need opinions about possible flock expansion

[fzouk]

Thank you thank you for the responses!!! I'm glad to see breed suggestions that have worked well for real people because I got my hamburg info from books, online and stuff and they did NOT turn out to be what I expected, so I would trust real peoples' experience more.

I raised the SSHs in the coop (these guys just don't follow the rules!) and will do the same with the new chickens too. I'll keep the hamburgs because they are incredible bug eaters- I got them to take care of my tick problem and they have done it 100% so I love them for that, I'll just find a few normal chickens to go along with them. I'm curious how two opposite natured flocks of chickens will interact with each other!

Thanks, guys for all the info!!! I'll compare Craigslist offers with this list because I want some good, mellow chickens. I love the EE idea, too- I'd LOVE some multi-colored eggs... I think that would make me very happy. ging3erhoffman: I love how you set yours on the table to admire them- that made me smile.

Plus maybe some of the others on here too. I've got tons of room, luckily, and the hamburgs cost me nothing as far as food and stuff since they seem to get everything they need outside. This will be fun starting a 2nd flock! Thanks!!!!

Frances

 

[chookchick]

I vote also for the the Speckled Sussex--I have one and she is very "sensible", not flighty at all, totally motivated by Foood. The easter eggers can be all over the map as far as personality, because they are basically mutts, but they are really fun to watch feather out and lay colored eggs. The buff orps seem to be the most "family friendly" and reliable and orpingtons come in other colors also. I'd be careful about those SSH teaching your chickens bad habits--like sleeping in trees--I'm sure mine would do that with a little peer pressure.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I think Ameraucanas (and EE's) are the most friendly and inquisitive of all my breeds; and by far the sweetest are from the eggs I got from seabrightmom. They came in bright blue eggs and not only come right up to us but insist on being petted.

 

[fzouk]

Do you all thnk it would be worth waiting until I have fewer hamburgs so that the majority would be 'coop birds' and the tree sleeping ones would be in the minority- that way there wouldn't be the peer pressure? My problem is that if I wanted to sell them off I'd never be able to catch them since they never go in the coop, so I can't shut them in. I can't wait until night because they roost WAAAY up in the tops of the enormous trees- so I could never reach them. I guess I'd have to wait until they died of natural causes. Would it be worth waiting? I'd sure hate for the new ones to come under the influence of my wild creatures, but I wonder if I kept them (new ones) in the coop for a good long while and got them their own rooster if he'd keep them acting right. Hmmmm