Help me pick my chicks

[MizzClucker]

Happy New Year all!

Just doing some online chick shopping but I’m new to chickens and need help picking this years spring chicks. Currently we have 5 Miller Browns (brown hybrid egg laying machines) and two barred rocks. I have found a localish breeder that offers a few different breeds and I’m excited to try some of them.

Let me tell you about our situation and needs. We live in Canada with very cold temps in the winter (it was -44*C yesterday morning) so we need something relatively cold hardy. I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old who handle the chickens daily so friendliness is an absolute must - aggressive birds are not allowed here! Egg laying is why we have chickens so they will need to lay somewhat well. They also are let free daily to roam our farm, 40 acres. Meat or dual purpose is not required as we will probably let our girls live out their life free ranging, or that’s the idea anyways.

With all of that disclosed, here are the breeds they have that I am interested in. Ameraucanas (blue, black,splash), Barnevelder, bielefelder, australorps, and very interested in the euskal oiloas.

Anyone have any recommendations?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Orpingtons they come in a variety of colors too. Tfhing is they have single combs frostbite/Winter you'd have to probably do preventative care. Wynadottes are good too, some in a variety of colors & they have rose combs.
Pics of my BO/Buff Orpingtons & Blue Wynadottes ...

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I know Cochins are good in the cold not so great at egg laying though but I have a light brahma they have feathered feet and she lays most warmer weeks she will lay 3-5 and on colder weeks she will lay 0-2 but she is my calmest chicken very kid friendly and is super fluffy I also do have Americanas they don't lay eggs yet but when they do they will be blue eggs wich I love they are pretty sweet I have 2 that are skiddish but that's my fault of not holding them enough but good luck with your chicks!

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I was going to say Wyandotte to

 

[MagpieDucks]

Chanteclers. They originated in Canada and are quite cold hardy.

 

[moniquem]

I will be purchasing chicks for the first time this spring. All my requirements match yours except I have no small children but frankly I'm a little scared of birds so I want something mellow, non-aggressive .

My picks are:

Buffs
Austrolorps
Welsummer
Wyandotte
Speckled Sussex

Probably one of each, so a mixed flock of 5. Of course chicken math is entering my equation so I may end up with a total of 6.....ish......hee hee

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Buff Orpington... My cockerel is not at all aggressive!

 

[ChickNanny13]

I will be purchasing chicks for the first time this spring. All my requirements match yours except I have no small children but frankly I'm a little scared of birds so I want something mellow, non-aggressive .

My picks are:

Buffs
Austrolorps
Welsummer
Wyandotte
Speckled Sussex

Probably one of each, so a mixed flock of 5. Of course chicken math is entering my equation so I may end up with a total of 6.....ish......hee hee

All good choices but why not 2 of each In my experience with raising when I had one of a breed, it always ended up "odd man out" ... You're thinking one of each so that may work out, never tried that. I go by the "birds of a feather flock together", another form of Chicken Math, ha ha

 

[MizzClucker]

Yes, I am really interested in Wyandottes but unfortunately this breeder doesn’t have any.

Wyandottes and chanteclers are actually not as easy to come by as one would think. So I’m just going to stick with 2 or 3 from a few breeds from this same breeder so I have variety but I’m also not running all around the countryside collecting chicks.

I have heard good things about the buff orp Roos. I will probably be getting a total of 10-12, and I believe they are straight run so I’m sure I will have a few roosters to choose from. The rest will have to go....somewhere.

Here is the list of chicks she’s got. Friendly and calm are the biggest factor here, cold hearty a close second as we do have a heated and insulated coop.

Spitzhaubens
Bielefelders
Ameraucanas (blue, black, splash)
Welsummers
Black Copper Marans
Belgian Malines
Barnevelder
Euskal Oiloas
Australorps

 

[moniquem]

All good choices but why not 2 of each In my experience with raising when I had one of a breed, it always ended up "odd man out" ... You're thinking one of each so that may work out, never tried that. I go by the "birds of a feather flock together", another form of Chicken Math, ha ha

Please dont tempt me.......My coop could probably handle that many at 88 sqf but my run may be a little small is only going to be about 8X12, 96 sqf...