Help choosing a flock to manage..

[RcoM]

A friendly one she is a mix with the dominant breed being a Great Pyrenees

If you want to train her not to eat them, and to guard them (rather than herd them) start with her while young and read up on techniques first. Praise kind protective behaviours. Let them jump on her back etc. praise her when she ignores them and stays calm. Learn a few dog training techniques first

 

[fluffycrow]

If you want to train her not to eat them, and to guard them (rather than herd them)

Why would a GP herd livestock?

 

[RcoM]

Its just because tsgarvey (who started the thread/question) mentioned that maybe his pup could herd them to keep them in the yard. And I was thinking that was not the best use of, or relationship to hope for, from said GP X puppy, for his potential flock.

 

[Granitestater]

Hello all.. hope everyone had a nice holiday!

We are new to chickens and need help on how to decide which breed(s) of chicken to get. Just recently finished our coop/run that has enough space for 6 comfortably. At this time we are only interested in egg production and do not want a rooster. I was planning on skipping the chick raising process and look for young hens.. but would this be a mistake? Is it better if we raise them from chicks so they become accustomed/friendly to us or more easily trained to the surroundings? Are some breeds easier than others to handle? Are there any that are more proficient layers in the winter? Our thought is to get 2 each of 3 different breeds. Does this make sense?

The most popular choices I see out there are Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Australorp. Is this the direction we should go as newbies?

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated! Thanks....

I recommend no rooster because you will have baby roosters born and have to face the gut wrenching experience of watching 1-them gang rape your hens 2- the young alpha rooster bully, run off the property, and eventually mortally wound the other boys (my experience: fractured pelvis, broken neck, irreparable infected eye from a peck). Thus behavior is their testosterone ruling them. Not their fault. Some people kill the bully youngster, I couldn't but now that ive lost sweet boys, wrestle myself in thoughts of should I have. Some say rehome but very difficult with roosters. They r not wanted due to crowing and what I've said above.
I love roosters, but u have to know what ur getting into. Their testosterone rules no matter how you've loved on them as little guys. . Can't remember when testosterone kicks in, but you'll know it. More than 9 mos.

Good reason to have rooster is they protect the ladies from aerial predators. Are always watching the sky, and the ladies. I've had 2 girls saved from hawks due to a rooster. One of them was the rooster who damaged the above boys. They are noble creatures. Just hard to get along with each other.
And when you've raised them from a chick and they trust you and look right in your eyes when u hold tem, how the h can you end their life? I never felt I had the right. I kept trying to fix things but ultimately the sweeties were mortally wounded.
Hope this helps put it in perspective. Its hard if u have a heart❤

 

[holisticliving]

Hi there, I can't speak to purchasing young hens, as we have always raised ours from chicks, but we've tried several different breeds (all either eggers or multi-purpose breeds), and by far our favorites so far have been Isa Browns and Speckled Sussex! Our Isa Browns are SO calm and friendly compared to most other breeds we've had (even as chicks), and they are VERY productive layers (we're just on their first winter now, but they have all been laying almost daily since they started in the fall; our previous batch were mixed breeds and definitely laid fewer eggs their first winter, even though they started laying around the same time frame).

The Speckled Sussex will be harder to find, and they're a multi-purpose breed and less productive egg-layers but excellent additions to a mixed flock. They are particularly beautiful, as well as very calm, friendly, and docile. They seem to get along with everyone with very little fuss, and also have had far fewer health problems than some of the others we've tried.

As I mentioned, we raised ours from purchased chicks, and as we handled them a lot from the start, most of ours are relatively friendly and easy-to-handle, with the exception of our Barred Rock rooster and the Lakeshore Eggers. I would definitely stay away from the Lakeshore Eggers - although they lay prolific and gorgeous green eggs, ours had numerous health problems, are very flighty, mean to other chickens lower on the pecking order, and have been generally a pain to deal with. I've also heard some not-so-good things about Rhode Island Reds in this regard. If you like the look of the Rhode Island Reds, I would suggest looking for Buckeyes instead. They look very similar, but seem to have a sweeter temperament and are also great layers. Note that they are also quite heavily feathered, and seem very uncomfortable in hot weather, which is why we no longer keep them.

We've also had Gold-Laced Wyandottes, which are dependable layers and quite beautiful, but again, don't fare too well in our hot Ohio summers.

Our Isa Browns are our newest additions, and so far they've all been very healthy, hardy, and productive - and are so friendly and curious they will all walk right up to you and let you pick them right up - no problem! (I really wanted to have more different breeds in this last batch as well, but that's all Tractor Supply had when I got them, and so far, we've been extremely happy with them!) If you are getting a mix of different breeds, I would definitely recommend at least 2 of each, and try to get them all at once from the same source so they can grow up together.

Good luck with your new flock!!
Rose.

 

[aart]

I recommend no rooster because you will have baby roosters born

There are ways to prevent any new chicks hatching.

 

[Granitestater]

There are ways to prevent any new chicks hatching.

Oh yes I meant to share that. You can take the eggs and make sure they don't brood on the eggs. That's hard too cuz it seems to mean alot to the hens to sit and brood. Can be done tho.

 

[Birdsonghill]

Hello! Your first mentioned possibles for birds are all good beginner birds. I have had many breeds and a lot would fit the bill. Personal preferences for appearances, laying abilities, friendliness/easy keeping and more. Buff Orpingtons lay ok, but are one of the friendliest and gentle natured birds to keep, black Australorps are excellent layers ,friendly and handle confinement well, Rhode Island Reds are one of the best brown egg layers and are hardy but less friendly than the others generally. You will likely get nearly as many recommendations as there are breeds from chicken enthusiast. I will mention some of my other favorites like Welsummers, White Crested Black Polish, Houdans, Ameraucana , Black Minorca, Whiting True Blues, Anconas, Barred Rocks, Partridge Cochins and Whiting Green egg layers and several more I have enjoyed. For beginners friendly, good layers are best and there are a bunch that would fit the bill. The Welsummers would fit well, as they are nice and calm and very good layers of nice large dark brown speckled eggs. If egg size is less important, the Standard Black Polish lay well medium eggs and are friendly and very interesting to look at. Houdans are similar but not as long lived. Barred Marans have been good for me as well, being fairly calm and good egg layers of large dark brown eggs. I have kept multiple friendly and calm varieties together with no problems, especially when without an aggressive rooster in the coop. Half of the fun of getting chickens is picking out the variety!

 

[Izabella hen]

Hello all.. hope everyone had a nice holiday!

We are new to chickens and need help on how to decide which breed(s) of chicken to get. Just recently finished our coop/run that has enough space for 6 comfortably. At this time we are only interested in egg production and do not want a rooster. I was planning on skipping the chick raising process and look for young hens.. but would this be a mistake? Is it better if we raise them from chicks so they become accustomed/friendly to us or more easily trained to the surroundings? Are some breeds easier than others to handle? Are there any that are more proficient layers in the winter? Our thought is to get 2 each of 3 different breeds. Does this make sense?

The most popular choices I see out there are Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Australorp. Is this the direction we should go as newbies?

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated! Thanks....

Love my buff orphingtons and my speckled Sussex!

 

[SanK]

Hello all.. hope everyone had a nice holiday!

We are new to chickens and need help on how to decide which breed(s) of chicken to get. Just recently finished our coop/run that has enough space for 6 comfortably. At this time we are only interested in egg production and do not want a rooster. I was planning on skipping the chick raising process and look for young hens.. but would this be a mistake? Is it better if we raise them from chicks so they become accustomed/friendly to us or more easily trained to the surroundings? Are some breeds easier than others to handle? Are there any that are more proficient layers in the winter? Our thought is to get 2 each of 3 different breeds. Does this make sense?

The most popular choices I see out there are Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Australorp. Is this the direction we should go as newbies?

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated! Thanks....

I got Salmon Faverolle 1 Rooster and 4 hens, aka bearded ladies, cute fluffy feathers under their eyes. We got them as chicks . They’re very friendly, smart and chatty. I won’t eat them, but they’re meat and layer breed. I was “attracted” by their rooster's color and friendly personality. Please don’t raise them with other breed. My last rooster was killed and beaten by “mild” temper Rhode Island, bard rocks, and smaller hens. It was awful.