**Updated!** see my last post! Opinions needed on breeds to get!!

[Guitartists]

DH came home with GREAT news tonight!

FIL said we could build a coop and run on our lot next to his house! So, now the hardest part. Choosing chickens for it. DH says I must limit to 10... but maybe I can squeeze in a couple extra

Here's what I am thinking......

One each......

blue laced red wyandotte
partridge cochin
blue cochin
black frizzle cochin
buff orp
blue orp
polish - gold laced
salmon faverolle
araucanas (the tailless ones, right?)
Something yet to be determined

Now, if I have say 10 hens..... how many roos can I have? Could I have a salmon faverolle and an araucana? Will they need seperate coops? I'm not worried about mutts. But I wonder, if they are in one coop/run... and they split into two flocks..... what are the odds that my SF hen will end up in my Araucanas flock and vice versa???? Do they tend to be drawn to their own breeds by design?

Does anyone forsee any temperment issues with this kind of a mixed flock? I am interested to see what happens when they mix. I'm a sucker for mutts

I'm soooo excited!!!

 

[Guitartists]

Oh, also, one more question... are these decent egg layers?

 

[eggchel]

1 roo would be fine with 10 hens, 2 would probably be okay if they were raised together.

It is possible that your polish will be picked on.... or plucked until it doesnt have a crest. When only one bird has a big crest like that, the other birds are often attracted to it and peck at it or pluck it out. But, that doesnt mean you shouldnt get one. Just a FYI.

If they are together in one pen, they wont split into two flocks. Generally one of the roos will become dominant and it will be his flock. But that doesnt mean that the other roo wont steal a few snuggles from the hens when ever he can.

They are okay layers. My cochins and araucanas arent the best layers. I dont know about the SFs.
I would add a Barred Rock and or a Rhode Island Red for a reliable layer. The Wyandottes are decent layers and the Buff Orps lay well when they arent broody.

Chel

 

[speckledhen]

blue laced red wyandotte
partridge cochin
blue cochin
black frizzle cochin
buff orp
blue orp
polish - gold laced
salmon faverolle
araucanas (the tailless ones, right?)
Something yet to be determined

I agree with Chel, a Barred Rock, Wyandotte or Rhode Island Red for a great, consistent layer. My Buff Orps are almost as good, my blue Orps not quite as good as my Buffs. The BLRWs are not great layers, I understand, but terrific eye candy! Cochins are the broody type as are some Faverolles. For great personality and laying ability combined, I always recommend a Barred Plymouth Rock.​

 

[scgamecock]

I can't keep my BLRW's off the nest this spring.One quits and another one starts.

I concur with Cynthia,get a couple for eye candy and consider the eggs a bonus,and fill up the rest with Barred Rocks,RIR's,BO, and such.If you really want eggs and don't care about whether they are a true breed or not then get you a couple of sexlink pullets.

 

[speckledhen]

Marlon, great to know that your BLRWs are good layers! I think you got yourself a good laying strain of them, so the best of both worlds. OR, did you mean broodies???? In that case, not great for laying. I've heard many say theirs were terrible layers, but perhaps they were breeder birds. Sometimes it's just hard to get both perfect conformation plus laying ability, something I'd love to have, especially in my Barred Rocks.

 

[Katy]

I took him to mean they kept going broody. A couple of my BLRW pullets have started laying...can't get them to use a nest box, but I know which corner of the coop they like to use! Maybe they'll be like my Marans...lay good the first year and then prefer broodiness to laying.

 

[Guitartists]

Well, we're considering the eggs a "bonus" if you will. Mostly I want them to have them and to get little chickies

I want some broodys and I want some egg layers... here's my updated list.

blue laced red wyandotte
partridge cochin
blue cochin
black frizzle cochin
(2)buff orp
blue orp
salmon faverolle pair
araucana pair
wyandotte
rhode island red

Now, how does that sound??? What color wyandotte is the best layer? Are blues pretty good?

 

[Guitartists]

I'm hoping when we build the coop to talk him into a small section being seperate for the addition of some banty chickens later

Certainly those tiny little things won't count toward my chicken quota

 

[speckledhen]

I would think the silver laced or gold laced Wyandottes are probably the best layers. I have two SLWs, used to have three, all very good layers.