hi y'all

Are there any breeds to avoid? Super noisy? Aggressive? Can you put multiple breeds of hens in one coop? Or do they have to all be separate?

You can put multiple breeds in one coop, particularly if they are docile breeds. Game breeds tend to be aggressive. Mediterranean breeds like Leghorns, Minorcas, Anconas, etc. tend to be high strung ,flighty, and noisy. Most dual purpose breeds are docile although sometimes Rhode Island Reds can be aggressive (especially the roosters). Breeds like Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes are normally docile, although I've occasionally had to cull one from my flock for aggression. Easter Eggers (often incorrectly marketed by hatcheries as Ameraucanas or Araucanas) are normally docile, but don't usually like being handled (there are exceptions) and can be very noisy. The crested breeds like Polish and Houdans are normally docile but because of their head crests and poor vision tend to get badly bullied by other full sized breeds. Sex Links (both Black and Red varieties) are generally friendly and docile egg laying machines, but they can be really noisy at times. The English breeds (Australorps, Orpingtons, Sussex, etc.) and the Asiatic breeds (all gentle giants such as Brahmas, Cochins, and Langshangs) are almost always calm and quiet (for chickens), and very cold hardy to boot. You would not likely have temperament problems with any breeds from these two classes.
 
Not sure about breeds to avoid but do know you can put many different breeds together. If you do, make sure they are young and grow up together, that's the easiest way. If you integrate at an older age you need to slowly introduce to your already made flock.
 
Foghorn leghorn always annoyed me on Looney Toons. I wouldn't want him or his family. I would have to get the dog and chicken hawk to go with him anyway. Can't have one without the others lol.
I was browsing good chickens and the Black Sex (that name just stuck out) looked like a nice chicken and it said they're good layers. I want good layers to start. Then I would need to know which ones taste best on the grill slathered in BBQ sauce after getting going and raising some for dinner :) Yum!
I, personally stay away from Leghorn roosters. I do b/c they're almost always rather aggressive; you might want to b/c they can be very noisy.
Wyandottes are really friendly and come in bantam. Are you leaving forward bantam or lathe fowl (aka standard breeds)?

Edited to correct my punctuation. :oops:
 
Not sure about breeds to avoid but do know you can put many different breeds together. If you do, make sure they are young and grow up together, that's the easiest way. If you integrate at an older age you need to slowly introduce to your already made flock. 
oh I was thinking just getting random chicks that are all supposed to be good layers for starts. Grow them up, get them laying and then move on to raising my supper.
 
Welcome to Backyard chickens. Silkies are not the greatest layers but, they are among the best broodies. When a hen goes broody, she decides to sit on her eggs and hatch them. You can even swap out their eggs and put in fertile eggs of some other breed you would like to try. You can't make a hen go broody, it is a hormonal thing. Many people buy silky hens just to get natural incubators. Silkies are always very popular with children - usually docile and quiet. Many will allow themselves to be dressed up and pushed in strollers. They come in several colors and are just beautiful.


PS you do need a silkie rooster to fertilize the eggs if you intend to raise pure silkie chicks.
 
Foghorn leghorn always annoyed me on Looney Toons. I wouldn't want him or his family. I would have to get the dog and chicken hawk to go with him anyway. Can't have one without the others lol.
I was browsing good chickens and the Black Sex (that name just stuck out) looked like a nice chicken and it said they're good layers. I want good layers to start. Then I would need to know which ones taste best on the grill slathered in BBQ sauce after getting going and raising some for dinner :) Yum!

Yes, sex links are good layers. :)
There are several dual purpose breeds out there. (eggs and meat) New Hampshire Red is one.
You can check out several hatchery websites and do a chick search.
Lemme get out my computer so I can give you some links.
 
I was browsing good chickens and the Black Sex (that name just stuck out) looked like a nice chicken and it said they're good layers. I want good layers to start.
Black Sex Links are egg laying machines, and they are generally very friendly and docile, although they can be very noisy at times. They are my personal favorite chickens. I've raised them for years (along with dozens of other breeds and hybrids), and they have been my best layers, consistently churning out more than 300 eggs per hen per year. Just keep in mind that they are hybrids and not a true breed which means that they will not breed true. That means that you will have to replace your stock by ordering from hatcheries that breed them.
 
I have ordered from Meyer hatchery twice and I'm placing another order to get chicks in the spring. They have great customer service and the chicks I got are very healthy. I ordered New Hampshire Reds from them both times.
www.meyerhatchery.com

I have heard very good things about Murray McMurray; however, I have heard the beginnings of rumors this year that they're not as good as they used to be. Also, I'm not impressed with the info I've gotten on breeds from them, but here's the link anyway, just b/c they have sex-links and they might have the best price and sex-links are usually pretty hearty chicks, so it's not like you'd be ordering some super sensitive specialty breed from them:
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

Other sources are Ideal Poultry and the other one just left my head. I'm sorry. When I think of it, I'll send it to you.

Oh, I got my sex-links (and Leghorn pullets and (accidentally) my Cochin Frizzle Bantam) from the local feed store (in my case it was TSC). They have "Chick Days" every year. You can go down there and see the little chicks pecking round the watering troughs and choose the chicks you want and pick up the supplies you will need right there in person. You might get a better deal ordering from a hatchery and getting some kind of package with the chicks and a brooder starter kit type thing.
 

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