My wife and I are wanting to get some egg layers, and we somehow decided on 5 as a good number. The one must is the eggs have to be 'large'. It's just too hard to adjust recipes for small or jumbo sized eggs. We definitely want an araucana as one. After doing tons of reading and research, I want a red sexlink / red star as another, since they are such good consistent layers. The buff orpington is another I want, but I fear broodiness, but feel they can be great layers as long as that doesn't happen. The last two I am interested in are a maran and a welsummer. I really like the look of them both - as long as the maran isn't cuckoo... not sure why, I just don't like the look of those. but I love the egg colors of them. So I ended up thinking that one of each is what I would do. But is one of each a good idea? Am I going to have to worry about breeds not getting along, or any silliness like that?
I can't answer your questions about whether they'll get along or not, as I'm a total chicken newbie and waiting for mine to arrive next Tuesday. However, I ordered six - one each of: Auracauna Buff Orpington Black Australorp Silver-laced Wyandote Gold-laced Wyandote White Plymouth Rock I was going for a variety of colors but also wanted them to be good layers and cold hardy. The friend that ordered with me got a similar variety. Oh, and for good measure I threw in three magpie ducks! I kind of think as long as they are all the same age they'll get along fine. I also was looking for mellow type species as we have kids, dogs, etc. I'll let you know how it goes!
i have a Rhode island red. 2barred rocks. 1 cornish x. 1 maran. 1 millie fleur and 2 other bantams and they get along great. I have some younger mixed chicks that get along fine in the brooder 12 of em and 29 mixed eggs in the incubator. My homegirl "yellow dragon" hooked me up with the eggs from her and her mom's mixed flocks. [hey've been at it alot longer than me they have brahmas.dominiques.frizzles.silkies.polish.buff orpingtons.cochins. It doesnt get more mixed than that...= want one or two of every kind someday. Its too hard to just pick one.
I have 9 week old new hamshire reds, rex sexlink, buff orps, and americanas in one pen (30 chickens). they have been together since day one. They get along great. once they get their pecking order going it will be fine.
One of each will be fine. About egg sizes... They will all start small, go to medium, get to large, x large, and most likely jumbo at 2-3 years. Commercial birds are often culled and sent to soup before they are mature enough to lay jumbos. A tiny bit more egg in a recipe shouldn't hurt it.
My mixed flock works very well together and our eggs are large and sometimes we do get the occasional JUMBO but its great....
