Hi all! Tomorrow we will go buy our chicks. Very excited, a little nervous. After a couple years of talking about it we are finally doing it! I have been eating, sleeping and dreaming chickens - chicken books surround me. Last night I told my daughter to go get the Chicken coops from the van (I meant Groceries!). Of course she thought my husband had gone out and got a coop and was so excited!
I have a couple questions that I am not sure where to post - so I will ask here.
I want to make sure my mixed little flock will get along! These are the breeds I probably have readily available at a local store - I talked to the owner as he got the chicks in yesterday, so these are what I have to chose from depending on what is gone when we get there tomorrow. We are starting with 6 (I want 12, but hubby says 6 this year add more next year!). We live in central Indiana and we do have winter here which is also a concern for some breeds I know, so I am wondering if I need to be concerned about the cold too.
I kinda want one of each of these- will that work - will they be likely get along? I can't seem to pick one breed, I like the idea of a variety.
1. Leg horns (this seems to be a non negotiable b/c my 13 son who is not that excited about chickens really wants a Leghorn. I am a little worried about the comb in the winter and that they are not as cold hearty as other breeds)
2. Easter eggers (daughter and I want some fun colors!)
3. Rhode isle reds
4. Golden comets
5. Buff orpingtons
6. Barred Rocks
7. Blue Laced Red Wyandottes
(these go fast so may not be there tomorrow)
I also have the possibility of these breeds, they will hatch Sunday or Monday, but a 2 hour drive is not that exciting to me for a few chicks!
Buckeyes and Barred Rocks
There also is a local urban flock owner that has some extra white Plymouth rock chicks, but I am worried about his ability to sex them. He also has Polish which my daughter wants for fun, but they are smaller right? and the eggs are smaller and I have heard other chickens will peck at their heads.
Thanks for your help!
P.S. does anyone else have problems using Chrome to post - I had to switch to Firefox b/c Chrome did not have anywhere for me to write the body of my post!
I have a couple questions that I am not sure where to post - so I will ask here.
I want to make sure my mixed little flock will get along! These are the breeds I probably have readily available at a local store - I talked to the owner as he got the chicks in yesterday, so these are what I have to chose from depending on what is gone when we get there tomorrow. We are starting with 6 (I want 12, but hubby says 6 this year add more next year!). We live in central Indiana and we do have winter here which is also a concern for some breeds I know, so I am wondering if I need to be concerned about the cold too.
I kinda want one of each of these- will that work - will they be likely get along? I can't seem to pick one breed, I like the idea of a variety.
1. Leg horns (this seems to be a non negotiable b/c my 13 son who is not that excited about chickens really wants a Leghorn. I am a little worried about the comb in the winter and that they are not as cold hearty as other breeds)
2. Easter eggers (daughter and I want some fun colors!)
3. Rhode isle reds
4. Golden comets
5. Buff orpingtons
6. Barred Rocks
7. Blue Laced Red Wyandottes
(these go fast so may not be there tomorrow)
I also have the possibility of these breeds, they will hatch Sunday or Monday, but a 2 hour drive is not that exciting to me for a few chicks!
Buckeyes and Barred Rocks
There also is a local urban flock owner that has some extra white Plymouth rock chicks, but I am worried about his ability to sex them. He also has Polish which my daughter wants for fun, but they are smaller right? and the eggs are smaller and I have heard other chickens will peck at their heads.
Thanks for your help!
P.S. does anyone else have problems using Chrome to post - I had to switch to Firefox b/c Chrome did not have anywhere for me to write the body of my post!
and Welcome To BYC! Sounds like you are putting together a pretty little flock! While each bird is an individual and you can wind up with a mean hen of any breed, of the breeds you have listed, The EEs, Orpingtons, Rocks, Buckeys and Wyandottes should not have a problem being together...Red Sex Links (Golden Comets) can be bossy and are often the flock leader but I haven't found them to be a real problem. ime, I have found hatchery RIR to be a problem in mixed flocks with being bullies. 
