Okay, we've decided, did we choose well?

[mom2jedi]

I sat my wonderful hubby down today and asked him to help me choose our future flock. Here's what we came up with. (We ordering from MPC eventually and for our area the min. is 7 chicks if there are any bantams.)

1 Rhode Island Red
2 Black Stars
1 Barred Rock
1 Easter Egger
1 Buff Brahma Bantam
1 White Silkie

At first he wanted 2 RIR but the kids like the black ones so much we went with 2 black stars. I might ask him about getting one black star and one black Australorpe instead. We had debated between the BS and the BA and went with the star since they don't go broody. But that was when we were only going with one black breed and two RIRs.

I'd love to see anyone's pictures of these breeds... especially the EEs since they can look so different. (We're getting the mutt kind not the purebred

)

 

[sussexgal]

Looks like you've chosen a pretty mix.

Color and size contrasts - and when the time comes, you'll have color and size contrasts in eggs! I have columbian wyandottes, white orps, speckled sussex, black austs, and 8 mutts adorning my yard. I could spend hours watching them... chicken tv in technicolor! Congrats on your choices

 

[mom2jedi]

Thanks! Anyone else have pictures of these breeds?

 

[LilPeeps]

You should probably get more than one silkie, so it can have a friend

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
If I did that, I'd probably have to give up the Brahma. Seven chickens was pushing DH's chicken limit a bit. If that wasn't the minimum for MPC (if you're ordering any bantams) we would probably only be getting five.

I really like the Brahmas. We've got a few breeds saved for the next round in a few years so I'll probably get two then.

Quick question though, do they need another silkie to be happy?

 

[LilPeeps]

Quote:
If I did that, I'd probably have to give up the Brahma. Seven chickens was pushing DH's chicken limit a bit. If that wasn't the minimum for MPC (if you're ordering any bantams) we would probably only be getting five.

I really like the Brahmas. We've got a few breeds saved for the next round in a few years so I'll probably get two then.

Quick question though, do they need another silkie to be happy?

They do better with at least two of them. They have a hard time seeing, due to the crest and beard, and sometimes get picked on. You would be better off with at least two

 

[Chicabee19]

Stereo Silkies! Just tell your DH he's seeing double!

 

[mom2jedi]

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks! I don't know if I can convince DH to get another chicken so I'll probably have to switch it with the Brahma.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Never had a RIR, but I know my red-sexlinks lay early and their eggs get large really fast. The Blacks still haven't caught up to the reds.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:

I don't think that would work, he's pretty sharp that one! Plus, he's being wonderful about building me a coop, and he's putting up with the expense of setting all this up. I had no idea chickens cost so much...