Rir with mixed flock

[Aqwifey]

I’m thinking of adding in Rir to my flock for more eggs. They are kept in a run as I do not want them in neighbors yards or the ally. My hens are almost a year old or will be early next year. I love having a mixed flock of all the colors. My husband thinks it will be better to have all the same breed of a high production layers since we sell eggs and get mixed later when we have more land which I’m thinking about too since I get behind with the people I do sell to.
I currently have a Smokey pearl, 2 cinnamon queens, a midnight majesty and a lavender wyandotte.

Would you add or do all one flock of rir or a different breed?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have a mixed flock but egg production isn't one of my priorities. If eggs are the top priority then production hybrids like the cinnamon queen or leghorns would probably be your best bet. Otherwise mix away, as long as you take into account that not all breeds mix in as easily as others (i.e. a single Polish with all standard birds).

RIRs in particular are known for being a dominant breed - it does not mean that if you get one that it will become a bully, but they may be more prone to it than other breeds, which is why some folks will recommend only keeping RIRs with other RIRs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It sounds like your husband's goal is egg production more than anything else. I'm not sure what your strongest goals are but egg production and a mixed flock seem part of them. I don't know how many you plan to add either. It sounds like your current ones are still pretty young, haven't been laying that long. Would you replace them?

Your question is whether adding all the same breed is better or even getting rid of your current flock and just getting all of one breed. To you, what are the pros and cons? What benefits do you see in that, especially considering that you currently have a mixed flock?

In my opinion, since you sell the eggs, a potential benefit would be that the eggs will be more likely to all be the same approximate size and color. It may be easier or less expensive to purchase all of the same breed. I can't think of any other potential benefits but maybe someone else can.

Many of us have a mixed flock, including you. I don't see any behavioral problems with mine because of that. There are a lot of different breeds and mixes that lay really well. You have some of those. If you limit you selection to those breeds or mixes you can assemble a flock that lays really well.

Each hen's egg laying is individual. While some breeds or mixes lay better than others on average, some individual hens are going to be well above or below that average. If you only have one or two of a breed or mix you may have one on the extremes, but averages are all you have to go by. It is a pretty good method to use.

 

[Aqwifey]

It sounds like your husband's goal is egg production more than anything else. I'm not sure what your strongest goals are but egg production and a mixed flock seem part of them. I don't know how many you plan to add either. It sounds like your current ones are still pretty young, haven't been laying that long. Would you replace them?

Your question is whether adding all the same breed is better or even getting rid of your current flock and just getting all of one breed. To you, what are the pros and cons? What benefits do you see in that, especially considering that you currently have a mixed flock?

In my opinion, since you sell the eggs, a potential benefit would be that the eggs will be more likely to all be the same approximate size and color. It may be easier or less expensive to purchase all of the same breed. I can't think of any other potential benefits but maybe someone else can.

Many of us have a mixed flock, including you. I don't see any behavioral problems with mine because of that. There are a lot of different breeds and mixes that lay really well. You have some of those. If you limit you selection to those breeds or mixes you can assemble a flock that lays really well.

Each hen's egg laying is individual. While some breeds or mixes lay better than others on average, some individual hens are going to be well above or below that average. If you only have one or two of a breed or mix you may have one on the extremes, but averages are all you have to go by. It is a pretty good method to use.

Yes so egg production is the goal. I can only keep 10 hens in the run atm but will be able to do more once moved to other side of yard waiting on neighbor to finish the fence or we buy land which ever comes first. I haven’t owned chickens for long maybe 5 years. I started with bantams and moved up to big girls at his request. My silkies are the only 3 that roam the yard and have their own little coop by my quails. I been trading out 2-3 year old hens for chicks as needed ( hasn’t been very long). I have thought about all orpington’s since they come in different colors but my buff hens I had before was so loud and screamed all day long. We have had issues with bully behavior and I get rid of those ones asap.

 

[Mrs. K]

Leghorns come in a multitude of colors also. Breed is one aspect of production laying, but IMO what is more important is age. Young birds lay much more than old birds.

I would not recommend the dual purpose birds such as the BO's. They are lovely birds, and will lay pretty steady, but not as much as the egg laying breeds.

Personally I have had very good layers of EE, and if you are selling eggs, a few colored eggs, make the basket look pretty.

But full size chickens are meat birds, laying birds or dual purpose birds which was once described to me as not being great layers, but better layers than meat birds, and not being great meat birds, but more than laying birds.

Keep them young is something also to consider. But if you want laying birds, use laying birds.

Mrs K

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Ultimately it'll be your (you and your spouse's) decision about what direction to go.

I really like variety, personally. (High egg production isn't my goal, but all my birds lay well.)

I know people who want high egg production, and want all their livestock to look the same (makes it easier to not get attached if you are raising meat, have to sell animals, or if any die for any reason.)

This is the first time I've had Ameraucanas, and I'm liking them so far. Personally, if I could only have 1 breed, I MIGHT consider them.
They can come in various colors (difficult to find most colors, though!) They won't be anything like your high production breeds, though.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

*oh also, I love rhode island reds. I have 1 (hatchery would only allow 1 of certain popular breeds when I ordered)
I know some people think they're aggressive, but mine is an absolute doll. So it's hit and miss. But most hatchery birds are...

I've seen the exhibition type rir online and they're GORGEOUS and supposed to be nice