To Mix or Not to Mix

[Three Stents]

You could get two each of the Sussex and Marans.
I don't see Orpingtons on the list, but yes an Orpington has a good chance of getting along with Sussex and Marans.
I think Ameraucanas could also work well with them, if you want another egg color.

I would probably avoid the Silkies for a mixed flock (more likely to get bullied). They are more likely to be happy in a Silkie-only flock. (No guarantees either way, just a matter of "more likely" or "less likely.")

Silkies are not on my list

 

[FunClucks]

All great info....here is the list that was put together by 4 breeders. From this list, I'm interested in Speckled Sussex and Black Copper Marans, Amerucana, but not set in stone. Was hoping for an Orpington,

Those are all pretty hefty breeds, except for the Amerucana. I'm personally wondering if those are Americana (easter eggers) instead. Either breed, they tend to be on the smaller side, and usually quite friendly to each other and other breeds.

Speckled sussex generally slightly smaller than BCM or Orpington, but could be the same size, depending. BCM and Orpingtons are generally on the heftier side.

Any of those breeds, including the Orpington, would make a nice mixed flock. Just get what you want, and then see if you have issues once they've grown up. There are things you can do with spacing (to make sure you have enough) in your coop and run, and keeping some run clutter, that can help reduce flock stress and set yourself up for success. But those breeds all sound good to me.

 

[FunClucks]

ISA browns are ornery birds! Nice to humans, not so much to other breeds and even other ISA browns!

They were sold to me as a docile breed, and they were very docile and sweet to me - I was surprised they were so ornery to themselves and other chickens. They were my worst feather pickers. Really sucked, cause they laid great. But I didn't have space at the time to keep them by themselves so I rehomed all but one.

 

[Bsmac]

They were sold to me as a docile breed, and they were very docile and sweet to me - I was surprised they were so ornery to themselves and other chickens. They were my worst feather pickers. Really sucked, cause they laid great. But I didn't have space at the time to keep them by themselves so I rehomed all but one.

Yep that is how they act! They even pick on each other!

 

[Three Stents]

Here is my coop and run, doves to the right with chicken and dove stuff in other unoccupied aviary

 

[Bsmac]

All great info....here is the list that was put together by 4 breeders. From this list, I'm interested in Speckled Sussex and Black Copper Marans, Amerucana, but not set in stone. Was hoping for an Orpington,

I really like our black Jersey Giants, friendly decent layers and get along well with other breeds. Some for the two Chocolate Orphingtons we have. They can get quite large like our BJG. We have an 8 lb. BJG hen and a Chocolate Orp pullet that is already a bit over 8 lb. Decent layers too!

 

[saysfaa]

You might consider the Swedish Flower hen since orpington is not available to go with the others you are considering. They have the things you are looking for pretty well.

Edit to add: Or not, FunClucks probably has better info on them than I do

 

[FunClucks]

Here is my coop and run, doves to the right with chicken and dove stuff in other unoccupied aviary

Good call on only putting 4 hens into that coop and run! That's the most amount of birds I would put in that space, and hope they're all friendly to each other.
Very cute setup! Easy to get around in and nicely laid out. See how it goes, you might add some run clutter for them to break up line of sight. Like a flat piece of plywood leaned up against one of the inside walls to make an open ended tunnel, maybe a few tunnels, and/or some tree stumps (moveable visual barrier, and occasional perch). Some upside down plastic lawn chairs to fly thru, around, and on/off of. Things that come up to your knees or lower are tall enough to create more "privacy" for them, which can reduce stress. Also, make sure there's no dead ends, but that birds always have a way to escape (if needed).

A setup that looks cluttered to us can be quite appealing to them. A mix between what they like and what I can clean is usually where I end up. I like the plastic lawn chairs because they're easy to reposition, and you can turn them right ways up and sit in them if you want to.

Juvenile chickens tend to fly a lot and perch up higher, while adult hens, especially heavier breeds, tend to spend most of their time walking around on the floor. They'll use a perch or roost at night, but they're usually more interested in pecking and scratching at the floor of the run, in my experience with the heavy large fowl breeds I've had. The more important chickens get the higher roosts at night.

Here's an idea for you - I give mine food scraps, yard waste (leaves, partially composted wood chips for bugs, occasional grass clippings if they're short enough not to cause crop impaction). Hanging apples, peppers, cabbages, and other fruit and veggies (on chicken skewers) are often great enrichment. Things that people won't eat, but aren't quite bad are prime chicken excitement. The guideline is keep treats 20% or less of daily ration. I look at what they eat over an entire week, and make sure their total treat consumption is 20% or less of their weekly ration. So one week I might give them an apple, the next week half a cabbage, etc.

Have fun with them!!!

 

[FunClucks]

You might consider the Swedish Flower hen since orpington is not available to go with the others you are considering. They have the things you are looking for pretty well.

Swedish Flower hens available in my area have been super skittish and don't tolerate confinement well. Ideal for free ranging, not so much for 100% confined. Really depends how you're keeping them. They're gorgeous, but I do 100% confined due to predators, so I haven't gotten any yet - I don't think they'd do well with my setup. The Jubilee orpingtons though, man, I'd love to get ahold of one of them.