New to chickens - looking to start with 4 - which breeds?

[trchri]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful replies!

It was so hard to choose. I am now somewhat regretful that the barred rock did not make the final list. Maybe I should get 5 birds!

We decided on:

1 Araucana
1 Buff Orpington
1 Black Australorp
1 White Orpington

I think I may go back and change the White Orp to a barred rock.

Can't wait!

Update: New list - changed white orp to barred rock!

 

[briana1975]

Check out the link miss jane put up. We used that to pick breeds. It was really helpful. We are getting 4 Buff Orps, 5 Barred Rocks, and 3 Silkies because my boys fell in love with a silkie our cousin had.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Dominiques - did anyone list Dominiques? They are so sweet, good layers, very pretty, very cold hardy.
Silkies - the cuteness factor.

 

[HorseFeathers]

I think one of each! Easter Eggers are a sort of "breed": techically they are mutts, but they are bred for specific qualities... does that make sense? We have had all the breeds you listed in your above post except for the White Orp and LOVED them... we love our BR too! I think those are four great breeds to have, an EE, an Aussie, a BO, and a BR. Good luck on your chickens!

 

[CATRAY44]

My Barred Rock gives me a humungo egg almost every day... my Red Sex links rarely ever miss a day- nice brown eggs...My RIR, the same. Looking forward to seeing what my Splash Orp. does! My bantam cochins lay almost every day, as well. They did stop in the coldest months. My Sex Links chugged them out all winter, even without lights or heat!

 

[CATRAY44]

Chickens are like Jellybellies, the more variety the better, lol.

 

[CityClucks]

Yea! I'm glad you're getting a Barred Rock - they're my favorite!!

 

[mhaines4102]

I know it is a little late now, but I am a huge deleware fan. Ours lays huge eggs and is as gentle and friendly as any we've seen. But now we raise leghorns too, most other chickens seem pretty docile to us. But seriously, our Delaware lays 7 days a week. We get double yokers about twice a week and the eggs are jumbo size.

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

Darn it all, now you're all making me rethink my choices. We ordered 4 different breeds for our min. 15 chick order. I wish I'd done 6 or 7!

 

[CityClucks]

Ha! See how we are on BYC? Like us, you will soon want one of every kind!