If you were going to pick ONE.....

[amazondoc]

Hi again y'all!

I'm still playing with ideas for my future flock. I'm currently intending to get several different breeds with a couple hens each, so I can have a variety of colors to look at.

HOWEVER --

Maybe, instead, I will get 8-15 hens of ONE breed -- but in several different color varieties.

I've noticed that some breeds -- like Wyandottes -- come in a lot of colors, while others -- like Orpingtons in the US -- don't. I like most things about the Wyandottes, but the rose comb doesn't much appeal to me. I also like the Cochins but not their feathered feet, and I like the Orpingtons but not the restricted color choices (in this country).

So, if you were going to pick ONE breed but you wanted a variety of colors, what would you pick? My current list of favorites from surfing the net is as follows, in no particular order:

Wyandotte
Cochin
Orpington
Ameraucana/EE
Plymouth Rock
Sussex
Welsummer
New Hampshire Red

My favorite hen colors are as follows:

partridge
gold laced
silver laced
black
silver pencilled

My general goal is a flock of calm friendly chickens that will lay a reasonable number of eggs and will tolerate a completely enclosed chicken yard with coop in the climate of middle Tennessee.

What single breed would maximize my pleasure? Thanks for any input!

 

[Alleyoops25]

Cochins are awesome they are incredibly calm, and they do have many colors. But it is my experience that they ar not heavy layers. if you want a bred that is good for laying and meat i would go with the plymoth rocks.

You know you shouldnt ask us to pick just one. I think everyone is like me, and has to pick a few out of every bred available at the feed store. Chicks are like pringles, you cant have just one. Good luck you have a lot of really good looking chickens on that list. I would also think you would like the sussex. i had a hen of that breed and she was a pretty girl. i loved her.

 

[MissPrissy]

If I could only have one breed of chickens I would pick the orpingtons. I prefer big, fluffy, sassy chickens and this breed certainly is! hatchery birds are not nearly as nice as breeder birds. They come in different colors too - buff, white, black, blue, splash - the buffs are gentile birds too.

 

[KKluckers]

Hands down large fowl Orpingtons. I have blue/black/splash/buff and soon to be white

They are the perfect bird for someone with small kids. They are not flighty and usually are very sweet birds.

 

[herechickchick]

I would choose the Sussex but obtaining the different colors would be hard. If I were you and I was just starting out I would go with the Wyandotte. They are beautiful, winter hardy and great layers AND they come in all of the colors you listed as well as others such as Blue Laced Red, Blue, Black, Splash and Buff!

Good Luck!

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

I am still in love with my buff orpingtons and will hatch some more in the future.

 

[equine chick]

I would either go with the orpingtons or marans. I know you didnot list marans. They are my favorite and they come in many colors, you might just have to look a little.

 

[amazondoc]

Thanks to everyone for their input so far.

If only the Wyandottes came with single combs, I'd go with them in a heartbeat. But I just don't like that rose comb. Maybe I should just get used to it!

OTOH, maybe I'll stick with the mixed flock idea. Or maybe I'll figure out how to import all those beautiful Orpington colors from the UK!

So many chickens, so little space!

 

[AussieSharon]

Since I just hatched Welsummers they would be my pick... only problem is you aren't going to get a variety of colors..... just lovely dark eggs

 

[Redfeathers]

I love my Orpington girls. They are so sweet and yet such little boogers.