletic, quick-growing, and feathers out quickly, and quite curious. It 'pecks' more than any other, and is quick to scratch and is a good lookout.
The Rhode Island Reds are aggressive eaters, very curious, vigorous, competitive, and I imagine the most hardy chicks I've ever seen. Fast growing and resilient, these guys I imagine if I depended on chickens to survive, would be my mainstay.
The Ancona holds her own with the RIR's, but I had to isolate the Lavender Orpingtons. The Orps seem to grow very slowly, haven't feathered out yet, and were very stressed out to compete and live with other chicks. I've found them to be delicate and peace loving, although VERY vocal, more so than any other chick.
Anyone else have similar issues? I'm particularly concerned about the Lavender Orps.
Thanks!
Steve N Tracee