Flock choice? Advice for a newbie....

[Davis5454]

I can vouch for silkies, orphingtons, and austrolorps....I have all 3 and also Jersey Giants.

These were all my first time trying chickens and i've had good luck with most of them.

The roosters sound like they are having a crowing contest ever day to see who can out-do who. But the hens are all pretty quiet. Keep in mind, you only need a rooster if you want baby chicks.

The Orphingtons are REALLY sweet and will run up and hop in my lap if I am sitting nearby. They also are friendly to strangers and children. (except for one of my orph roos who will soon be in a pot - most likely the jersey jiant and one austrolorp too)

The Austrolorps are all very shy and usually stay away from us. Not as much personality as my Orphs....but i'm having to rethink getting rid of them since they are proving to be egg laying machines.

I had one buff orph go broody and let her sit on a clutch of eggs. I was getting pretty much 1 egg/day/chicken from the buff orphs and 1 egg/day/chicken from the austrolorps up until recently. In fact, the orphs were actually slightly laying more. But i've noticed that above 95 degrees the orphs tend to slow down or quit laying. And as of recently, they have just slowed down and I don't know why. The austrolorps however seem to have picked up just a bit and i'm getting 9 each day from 9 austrolorp hens. (I've dropped from 6 or 7 a day to 3 or4 a day with 7 orph hens).

As for the silkies.....they can't be beat for a tame, easy going, low maintenance chicken. They also go broody at the drop of a hat....but don't produce as many eggs or quite as large of an egg. I think i'm getting about 2 eggs a day from 5 hens (down from 4 a day before a few went broody....they haven't started laying again now that the chicks are born).

If you want hens to play with, I would recommend the buffs. If you want egg laying machines, buffs are close...but the austrolorps seem to have them beat. If you want something for small children which is unique and still gives eggs (and stays near their pen / doesn't stray far) silkies are great.

Or just do what I did. The wife said we need about 4 eggs a day........so I ordered 33 chickens of all types !!! DADDY IS HAPPY!!!! VERRRYYY HAPPY!!!

Feel free to PM / Email / Call if you have questions.

Brian

 

[Nostalchic]

Hi Amanda! Ditto what he said, and here's my 2 cents worth -I have quite a variety (see below) and really really love my beautiful friendly BO's, glistening coppery gold feathers, fluffy and round, good layers, good mamas... but gotta say the White Cochins are so beautiful and also quite friendly and calm, though later to mature and probably not the most reliable layers. The Americauna's are also beautiful with lots of different colors, pretty good scroungers if you are going to free range at all, blue and green eggs - must have 'em! I don't have Delawares but have heard good things. Used to have all Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks - good dual purpose birds, not that personable. Or maybe it was me - I didn't used to hand feed them grapes and hang out with them like I do these. My "free exotic" chick from McMurray was the Polish (rooster, of course) and he is very cool looking, but skittish and tends to get picked on, wouldn't choose a breed like that to mix with "regular chickens". My Brahmas, beautiful!, but a little aggressive and not friendly. Check out the "My Pet Chicken" site if you haven't already - has a nice little tool to help choose varieties depending on what your priorities are. Have fun! Chris

 

[Mahonri]

I would add another Delaware, get a couple of Buff Orpingtons and then either a couple of Black Stars or Red Stars to up your egg production. You can always sell the eggs.

 

[kcfuerst]

I have a variety. But honestly, outside leghorns and those breeds known to be flighty, loud and unruly, just about any breed you get will be your friends if treated with love and handled frequently from the time you get them.

If you goal is egg, here is a link that will help you decide what you might like to have. It doesn't have every single breed out there, but enough to get you thinking.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/dual.html

I can't say enough good things about orpgintons, wyandottes, delaware, sex link and even RIR. They're fabulous.

Oh, one more thing.... hens make noise. I don't know of any that are silent. The egg dancing song is wonderful, and they know how to talk your arm off. They will be heard by your neighbors.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

It looks like you've done your homework, I wouldn't sweat about it too much, they tend to have very distinct personalities! Every one is different it seems no matter what the breed!

I have an EE who I've had just as long as the others but she is a freak!

Love her to death and looking forward to those eggs but she acts like she's going to be tortured every time I try to touch or catch her!

I'm sure whatever you choose will be great! Keep us posted and

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
Australorps quoted by McMurray Hatchery; This breed originated in Australia developed from Black Orpingtons imported from England; and the emphasis of the breeding program was on egg production without sacrificing too much in size and meat quality. Some sensational results were made in the Australian program, and one hen set a laying record of 364 eggs in 365 days. Introduced into this country in the 1920's, they have become useful and popular and are certainly one of the best layers of light brown eggs of all the heavy breeds.

 

[myhensanme]

Welcome, Amanda! How exciting for you to be expecting chickens! Being a 'chicken mom' is wonderful.
My 22 hens are of seven different breeds. My Polish girls are funny to watch, but too skittish, & unreliable layers. The Silkies are so fuzzy and cute--but tend to be broody and eggs are small. My best layers are RIR, barred Rock girls and my two Buff Orps. All of these are quiet, calm and good foragers.
My personal favorite are my Cochins. They make up half my flock. They are beautiful, gentle, sweet girls. Most of them like to be held and they make this cute grunting or tooting sound. The only problem is that the Cochins are constantly broody! I guess you have to take the not-so-good with the good traits in any breed. Good luck --I hope this helps!

 

[Kieyamama]

Thanks so much for all the input. I have a feeling that no matter what breed/s we settle on, i'll enjoy the heck out of them.

 

[hrmalexandra]

I echo the Austrolorpe votes - mine is a sweetheart and not as loud as the rest. I also have a light brahma - she is very sweet and a good layer.

 

[Davaroo]

First off, welcome!

Next, have a seat. Since you asked:

Soooooo......what do you think of my choices? Will my girls get along and play nice? Will I be happy with my breed selection? (i'm sure i'll be happy of me breed selection, i'm already attached!!)

I'm a proponent of single breed flocks, especially when small numbers are concerned. There is predictability with a single breed.

For the first time chickeneer, smoothing out and getting predictability is more important than a gala parade of 'yard confetti' chickens.

With a hodgepodge of personalities as found in a mixed flock, you get results that are well, mixed. Kids are always a variable with any flock, and among a mixed lot, only more so.

Think of it like a farmer sees his field, if it helps. He doesn't grow three or four crops, all intermingled in the same plot. He grows one, so it can be managed for predictable results.

But if past experience is any indicator, you're gonna go your own way...

You'll have your confetti flock and never be the wiser. You will be enabled by all the other confetti-ists here at BYC. They will say, "Aw, that Davaroo is an old poop - don't listen to anything he says."

Your chickens will grow, as they inevitably do, and you will get the results you get. You will encounter all the same worries most newcomers run into and you won't be alone - many, many folks have done the same.

But, little will you know that by eliminating breed variability in the flock, you stand your best chance of reaching your ideal.

So that's my input. Take it for what it's worth. I wish you the best and a heartfelt welcome. You are gonna have some fun, bank on that!