Help me determine which breed our last chick should be

[5 Points Wingfeather]

We have some chicks coming from a hatchery and some incubating. Here is what I want our flock to be and I want help deciding the last breed.

Lav Orp rooster
2 Orp Hens (one lav, one buff)
2 Speckled Sussex hens
2 BLRW hen
1 Dominique hen

Should I get another Dominique to make it “even” or go with a different breed? Any particular breeds that would produce a cool mix with the Lav Orp Roo?

 

[cherrynberry]

We have some chicks coming from a hatchery and some incubating. Here is what I want our flock to be and I want help deciding the last breed.

Lav Orp rooster
2 Orp Hens (one lav, one buff)
2 Speckled Sussex hens
2 BLRW hen
1 Dominique hen

Should I get another Dominique to make it “even” or go with a different breed? Any particular breeds that would produce a cool mix with the Lav Orp Roo?

If you like egg color, maybe an EE? They are known to be quite docile

 

[ButtonHoarder]

Get two more, a blue egg layer, and a Maran! Then you’ll have a rainbow basket!

 

[cherrynberry]

Get two more, a blue egg layer, and a Maran! Then you’ll have a rainbow basket!

I totally agree! Or a welsummer!

 

[KristHen]

We have some chicks coming from a hatchery and some incubating. Here is what I want our flock to be and I want help deciding the last breed.

Lav Orp rooster
2 Orp Hens (one lav, one buff)
2 Speckled Sussex hens
2 BLRW hen
1 Dominique hen

Should I get another Dominique to make it “even” or go with a different breed? Any particular breeds that would produce a cool mix with the Lav Orp Roo?

I think your idea of adding another Dominique is solid.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I totally agree! Or a welsummer!

Unless they only have room for one more I guess.

 

[NatJ]

You could get a Barred Rock to go with the Dominique-- they are similar, but not quite the same. (The most obvious difference is the comb: Barred Rocks have single combs, Dominiques have rose combs.)

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm not very solid on genetics, but IIRC, a lavender rooster with anything other than a lavender hen will make black split to lavender chicks no matter what the other colors are.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

How about something white? I've got a crazy, mischievous, always-in-trouble California White who has laid a large egg every day except 2 since early December. I wouldn't want a whole flock of them, but I think I'll always keep one or two.

 

[NatJ]

I'm not very solid on genetics, but IIRC, a lavender rooster with anything other than a lavender hen will make black split to lavender chicks no matter what the other colors are.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Close, but not quite.
In this case:

lavender rooster/lavender hen = lavender chicks

lavender rooster/blue laced red hen = blue or black chicks
lavender rooster/splash laced red hen = blue chicks
lavender rooster/ buff or speckled or black laced red hen = black chicks
[These three groups of chicks may have buff or red leakage in their black feathers as they grow up.]

lavender rooster/barred hen = barred sons, black daughters

So chicks could be black, blue, or barred from this set of not-lavender hens.

Any particular breeds that would produce a cool mix with the Lav Orp Roo?

Maybe a Red Sexlink? (Also called ISA Brown, Gold Comet, Red Star, Gold Sexlink, and many other names.)

Crossing it to a lavender rooster would give black chicks and white chicks, about half each. The "white" ones would have some black feathers, as well as possibly red leakage as they grow up. The "black" ones might have red leakage or might have white leakage as they grow up.

 

[5 Points Wingfeather]

What about a blue Ameraucana? Would the pullet off spring be big blue birds with pretty eggs? Should have good personalities and good egglayers, right?