mixed flock suggestions? *Newbie*

[WaterGoat]

Hi! I'm just getting started and am trying to figure out which breeds to start out with. I'd really like a mixed flock because I'd like a variety of egg colors and pretty chooks to look at, but I've read there can be issues with certain breeds being picked on because they're naturally more docile. I also was interested in having some bantams but I'm wondering how they fare mixed in with standard sized hens. They'll mostly be in a run with some supervised free-range time. I'm planning on a small flock of 3-6 hens. I live in a fairly cool temperate climate where it rarely gets over 70F in the summer or below 30F in the winter.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Bantams and largefowl can get along you must choose breeds of bantams that will be able to hold their own with the large fowl.
I have a mixed flock of bantams and large fowl and they get along just fine. You may want to start with largefowl and add bantams in a season or two.
Stay away from Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks as they tend to be more dominant to other breeds.

For a nice colorful egg basket get some true Ameraucanas for blue eggs, some Leghorns for white eggs, maybe some Orpingtons, Brahmas, or Faverolles for brown eggs, and a Marans for dark brown eggs.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

You want 1 marans, 1 ameraucana, 1 australorp, 1 leghorn, 1 ayam cemani and 1 polish tolbunt frizzle. XD Colors on the marans, ameracucana and leghorn to taste.

Well, at least that's what I'D want if I could only have 6 hens no roos.

More practically, the first four are good options for colorful egg baskets and generally hardy birds, the other two could be whatever.

 

[Alexandra33]

You can absolutely mix bantams and standards. Chances of success are even greater if they're raised together.

Brahma has brought up some wonderful breeds to start with. To that list of suggestions, I'd add Welsummers for an abundance of terra cotta to chocolate eggs, and possibly Olive Eggers for mossy green. Easter Eggers would provide a rainbow, mainly comprised of blue, mint green, or blue-ish green eggs.

~Alex

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

You can absolutely mix bantams and standards. Chances of success are even greater if they're raised together.

Brahma has brought up some wonderful breeds to start with. To that list of suggestions, I'd add Welsummers for an abundance of terra cotta to chocolate eggs, and possibly Olive Eggers for mossy green. Easter Eggers would provide a rainbow, mainly comprised of blue, mint green, or blue-ish green eggs.

~Alex

Yes Easter Eggers are a great choice but you may want to get 3 for colored eggs and then some white and brown egg layers. Welsummers will add some lovely color to your flock as well.

I’ve even had bantams that weren’t raised together coexist perfectly.
Jane my rescued Frizzle Bantam hen is the alpha in my flock. She whooped the 3 large fowl hens’ butts the day she met them.

 

[Alexandra33]

Yes Easter Eggers are a great choice but you may want to get 3 for colored eggs and then some white and brown egg layers.

Jane my rescued Frizzle Bantam hen is the alpha in my flock. She whooped the 3 large fowl hens’ butts the day she met them.

What bantams lack in size, they more than make up for in attitude!

~Alex

 

[WaterGoat]

I’ve even had bantams that weren’t raised together coexist perfectly.
Jane my rescued Frizzle Bantam hen is the alpha in my flock. She whooped the 3 large fowl hens’ butts the day she met them.

LOL! That’s hilarious! That’s good to hear though. I worried that they’d be picked on since they were smaller. Frizzles are super cute too!