Help Me Decide What Breeds To Get!

[Lauren Adams]

Hello, I rarely come on this site so as a little reminder my name is Lauren Adams I own four chickens. A Barred Rock, Buff Orphington, Silver Laced Wyandotte, and an Isa Brown. I am going to build a new coop so it can hold eight chickens it will be divided in half so they can't get to each other but.... I am unsure on what breeds to get I would like a family friendly bird with unique colored eggs or at least not you average brown and white! Thanks!!


- Lauren

 

[pineapple416]

I would get some Easter Egger hens. They lay either a green, blue, brown, or pink tinted egg from my experience. They are family friendly and would definitely add so color to the carton.

 

[poultry person]

I would get some Easter Egger hens. They lay either a green, blue, brown, or pink tinted egg from my experience. They are family friendly and would definitely add so color to the carton.

I second on Easter eggers! I have two EE hens and they are so sweet!

 

[Lauren Adams]

Yes, I have heard of those but have never had one. What is the difference between an Easter Egger and a Amerecauna?

I would get some Easter Egger hens. They lay either a green, blue, brown, or pink tinted egg from my experience. They are family friendly and would definitely add so color to the carton.

 

[Hufflefluff]

Yes, I have heard of those but have never had one. What is the difference between an Easter Egger and a Amerecauna?

Easter Eggers aren't so much a breed as a mutt- there is no standard for a bird to be labelled 'Easter Egger', and so they come in all types of colors and patterns and can lay blue, green, or pinkish eggs, depending on the bird. They're generally pretty curious, friendly, cheap, and readily available. As a bonus, because they're mutts a flock with a few Easter Eggers will still look distinct- two very rarely look identical, and if you're able to choose your chicks you can even choose ones that won't end up looking similar at all- some have muffs, some have feathered legs, some have neither- etc.

Ameracauna chickens are a pure breed of chicken that come in a few accepted color varieties and will always lay blue eggs. They have muffs, are generally more expensive, and depending where you live could be difficult to find. On the plus side, you'll know exactly what you're getting, and if you take care to source them from a reputable breeder then you'll be able to show them. If you ever hatch their eggs, you'll be able to sell the chicks for more, and you'll be supporting the breed. Be warned, though, that a lot of feed stores and the like will often mislabel Easter Eggers as Ameraucanas- if you want true Ameraucanas, check with the seller beforehand to make sure you know what you're getting.

Either breed is great choice- it just depends what you're looking for

 

[Lauren Adams]

Thanks so much I am mostly considering getting two Amerecaunas One Leghorn and something else that I have not yet decided on.

Easter Eggers aren't so much a breed as a mutt- there is no standard for a bird to be labelled 'Easter Egger', and so they come in all types of colors and patterns and can lay blue, green, or pinkish eggs, depending on the bird. They're generally pretty curious, friendly, cheap, and readily available. As a bonus, because they're mutts a flock with a few Easter Eggers will still look distinct- two very rarely look identical, and if you're able to choose your chicks you can even choose ones that won't end up looking similar at all- some have muffs, some have feathered legs, some have neither- etc.

Ameracauna chickens are a pure breed of chicken that come in a few accepted color varieties and will always lay blue eggs. They have muffs, are generally more expensive, and depending where you live could be difficult to find. On the plus side, you'll know exactly what you're getting, and if you take care to source them from a reputable breeder then you'll be able to show them. If you ever hatch their eggs, you'll be able to sell the chicks for more, and you'll be supporting the breed. Be warned, though, that a lot of feed stores and the like will often mislabel Easter Eggers as Ameraucanas- if you want true Ameraucanas, check with the seller beforehand to make sure you know what you're getting.

Either breed is great choice- it just depends what you're looking for

 

[Lauren Adams]

Is that a good choice??

 

[Hufflefluff]

Is that a good choice??

I'm sure that's great- they'll be such cute chicks! Just keep in mind that Leghorns are notoriously poor handlers of cold weather- their slim frames and giant combs make really cold spells hard for them, so keep that in mind if those will be an issue. Do you have any ideas for the last chicken? I might suggest considering a Marans (cold hardy, lay chocolate brown eggs), Sussex (friendly, pretty, hardy and adaptable,) Brahma (large, friendly, gorgeous) Rhode Island Red (Hardy and adaptable, excellent layer,) or Australorp (hardy, friendly, great layer). I'm sure other people have some excellent recommendations, too.

I'd love to hear whatever you decide on. When do you think you'll get them?

 

[featherhead007]

Yes, I have heard of those but have never had one. What is the difference between an Easter Egger and a Amerecauna?

My birds are registered APA Ameraucanas for breeding pure ameraucana chicks

 

[Lauren Adams]

Thank you guys so much for helping me decide what breeds to get. I made a decision you can check it out here https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-got-my-new-chickens.1225118/ You can see pictures and names if you want to see more comment on that forum!! Thanks again!!

- Lauren