So, we are going to get a couple chicks soon, and our local feed & seed store has Barnevelders, and Barred Rocks soon, which kind should I get?

[BowCHICKawowwow2]

For egg production get the Feb 12 birds. Rocks and leghorns together will lay you a LOT of eggs.

For a colorful or fun group of birds do Feb26th. Olive eggers lay green and are fun, Buff Orpingtons are super friendly and decent layers, RIRs are sassy and good layers.

Agreed. Lots of eggs and a variety of colors!

 

[Karen K]

So they update their chick schedule regularly, and I just noticed, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE LAVENDER ORPHINGTONS MARCH 12! yay! Also, my sister is going to get a sussex, and I'm probably going to get a barnevelder or lavender orphington, they're so pretty and aren't terrible egg layers. We got two black giants today as well, and a new hampshire red. They're pretty adorable, and my dad is thinking of naming his giant Missy. What do you think?

I think you should be trying to get the chicks all at the same time. You could have problems integrating them if they are all different ages. As it is when I get my 4 new chicks, once they are old enough to integrate I have a 'chicken playpen' to keep them in until the other chickens get used to them. Chicks grow pretty fast and you won't be able to put them all together right away.
Last year we got 3 Brahamas a month before the Australorps. Once the Australorps were old enough to go outside with the Brahma's it was another 2 months before we could safely integrate them so they would all flock together. As a result, we ended up building a 2nd coop house for the Australorps to go to without being picked on by the Brahmas. The 2 coops are built adjacent with a screen in between so they could see each other but not get to or at each other.
Our birds free-range in our back yard during the day.

 

[-ChickenLover-]

I think you should be trying to get the chicks all at the same time. You could have problems integrating them if they are all different ages. As it is when I get my 4 new chicks, once they are old enough to integrate I have a 'chicken playpen' to keep them in until the other chickens get used to them. Chicks grow pretty fast and you won't be able to put them all together right away.
Last year we got 3 Brahamas a month before the Australorps. Once the Australorps were old enough to go outside with the Brahma's it was another 2 months before we could safely integrate them so they would all flock together. As a result, we ended up building a 2nd coop house for the Australorps to go to without being picked on by the Brahmas. The 2 coops are built adjacent with a screen in between so they could see each other but not get to or at each other.
Our birds free-range in our back yard during the day.

Mhmm, so far we haven't had issues with integrating them, as we usually keep them seperated until they are old enough to not get picked on.

 

[CassieD]

I would mirror choosing based on what your top priority is. I have two beautiful Barnefelders in my flock. I’m in Houston and they seem to do OK in the heat even though they are good sized girls with a lot of feathers. I do put a water bath in with them with a frozen liter bottle in the height of summer to cool them down, a fan as well. Oddly they just turned 1 and have never laid an egg. The days are getting longer and they have been “practicing” in the nest boxes so fingers crossed

 

[Newyorkrita]

I would mirror choosing based on what your top priority is. I have two beautiful Barnefelders in my flock. I’m in Houston and they seem to do OK in the heat even though they are good sized girls with a lot of feathers. I do put a water bath in with them with a frozen liter bottle in the height of summer to cool them down, a fan as well. Oddly they just turned 1 and have never laid an egg. The days are getting longer and they have been “practicing” in the nest boxes so fingers crossed
View attachment 2509160View attachment 2509161

So very pretty!!

 

[Karen K]

I have a Barney and hen. The hen is very much a talker and he’s a pretty chill rooster. My current chooks are a barnyard mix - and the one pure Barney in the lot is already charting away to me. I love Barney’s.

What is 'charting?'