Looking to change up my flock.

[Sjeane]

i currently have 7 Ameraucanas with 2 roosters (one sexlink/wyandotte mix and the other i believe is a production red) i have had them for 4-5 months(that is how long they have been laying i mean) or so and i enjoy getting the green/blue eggs but they are extremely flighty and crazy acting, Last week i had one fly up and knock my glasses off of me while i was trying to gather eggs. i suppose that is what really made me want to change my breed. My father in law is making the move to all Cochins, which i think they are very pretty birds and very gentle. i was just curious if any of you fine people had any input on which breed i should order. i aim on ordering a dual purpose breed, that is easier going than an ameraucana. i had heard good things about Production reds, but their "cannibalism" i had read about kind of had me deterred. Any input is appreciated would be ordering from Ideal poultry.

Also for those curious, i only had the sexlink roo for breeding purposes, but he seems to be infertile. had him on my old flock that was wiped out by a fox, i have had 4 hens brood at separate times and every egg rotted :/ so he will also be leaving the flock. the production red roo i planned on keeping IF i ordered production reds or RiR's, but if ideal mistakenly sends me a cockerel he will be replaced.

 

[mindylee]

I had all kinds of breeds. I went into Cochin's a few yes ago and will never own another breed besides silkies and chocolate English orphingtons.

 

[Sjeane]

Thanks for your input! i am looking to breed/raise future chicks for sale and for the freezer, had heard silkies were some of the best broody moms in the poultry world and was definitely wanting to have atleast one of those pretty birds in my new flock. have been looking at some New Hampshire Reds and they look pretty nice, have been reading up on several breeds and there are oh so many dual purpose breeds that i like.

 

[Michael OShay]

You are right about the temperament of Cochins. They are very calm and gentle birds; their only downside is that they are not very good layers. Buff Orpingtons are similar in size to Cochins, just as calm and gentle, and better layers. Black Australorps are a little smaller than Cochins and Orpingtons, but have the same calm, gentle temperament (not surprising since they were originally bred using Orpington stock) and lay even better (the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds). Other calm, gentle breeds are Brahmas (slightly larger than Cochins) and Faverolles. The lay rate of both of these breeds is about the same as the Orpingtons, but their eggs tend to run a little smaller. Whatever breed you switch to, good luck with your flock.

 

[Sjeane]

thanks! speaking of faverolles i had one i had gotten in an assorted order, she was such a sweet timid little chicken, she brooded once, and died after she was done sadly, no clue as to why, no visible wounds or anything *shrug* first chicken i had to just drop like that. very good information here