need opinions about possible flock expansion

[fzouk]

I have a flock of 14 Silver Spangled Hamburgs (well plus 1 gold laced wyandotte all by herself) and I consider it a mistake getting a whole flock of them because they act EXACTLY like guineas and I didn't sign on for guineas- they're just so wild. From what I hear one or two mixed into a flock do OK but an entire flock of them and they go native. They're friendly enough as long as I don't move suddenly or reach out to one, but very much UNdomesticated. I've already posted about them not sleeping in the coop and how to fix it, and basically these chickens just don't follow the "normal chicken" laws of behavior and they all still sleep in the trees. They don't come in the coop EVER except to grab the quickest of drinks when they're dying of thirst and they're immediately out again. If they're laying eggs I have no idea because they live their entire lives out in the woods.

So- I want some normal chickens, the most docile, domesticated chickens I can find that will lay eggs where I can get to them and not be so skittish. I have 1 rooster now and I'm wondering if I'm getting a group of chickens with TOTALLY different personalities, I guess I'd probably need to get them their own rooster, right? I wouldn't want the SSH rooster bullying the domestic hens into sleeping outside when their natures will probably lead them to sleep inside. When I had 2 wyandottes they always slept inside until one of them got eaten, now I just have one and she moved out with the hamburgs into the trees.

What would you all suggest? It's kind of a vague question, I realize, I'm just trying to go about this the best way since those hamburgs are just strange and they don't do anything that chickens are "supposed" to do. I've tried to seek out people with lots of SSH experience but can't seem to find anyone. So I want to get some 'normal' chickens to go with my tick patrol (those hamburgs are EXCELLENT bug eaters no matter what other problems they give me)

Thanks!
Frances

 

[ARchick]

I would suggest getting you a flock consisting of barred rocks, production reds & maybe some buff orpingtons. My favorite are my barred rocks & production reds. Excellent layers & very friendly.

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Reds are always very friendly.

 

[TipsyDog]

My barred rocks jump in my lap and tell me all about their day! I have 1 SSH and that is a skitish bird. She runs away from me, but because she's the only one, she's never done what yours have. She stays with my "real" chickens.

My Rhode Island Reds are OK, but surprisingly I have 2 brown leghorns that are quite friendly also. I do spend WAAAYYY too much time with those chickens though

Overall, I'd go with the barred rocks. They're my favorite (so far...)

 

[gottalovemychickens]

Quote:
my Black Astras are asses to me LOL except for one it follows me everywhere

 

[ging3rhoffman]

What i would do is go to craigslist and sell your chickens (which i did and was so happy that i did) Then get exactly what you want. You cant do without a couple or few Easter Egger chickens, they are so sweet and collecting those colored eggs each day make my whole day. I love the Buff Orpingtons and the Silver Lace wyandottes are sweet and beautiful too. I will list what i have, they all get along and i love seeing all the different colors in my flock and all the different colors of eggs in my basket, which i keep on my kitchen table and admire.

9 Easter Eggers << wish i had more
2 Buff Orpingtons
2 Black Aussies
2 Silver Lace Wyandottes
2 Rhode Island Reds
2 welsummers
1 white rock hen (she was rescued out fo the meat pen) we call her marshmellow and she is so neat. A real joy to have. They all get along...of course after they establish the pecking order.

All these girls are mellow and sweet.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

One thing you will want to do is to raise your new chicks in their coop so they know exactly where their home is. My girls go in by themselves every night around 8:30 now. I just shut the run door and they go in the coop and get on their roost.

 

[chickiedoodle]

I agree that the first best thing will be to raise them in the coop. Having the chicken know where home is solves all kinds of problems. Our RIRs lay well, but are not as docile as most people's seem to be. I love, love, love Orpingtons--they are sweet and cuddly. I also like our Silver Laced Wyandotes and Marans. Also, try looking at the library. When we were looking for chickens, we actually got several books about the different breeds and picked ones that were labeled "good for families" since we have kids, as well as ones that would give us the widest range of egg color. We were not disappointed except with our SLW rooster, who is not long for this world because he attacks us all.

But they all lay in the nest boxes and put themselves to bed every night.

 

[patandchickens]

I had a slightly similar situation to yours -- I had half a dozen Campines who turned out to be waaaaaay too whackadoodle for my nerves to take. "The sky is falling, the sky is falling, aaauuugh!".

For me the antidote was Speckled Sussex. They are like the Quarter Horses of the chicken world IMO (this is a GOOD thing, btw, if you are not a horse person

). They are calm and sensible and 'normal', and friendly with people, and do not see conspiracies everywhere or monsters behind every dust speck.

My mistake was keeping one of the campines b/c the sussex roo was very attached to her (albeit attached with, uh, a specific part of his body). Fortunately her mutt offspring inherited her looks but *sussex* brains, so they have their heads screwed on straight and at least the pullet and one cockerel can probably stay

Good luck,

Pat

 

[Jenski]

Hey, why don't you contact theswede - - he and his wife raise lots of Buff Orpingtons north of Murfreesboro. They are a great multi-purpose bird, good layers, docile.