Pick my Egg Laying Breed! (And a Rooster too!)

[msiler]

It's that game!
I am looking for the best laying flock and a rooster for them... with these restrictions:

The Girls
-Cold Hardy
Weather Temps can drop down to the teens at night at the coldest, day time is right around freezing.
They will have a coop with a heat lamp at the very least, potentially a covered run. Mostly free range.

- Strong Free Range Ability
I would like about half the flock to be somewhat flighty and good free ranging birds to help teach the other birds to free range and react when the others might not!

-Great Egg Production
Of course, what everyone looks for! Prefer 250+ eggs a year


BONUS!
-Winter Egg Production
-Not aggressive to other species of birds


Rooster
Eggs will not be hatched out, I don't care the breed! It can be different than the girls or it could be the same, it could even be a male Sex Link for all I care!

-Cold Hardy

-Protective of the girls (of course !)

-Not aggressive to people

 

[chickenlittle21]

I recommend:
Hens: a barred rock, a buff orpington, a sex-link (red ones are friendlier), an Easter egger, a Rhode island red, and a maran

Rooster: silver laced wyandotte or Easter egger

 

[JadeFarms]

For the rooster I say American game because they are really protective of the flock and they are less likely to get hurt by a predator.
Hens:
I recommend Wyandotte, Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Sapphire Gem, australorp and EEs.

 

[msiler]

I recommend:
Hens: a barred rock, a buff orpington, a sex-link (red ones are friendlier), an Easter egger, a Rhode island red, and a maran

Rooster: silver laced wyandotte or Easter egger

For the rooster I say American game because they are really protective of the flock and they are less likely to get hurt by a predator.
Hens:
I recommend Wyandotte, Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Sapphire Gem, australorp and EEs.

Thank you for these!
I am ordering from Murray McMurray Hatchery, and unfortunately a few of these are sold out entirely... Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, Australorps, Blue Sapphires and Marans.

Which leaves the Sex Links, Easter Eggers, Rhode Island Reds, and Wyandottes.

I am definitely adding some Sex Links to the cart! I have no decided about the Easter Egger yet but I might through in one because why not?
Rhode Island Reds I am a little wary of because I have heard they don't mix well with other breeds because they tend to be very bossy. Thoughts?
And any opinions on Leghorns? Murrary McMurray even has a rose comb variety.

 

[chickenlittle21]

Rhode Island Reds I am a little wary of because I have heard they don't mix well with other breeds because they tend to be very bossy. Thoughts?

My Rhode island red hen, Pumpkin, is really friendly and sweet to humans and to the other chickens. I think it's just the Rhode island red roosters that are mean.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Easter Eggers. Ameraucanas. Whatever Murray McMurray has. Super cold hardy. Both rooster and hens have survived regular below 0 temps (F). Amazing egg layers. Had an EE hen who laid consistently till she was three and even got eggs out of her till she was 5. Love the breed. My rooster Solomon is a perfect gentleman an follows me around. I have no problem allowing little children in with my birds *with supervision* because I know how great he is. Loves the ladies, tidbits them and saved one of my hens from a raccoon.

Love them.

 

[Jeanw]

Rhode Island Red or Plymouth barred rock

 

[chickenlittle21]

And any opinions on Leghorns? Murrary McMurray even has a rose comb variety.

If they have the rose comb variety then snatch up one hen and one rooster, get the brown leghorn rose comb variety if they have it! The hens are the best layers and the roosters are very protective but non- agressive!

 

[msiler]

Easter Eggers. Ameraucanas. Whatever Murray McMurray has. Super cold hardy. Both rooster and hens have survived regular below 0 temps (F). Amazing egg layers. Had an EE hen who laid consistently till she was three and even got eggs out of her till she was 5. Love the breed. My rooster Solomon is a perfect gentleman an follows me around. I have no problem allowing little children in with my birds *with supervision* because I know how great he is. Loves the ladies, tidbits them and saved one of my hens from a raccoon.

Love them.

On that recommendation, I will definitely add some in!!

If they have the rose comb variety then snatch up one hen and one rooster, get the brown leghorn rose comb variety if they have it! The hens are the best layers and the roosters are very protective but non- agressive!

They do have that exact one! I was pretty excited when I saw it because of their brown color for camo, and their comb for winter hardiness.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

On that recommendation, I will definitely add some in!!

This is my rooster Solomon. He's like 6 or 7 years old. One of my hens lasted 8 years.

ETA: The Sussex in the pics is the hen he saved.