Need Help Deciding On What Breeds to Add to My Flock

[SunnySkyFarm]

Hi everybody, I've been wanting to add more chickens to my flock. I joined here hoping I could learn more about individual breeds that would be good for me.

I have a total of 3.2 acres. Inside the coop there are three roosts, each about 2 feet long. In the run there are 3 roosts each about 1 foot long and 3 roosts each about 2 feet long. How many chickens could I possibly fit in that coop if I had all standard-size? How many if I had a couple bantams like Silkies and Cochins?

I want good egg-layers, at least 3/wk. I live in Connecticut, so I need cold hardy birds. Both cold and heat hardy birds would be great since Connecticut summers can get hot. Not a necessity but a bird with pretty plumage would be great. Sweet and docile birds are a must, since I have younger siblings that love to cuddle the hens. I would absolutely LOVE birds with quirky personalities! Before I moved out of the city one of my neighbor's chickens, a White Leghorn, had the quirkiest personality and I just loved it!

Right now I have 5 Rhode Island Reds and will be getting a Salmon Faverolle rooster soon. Can anybody tell me about the temperament of Faverolle roosters from experience? I've heard they are sweet and docile towards people, and good with and protect their hens?

Some breeds I have been looking at:
Starred are the ones I like a lot.

Leghorn: I love the Exchequer variety. They are good egg layers I heard? Only drawback I see is they are flighty.
*Australorp: Heard they are good layers?
*Plymouth Rock: Like the White, Barred, and Partridge varieties.
*Sussex: Like the Speckled variety.
Orpington: Like the Buff, Blue, Lavender, and Chocolate varieties.
Delaware: Don't know much about this breed except they lay big eggs and are rare?
Wyandotte: Like the Silver Laced and Golden Laced varieties.
*Marans: Like the Splash variety. I also love the appeal of dark brown eggs.
*Faverolle (hen): Like the Salmon variety. Heard the hens are docile and good egg layers?
*Easter Egger: I love that they are all different pretty plumages and how they lay blue or green eggs.

And I was thinking about hybrids such as Red and Black Sex-Links or Amber Links?
Maybe a true Ameraucana breed like Wheaten?

I definitely want some Cochins/Cochin bantams. As broodies and pets.
Maybe some Silkie bantams considering I would like to show.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Do your birds roost in the run at night? If not, then it doesn't matter what's out there.
12" of roost space is good per bird. After they're friends they'll crowd more but that's a good place to start.
Floor space and ventilation in square foot are probably more important considerations.
RIRs tend to be the bullies in a mixed flock, especially with new birds.
Most of the breeds you mention would probably be at the bottom of the pecking order.
I haven't had Faverolles or Sussex but friends that have liked them.
The others are all good choices.
I can add 3 more breeds. Jersey Giants(black, blue and white), Penedesencas, and Jaerhons (probably the best cold and heat hardy bird IMO)
The Penedesencas won't be lap pets but won't attack either.
Orps, Aorps, Delawares, Penedesencas(black variety), Brahmas, Cochins and Cubalayas are good broodies.

 

[SunnySkyFarm]

Our RIRs free-range with our neighbor's flock of 8 Amber-Links every day and the Amber-Links dominate over them!

 

[Folly's place]

I've had three Favorelle roosters, all sweet boys showing no human aggression at all. They were dominated by every othe cockrel around, even the bantam boys! Hens: the favorelles are really nice but may be bullied by those RIRs; LOVE Speckled Sussex hens, very people friendly! Australorps are reliable layers. Egg color variety is great. Americaunas or EEs, Marans, Welsummers, all really nice. Leghorns are BUSY birds, not actually favorites of mine. Wyandottes are nice and come in beautiful colors too. I personally am not a fan of hybrids or sex linked. I would rather order straight run chicks, and not worry about excess cockrels at the hatchery. Bantams are fun! I've had a small flock of Belgian d"Uccles for over 20 years; cute! broody! lotsa little eggs! My Cochin bantam cockrels wanted to kill each other; not a good experience. Brahma bantams are really really nice. Silkies are special needs birds, can't fly' difficult in heat and cold, and mine were dumb as rocks. Enjoy! Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I've had three Favorelle roosters, all sweet boys showing no human aggression at all. They were dominated by every othe cockrel around, even the bantam boys! Hens: the favorelles are really nice but may be bullied by those RIRs; LOVE Speckled Sussex hens, very people friendly! Australorps are reliable layers. Egg color variety is great. Americaunas or EEs, Marans, Welsummers, all really nice. Leghorns are BUSY birds, not actually favorites of mine. Wyandottes are nice and come in beautiful colors too. I personally am not a fan of hybrids or sex linked. I would rather order straight run chicks, and not worry about excess cockrels at the hatchery. Bantams are fun! I've had a small flock of Belgian d"Uccles for over 20 years; cute! broody! lotsa little eggs! My Cochin bantam cockrels wanted to kill each other; not a good experience. Brahma bantams are really really nice. Silkies are special needs birds, can't fly' difficult in heat and cold, and mine were dumb as rocks. Enjoy! Mary

 

[piglett]

well i'll ad this
with the amount of land you have i would say you should be free ranging
saves on the feed a bunch & the chickens will eat every tick & fly they can get their beaks on
now having said that hybrid chickens may have a tough time if something with big teath shows up
why is that? well they have been breed so they are ez to catch , after all time is money
redstars are used on mega chicken farms
if you buy eggs at a store there is a good chance that those eggs came from a hybrid redstar
good luck trying to catch my buff orpington hens
if they don't know you they will not ley you near them

now i'm not saying they are bad birds
just that if the foxes start showing up your redtstars will not last long

i myself like a DP bird good for the table good at laying
so i have a flock of buff orpingtons & another flock of imported english orpingtons


good luck
piglett