Looking to get three - six chicks?

[Araucana16]

I'll probably get them very early next spring. The traits I am looking for :

- good layer (4-6 eggs a week)
- keep on laying (if the bird only lays 3 eggs a week, but continues to lay until about age 5 or 6, I'd be very happy)
- hardy
- beautiful
- good pets

And I would like to get different types of chicks, especially if I'm only getting three. If I'm getting six, I might get only 4 different types. Preferably they should be very different looking birds.

I was thinking of getting some of the following - Araucana, Maran, maybe Silkie, Speckled Sussex, Wyandotte, and possibly RIR. I don't think that Marans and RIRs are good in climates like Colorado...

Ideas? Thanks!

- Mac

(Also, is this the right place? I think so, but I'm not sure, and I don't want to be a bother.)

 

[five is my dog]

silkies are beautiful but go broody all the time when they go broody they stop laying eggs. i love colombian rocks they are amazing layers and are very pretty. amaraucanas are good too!

 

[SobbaChickens]

I really can't offer any help, just wanted to say

and I think it's great you are planning so far ahead. I didn't look into the different kinds of breeds before I got chickens, but my chickens also were not planned

. I got my girls in early April, they stayed inside for 2ish weeks and then went out to the garage in a dog cage brooder.

At first I got 3 chicks and then after doing a bit of research I read that since chickens like to be in groups a good number for a small flock is 6 so the next day I went back and got 3 more. I'm happy with 6 and thankfully we haven't dealt with any illnesses.

I have 2 black sex links, 2 red sex links, and 2 bared rocks. I've read that the sex link chickens will produce more eggs but aren't the friendliest. My 2 BR's are our sweethearts and enjoy being petted. My 4yr old daughter thinks that she can teach them tricks lol

 

[pek]

The birds your thinking of seem to be good choices for what your looking for. I have an amaraucana (almost the same as Araucanas) that I love, she's an amazing bird, she even survived a fox attack. You also might want to consider a Columbian Rock. Or, I'm just biased as a New Englander, New Hampshire or Rhode Island Reds are really nice birds. Buckeyes are also great, but the roosters are a little crazy and they are hard to sex as chicks. Barred Rocks are wonderful, too, I had one that continued to lay at least four times a week until she was almost five. Cochins are very good birds, mine is really sweet.
I know this is a lot of info but I hope it helps! And if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask

 

[SobbaChickens]

Now that I think of it my neighbor has a small flock of americana (maybe 4-5 chickens) and she's had to start selling her eggs[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif].[/FONT]

 

[scratch'n'peck]

You might want to check out a site like Ideal Poultry that describes the breeds: http://www.ideal-poultry.com/

I ordered from them because they have a good selection of breeds and you can order just a few chicks with any combo of breeds. I suggest ordering more than three. If a couple die prematurely over the years you are left with one lonely chicken. Also it is no harder to take care of five or six chickens. I have not had direct experience with all the breeds you mention, but I have a couple of thoughts. Silkies are sweet but they are not know for being good layers and usually you cannot just order pullets for that breed. I've had good experience with Wyandottes, but I am also partial to Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks.

 

[Family Farming]

White Leg Horns will give you 5-7 extra large white eggs per week, they are very hardy, and friendly. Golden Comets will give you 5-7 extra large brown eggs per week, and they are also hardy and very friendly. Both breeds are pretty to look at and don't mind being handled.

 

[Araucana16]

Thank you so much for the tips! I am thinking of maybe making my order earlier so I can get them in a coop before this winter gets super cold. That's a great site.

Question; how many chicks from an online order can you expect to live into adulthood? If I want 6, should I order 7/8, or just 6?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Thank you so much for the tips! I am thinking of maybe making my order earlier so I can get them in a coop before this winter gets super cold. That's a great site.

Question; how many chicks from an online order can you expect to live into adulthood? If I want 6, should I order 7/8, or just 6?

When I ordered from Ideal poultry, I ordered ten and only one poor little runt did not make it, so their survival rate is pretty good.

 

[Araucana16]

I've made a decision on what I want to get!

1x RIR
1x White Leghorn
1x Australorp
1x Blue Andulasian
2x Easter Egger

Now I've just gotta clear it with some neighbors, and if all goes well, the 6 of them will arrive on August 15th, a mere 4 days before my birthday (happy birthday to me!)