OK, so me and my girlfriend have decided to take the next step and get a house together (both of us are pretty much fed up with our current roommates anyway - but I digress). So here's my quandary: She's not into chickens, actually a little fearful of them. But knows I do like them and she is perfectly willing to let me keep a few hens. Even choosing to live outside city limits so we can do so. As she isn't a big egg eater three hens should do me fine*.
She does like cute, fluffy little baby chicks though (no fears there). So what I was thinking was to get an extra hen just for her; to acclimate her, so to speak. I'm thinking a Silkie would be best because even when they grow up they stay cute, fluffy and little and of course they are noted for their people friendliness. However one of the reasons I keep chickens is for the eggs, and Silkies aren't exactly renowned for that particular skill. so what I need to know is will a Silkie hen be well received by and get along well with other better layers, like Easter Eggers (my favorite)? I do realize the Silkie will probably end up bottom of the pecking order. That's fine so long as the others don't continuously bully her.
Or would you recommend I choose a different breed for my GF?
*Yes, I know all about "chicken math"
She does like cute, fluffy little baby chicks though (no fears there). So what I was thinking was to get an extra hen just for her; to acclimate her, so to speak. I'm thinking a Silkie would be best because even when they grow up they stay cute, fluffy and little and of course they are noted for their people friendliness. However one of the reasons I keep chickens is for the eggs, and Silkies aren't exactly renowned for that particular skill. so what I need to know is will a Silkie hen be well received by and get along well with other better layers, like Easter Eggers (my favorite)? I do realize the Silkie will probably end up bottom of the pecking order. That's fine so long as the others don't continuously bully her.
Or would you recommend I choose a different breed for my GF?
*Yes, I know all about "chicken math"