Newbie...help me decide: Ameraucana/Road Island Red/Bard Rock/Buff Orpington/Black Sex Link?

[Vin]

So I live in Connecticut and want to know out of the five breeds which is best for me. I want eggs...that's it. So a hearty bird that lays thru the winter (preferably w/o lights). Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. I plan on building a mobile hen house. The five breeds are what the local country store offers. Thanks in advance.

 

[DucksAreBest]

Hello, and welcome to BackYard Chickens. Thank you for joining our community.
I don't have those breeds, but I'm sure somebody else here has them and will help you decide.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Ameraucanas are friendly and do well in cold climates due to their small pea comb. Though they aren't gonna break any records with their egg laying ability. It's about average. If you're looking for tons of eggs a production red might be the way to go. Also Ameraucanas can be difficult to get your hands on.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
The Ameraucanas in a farm store are actually Easter Eggers.
I'd go for half PBR and half BO myself.

 

[N F C]

You might want to ask the other Connecticut members what they would recommend:
Connecticut

Best of luck building a flock and coop!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck in establishing your flock.

 

[NatJ]

So I live in Connecticut and want to know out of the five breeds which is best for me. I want eggs...that's it. So a hearty bird that lays thru the winter (preferably w/o lights). Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. I plan on building a mobile hen house. The five breeds are what the local country store offers. Thanks in advance.

I would get some of each

If you wanted to have a rooster and hatch chicks, it might be nice to have only one breed so the chicks would be purebreds of one kind--but if you just want hens for eggs, then a mix is perfectly fine. And it can be fun to have a variety of chickens that are easy to tell apart from each other. The chickens themselves don't care whether they look alike or not.

Those are all good breed choices, but you will probably find that you like some kinds better than others. If you try them all, you will learn which ones YOU like best, and if you want more chickens in the future you can get more of whichever kinds are your favorites.

 

[ChickenGirl300]

Welcome!
I would say either Black Sex Links or Plymouth Rocks. I have both as well as a Rhode Island Red but cannot attest to the other breeds laying ability. The Plymouth Rocks are friendlier chickens, in my opinion, but they are both good layers.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC! Brahmas are good winter layers but I see they didn't make you list. The production breeds will lay well the first year but will slow down drastically after 2 years.
I'd go with a mix of all the breeds.

 

[Thunder344]

Hello @Vin and welcome to BYC! All those are great chickens, and I would personally choose all of them, but if that is not your case just choose what color egg you want and then find the breed that lays that color.