I have 10 (each a different breed); which 6 do I keep?

[SalsaChick]

Hi Folks,
Mix and match: pick 6, ONLY 6
Assumptions:
* 6 hens
* All same hatch date (7/18th)
* hand raised together
* urban backyard
* San Francisco Bay Area (maybe 2 weeks in the 90s in late September; otherwise mild year round)
* coop: 13 square feet
* attached, enclosed run: 82 sq feet
GOALS:
* entertaining pets (but choose quiet and boring over noisy and fun)
* low conflict… I have learned my lesson; I’m never introducing new hens into an existing flock. This is my do-over.
* colorful egg basket

So much depends on individual temperament, but I’ll need to rehome a few gals in a couple of weeks. Which 6 would you KEEP? (As much as I would like to keep them all, I cannot.)
A) cream legbar
B) black copper marans
C) green queen Easter egger bantam
D) Favaucana
E) mottled Cochin bantam
F) buff silkie bantam
G) silver spangled Hamburg
H) golden buff (red star)
I) Swedish flower
J) Mille fleur d’Uccle bantam

THANKS!

 

[21hens-incharge]

What is your climate like?
Knowing where on the planet you are will greatly help people to help you choose.

That said your coop is barely big enough for 3 and your run for 8.

 

[SalsaChick]

What is your climate like?
Knowing where on the planet you are will greatly help people to help you choose.

That said your coop is barely big enough for 3 and your run for 8.

Thanks; updated to include location. Which 4 would you choose?

 

[cherrynberry]

Hi Folks,
Mix and match: pick 6, ONLY 6
Assumptions:
* 6 hens
* All same hatch date (7/18th)
* hand raised together
* urban backyard
* San Francisco Bay Area
* coop: 13 square feet
* attached, enclosed run: 82 sq feet
GOALS:
* entertaining pets (but choose quiet and boring over noisy and fun)
* low conflict… I have learned my lesson; I’m never introducing new hens into an existing flock. This is my do-over.
* colorful egg basket

So much depends on individual temperament, but I’ll need to rehome a few gals in a couple of weeks. Which 6 would you KEEP? (As much as I would like to keep them all, I cannot.)
A) cream legbar
B) black copper marans
C) green queen Easter egger bantam
D) Favaucana
E) mottled Cochin bantam
F) buff silkie bantam
G) silver spangled Hamburg
H) golden buff (red star)
I) Swedish flower
J) Mille fleur d’Uccle bantam

THANKS!

I would keep the standard hens and rehome the bantams.

 

[Chookwagn]

Cochins and D'Uccles, Keep a trio of each

forget the rest

your welcome

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks; updated to include location. Which 4 would you choose?

I cannot pick 4 for a coop that can only house 3.

If you want colorful eggs the 3 I would recommend would be the legbar, the Marans and the favacauna.

A Hamburg is rather small as in almost bantam in size. The bigs can be pushy and mean to smaller birds.

 

[LaFleche]

I think with your tight space (urban backyard) you have two choices:

Keep the three standard sized birds which will produce a nice and colourful egg basket for you.:

BCMarans
Cream Legbar
Favaucana



Or keep 4 of the bantam breeds (egg basket not so colourful):

Green Queen Easter Egger bantam
Mille fleur d’Uccle bantam
Mottled Cochin bantam
Silkie bantam
Swedish Flower

I would not keep the silverspangled Hamburg as they are very agile and need a lot of space to roam freely.
And I would not keep the Golden Buff (red star), as these high production hybrids are prone to issues of their reproductive system.

 

[CluckerFamily]

With your coop size, I choose all bantams.

 

[Kiki]

May I ask why you got 10 to begin with if you couldn't keep them all.

 

[SalsaChick]

I think with your tight space (urban backyard) you have two choices:

Keep the three standard sized birds which will produce a nice and colourful egg basket for you.:

BCMarans
Cream Legbar
Favaucana



Or keep 4 of the bantam breeds (egg basket not so colourful):

Green Queen Easter Egger bantam
Mille fleur d’Uccle bantam
Mottled Cochin bantam
Silkie bantam
Swedish Flower

I would not keep the silverspangled Hamburg as they are very agile and need a lot of space to roam freely.
And I would not keep the Golden Buff (red star), as these high production hybrids are prone to issues of their reproductive system.

Thank you!