First time flock owner- 1 of each of these breeds okay?

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

Hi everyone!! We are getting our first set of chicks on Wednesday. I have been doing so much research and have enjoyed learning about all of the different breeds of chickens. We live in the northeast so need hardy chickens for winter. We are also looking for friendly chickens who will want to be around us, and who will give us a rainbow of eggs!

I am interested in one of each of the following:

1) Buff Orpington
2) Red Star
3) Ameraucana
4) Welsummer
5) Barred Rock
6) Easter Egger

Will these be a good mix raised together? Is it okay to have this much variety in your flock or should you have doubles of some breeds? TIA!!

 

[Severne]

That would make a great flock But, I’d like to add that the Americauna is probably just an Easter Egger. If it is a true blue, black, slash or other colours of Americauna it would run in the 15-20$ range. Lots of folks make the mistake of calling theyre chickens Americauna when they are actually not a real true Americauna but an EE. It is very confusing but, I’m always trying to make known the difference in the true Americauna and the American Easter Egger.

 

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

Yes I was reading about that, that sometimes you really have an Easter Egger and not an Americauna. Thank you for the information! Do you feel one of each breed is okay or do you need doubles of some breeds?

 

[chrissynemetz]

Yes, any of those breeds would work well together. And as far as variety that's totally a matter of preference. You can mix and match those however you want to, and they'll be fine.
And welcome to BYC!!

 

[Severne]

Honestly in my opinion it depends on how many chickens you like Or can have. but I usually get at least 3 of each breed so I can make a better generalization of what I like and what I dont. The reason I do this is because often there is an really sweet breed that I love most the chickens, but there can be an aggressive individual that needs to be culled.

 

[Alyanna77]

Our girls are 6 days old today & we did a similar mix: 1 Welsummer, 1 Golden Comet (I've been told that's the same as Red Star?), 1 Black Star, 1 Lavender Orpington, & 2 very different colored Easter Eggers. So far they get along pretty well.