Researching a flock

[LilMissChick]

Good Afternoon everyone!

As I am researching how I want to make my coop, i am also researching what hens I’d like to get.

As I live in a suburban area, and I value my neighbours staying friendly, I’ve been looking into calm, more quiet birds. As well I want to be able to have hens that are my pets, that I can pick up, pet and have as lap chickens.

I can only have 5 hens however. How do you pick only five birds?? Who knew having a small coop would already be so hard

What I’ve come up with is 1 Brahma, 2 Australorps, one buff Orpington and 1 Dominique.

Does this sound like an okay mix? I read that if any of them are too different, like having 1 polish in the mix, they can get picked on.

We also have lots of apple trees in our yard, and it’s fenced, but I’m hoping to pick birds that aren’t too flighty. Are these breeds good for not being big flyers? Or too skittish?

As well, my fiancée who grew up on a chicken heavy hobby farm wonders if having no, slightly more aggressive, chickens would be bad when predators (raccoons/rats) come around the coop/enclosed run.

Thanks so much for your input! Now off to research keeping your coop and run dry in moist climates

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

@Brahmachicken240 can tell you all about Brahmas. Hopefully they’ll see this.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Sounds like a great mix!
All breeds listed tend to be quiet.
Heavier breeds tend to be less flighty/skittish.
There are no “aggressive” breeds, it depends on the chicken itself.
A good rooster will alert you when their is a predator and may even fend off the predator, protecting his the flock.

 

[chickens really]

Silkie are fantastic and extremely Docile Birds although can be Broody too often.

 

[Cyprus]

The only one I'd be concerned about is the Dominique. I know they can and will fly.
I have had the rest of those breeds and can attest that they are quiet and do not fly. My Australorp was a brat, but I only had one so can't speak for all. She kept escaping, which lead to the end of her, I think. Could be wrong as she disappeared into thin air, but we are predator heavy here.

 

[LilMissChick]

I live on Vancouver island in the greater Victoria area which is quite urban, so we will have to deal with raccoons and rats as the main predators. Interesting about the Dominique. I really liked the videos I’ve watched about how inquisitive they are.

Would a silkie do okay in that mix? I thought about getting one, but I don’t want her to get picked on. If I could get a buff coloured silkie I’d probably never leave her outside though, and just keep her with me all the time

I also live in a temperate climate which can be quite damp from fall to spring so I was worried a Silkie might not do as well as the other breeds?

 

[Mrs. K]

If five is what you can have, I would suggest getting 3 the first year, a couple of those breeds tend to go broody. Then the next spring, if they do, you can add 2-3 chicks.

Otherwise, your flock will all be the same age, and if they are pets, well you probably won't want to cull. So in a relative short amount of time, you will have an all old flock and no eggs.

You may think that getting eggs in not a bid deal, but once you start eating your own.... well they taste great.

Mrs K

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! It sounds like a nice group, and there are many other choices too. For interesting egg colors, consider an Easter Egger, and a French Marans. Cochins are large fluffy birds, not as many eggs per year, but quiet and beautiful.
You haven't mentions your location; In a cold climate your choices will be different that if you live in Florida or Arizona!
Speckled Sussex are beautiful and very friendly too.
Mary

 

[LilMissChick]

Welcome! It sounds like a nice group, and there are many other choices too. For interesting egg colors, consider an Easter Egger, and a French Marans. Cochins are large fluffy birds, not as many eggs per year, but quiet and beautiful.
You haven't mentions your location; In a cold climate your choices will be different that if you live in Florida or Arizona!
Speckled Sussex are beautiful and very friendly too.
Mary

Hi Mary!

I live in British Columbia on Vancouver island. So it’s a mildish climate, tending towards rainy fall through to spring. But we do have definite seasons. It can get California hot for parts of the summer and drop to a little below freezing for a part of the winter. But mostly it’s temperate. I think the most concerning part is that it can be quite damp for long periods of time.

I am planning to have my coop up off the ground though, so I’m hoping to give them a nice dry space to sleep in. And the run will be open but have a full roof.
A friend of mine mentioned that her sister is getting in Sussex chicks and Easter Eggers.

My real concern is that i don’t have over the fence escapees on a regular basis on their free range/yard time

@Mrs. K ,I have been toying with doing the smart thing and getting 3 birds to start. It does make sense. Should I only wait a year?

 

[Bamabexchicks]

Hi! Welcome to the flock! Just wanted to comment that my Dominique doesn't even jump very high, much less fly! She is very sweet and calm, my Andalusian is a great flier though.