My first flock... did I get too many different breeds?

[Newyorkrita]

Lots of people start with a wide variety of breeds.

Some always keep a wide variety and/or end up with a "barnyard mix" flock that suits them. Others discover that they have a few favorites and narrow down to just those.

Yes, exactly. Get what you like and it will all work itself out.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I just got the chicks for my first flock and my thinking was to have a few different breeds so I can see which I like best.

Here is what I have:
3- Swedish Flower Hens (1 Roo, 2 gals)
3- Blue laced red Wyandotte
3 - lavender Orpington
1 - Black sex link
1 - Olive Egger
2 - Sapphire Olive Egger
1- Dark Brahma
1- Light Brahma
Is this going to be a weird flock? Will I get some good crosses if I breed my SFH Roo with any of these (besides the SFH hens)? I’m new to having chickens and am just hoping I made good choices!

I think that a lot of different breeds is a good thing, my family flock has all different breeds (mostly because we want to tell them apart because we have them as pets) and we love the variety of eggs. I don’t know anything about breeding, but I hope you have fun with your flock!

 

[Trisseh]

I did much the same when I got my chicks and hatched some eggs last year. I only really had experienced production type birds and wasn’t sure what I was going to want for qualities in my more permanent flock that would be around (hopefully) a lot longer.
Once I figured out what worked for me and my climate, I’ve narrowed it down to who I’m keeping and who I’m not. You can’t always go just by breed, either, as they’re always exceptions to every rule. As an example, I personally don’t like Easter eggers, all of the ones I had were aggressive and flighty and just not what I wanted. Others have EE that they love and that aren’t this way at all.

I think it’s excellent to start with a variety so you know what you like and what works for you, and what you don’t and what doesn’t.

 

[mraeirish]

I love all those breeds!! You are going to have a great flock. Nice choice on the SFH for your rooster. I hope all of your SFH make it to adulthood. If you can pinpoint which eggs come from them, you will be able to sell purebred SFH. (That is, if you can bear to part with them.) I charged more for my SFH chicks last year, and they were always the first to sell. There is also a market for cheap chicks, so you will find that Backyard Mix sells well too.

I was thinking that if I were going to do any purebreds the SFH would be the ones. I was thinking I could probably just separate them with the rooster for a bit to gather up their eggs for hatching.

 

[mraeirish]

I did much the same when I got my chicks and hatched some eggs last year. I only really had experienced production type birds and wasn’t sure what I was going to want for qualities in my more permanent flock that would be around (hopefully) a lot longer.
Once I figured out what worked for me and my climate, I’ve narrowed it down to who I’m keeping and who I’m not. You can’t always go just by breed, either, as they’re always exceptions to every rule. As an example, I personally don’t like Easter eggers, all of the ones I had were aggressive and flighty and just not what I wanted. Others have EE that they love and that aren’t this way at all.

I think it’s excellent to start with a variety so you know what you like and what works for you, and what you don’t and what doesn’t.

We live in a pretty cold climate so I’m kind of thinking along the lines of ‘survival of the fittest’. I’m sure there will be a breed or two who are best suited for our climate and forest foraging.

 

[mraeirish]

I love all those breeds!! You are going to have a great flock. Nice choice on the SFH for your rooster. I hope all of your SFH make it to adulthood. If you can pinpoint which eggs come from them, you will be able to sell purebred SFH. (That is, if you can bear to part with them.) I charged more for my SFH chicks last year, and they were always the first to sell. There is also a market for cheap chicks, so you will find that Backyard Mix sells well too.

Hey @Finnie. I’m curious... how much did you sell your SFH chicks for?

 

[ParsleyandChia]

I just got the chicks for my first flock and my thinking was to have a few different breeds so I can see which I like best.

Here is what I have:
3- Swedish Flower Hens (1 Roo, 2 gals)
3- Blue laced red Wyandotte
3 - lavender Orpington
1 - Black sex link
1 - Olive Egger
2 - Sapphire Olive Egger
1- Dark Brahma
1- Light Brahma
Is this going to be a weird flock? Will I get some good crosses if I breed my SFH Roo with any of these (besides the SFH hens)? I’m new to having chickens and am just hoping I made good choices!

No, I don't think so! the more the merrier.
Also, it will give you a wide variety of eggs to choose from, you could use one for cooking cakes and things like that. You could have some for just the basic things like scrambled eggs, and have some for hatching (or all of them if you don't eat eggs)

 

[BleuSaphir]

It only too much if we’re not offering much space for many chickens!

your list sound varied of many unique breeds.

 

[Finnie]

Hey @Finnie. I’m curious... how much did you sell your SFH chicks for?

I started at $7 each, and after a while I bumped it up to $8 each. I usually sell my mix breed for $3 each

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

You can never have to many breeds! I have 11-12 different breeds of standard chicks and 12 different breeds of bantam chicks currently. I had 5 different breeds before, and the chickens don’t care, they usually all get along very well!