Want to add new chickens to my flock. What breeds are good?

[Manningjw]

Our friendliest hen is a Black Australorp. Cold hardy and a good layer too. Of course a lot depends on individual personalities and rank in the pecking order since one of our most skittish and standoffish to people is also a BA. She's also a dominant hen in the flock. Ameracaunas should work well too. We just added some EE's (sold as Ameracauna) to our flock but they're still young and full of themselves so I don't have experience with them as mature hens. Really looking forward to their eggs though! And after trying to find my Red Star's info from the links ChickenCanoe posted (awesome BTW!), I guess I won't be trying to hatch her eggs after all since she's not a true breed but a sexlink and her offspring won't be as good as layers. Bummer! She's still an awesome girl though. Good luck in your search!

The great laying will see be passed on in future generations because both parent breeds were bred for high production as well. I don't think any of the second generation will surpass her egg laying but they more than likely will still be great egg layers.

We have had a great experience with two different redstars from different sources. The third red star I purchased hasn't been quite as productive, laying about 5 eggs a week now at 1 year 3 months old. Her daughter however only skips about 1 day a month, she is a cross of Ameraucana/White Leghorn then bred to the red star, very prolific green egg layer.

 

[coppertop2014]

Golden sexlinks are really nice

 

[WeBeCluckin]

The great laying will see be passed on in future generations because both parent breeds were bred for high production as well.  I don't think any of the second generation will surpass her egg laying but they more than likely will still be great egg layers.

We have had a great experience with two different redstars from different sources.  The third red star I purchased hasn't been quite as productive, laying about 5 eggs a week now at 1 year 3 months old.  Her daughter however only skips about 1 day a month, she is a cross of Ameraucana/White Leghorn then bred to the red star, very prolific green egg layer. 

So you think I should give it a go then? I was thinking I'd end up with some really decent layers given how well she lays and combining that with the winter laying and hardiness of the BA. What I like about our Red Star is the color and size of her eggs...deeper brown and so round that the carton can't close around them. Her eggs are so coveted, it's a squabble over who gets her eggs at breakfast! And of course the 6 year old wins since it IS his chicken. Sometimes if he wants to earn favor, he'll share. Anyways, so your mix hen carries the egg color of her father? But the frequency of her mom?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That kind of harassment would make any rooster aggressive.

X2. They were seen as predators. Small ones at that.


Two roosters in a flock isn't a great idea unless you have at least 15 hens, and a lot of space.

 

[coppertop2014]

Rhode Island reds lay cool eggs

 

[WeBeCluckin]

X2. They were seen as predators. Small ones at that.


Two roosters in a flock isn't a great idea unless you have at least 15 hens, and a lot of space.

We basically have two flocks merging as one. The older flock consists of one rooster and ten hens. The younger flock consists of one cockerel (was sold as a pullet) and twelve pullets. The younger flock was raised together from chickhood and pretty much stick together. So that gives us a 1:11 ratio which I'm comfortable with. My concern is what might happen should the younger rooster try to take one of the older roosters hens, or vice versa. Guess all I can do is keep an eye on things and hope for the best. That little EE cockerel isn't near the gentleman our BA is. He is still young (about 3.5 months) so I'm sure he just needs to grow into some manners with his girls. Our BA spends his day on the lookout for predators and calling his girls when he finds food. The cockerel on the other hand, spends his day chasing girls that want nothing to do with him! Oh, and eating. Their house provides 4sq per bird plus we're in the process of building them a 12x24' run, half of which will be roofed. They better have enough room!

 

[WeBeCluckin]

Rhode Island reds lay cool eggs

Thanks for the welcome! I'll hafta check out some RIR eggs. Red stars have some RIR in them don't they? I can't remember exactly what gets crossed to get a red star. Leghorn mom and RIR dad?

 

[Michael OShay]

I don't think any of the second generation will surpass her egg laying but they more than likely will still be great egg layers.

If by her, you're talking about the Red Sex Link (Red Star), X2 on not surpassing her egg laying. Nothing bred from sex link chickens, including breeding two sex links together are going to surpass, or likely not even quite match, the sex link mother's production as sex links don't breed true. Whether your talking about Red Sex Links (sold under a lot of different labels, but all are a red gene roo x a silver gene gene) or Black Sex Links (a red gene roo x a barred gene hen), that first generation cross is genetically at the peak of its laying powers, outlaying either parent breed. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization. Both Black Sex Links and Red Sex Links are egg laying machines.

 

[Michael OShay]

Red stars have some RIR in them don't they? I can't remember exactly what gets crossed to get a red star. Leghorn mom and RIR dad?

Leghorns don't carry the silver gene necessary to produce Red Sex Links. Red Sex Links are produced by crossing a red gene rooster (either an RIR, Prod. Red, or NHR) with a silver gene hen (either a WR, RIW, Delaward, SLW, or Light Sussex. Red Stars are one of many labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links. Murray McMurray is the biggest seller of Red Sex Links marketed under the label Red Star and I believe the particular cross that they use is RIR roo X Delaware hen. Other labels under which Red Sex Links are marketed are Brown Sex Link, Gold Sex Link, Gold Star, Cinnamon Queen, Golden Buff, Bovans Brown, Golden Comet, Hubbard Golden Comet, , Isa Brown, Shaver Brown, Babcock Brown, Warrens, Hylines, Gold Lines, Lohmans, Lohmans Brown, etc., but no matter which labels they are marketed under, they are all egg laying machines.
The picture is a little simpler with Black Sex Links which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster (usually an RIR) with a barred gene hen (usually a BR). Black Sex Links are also marketed under the names Black Star and Bovans Nera, and like the Red Sex Links, they are egg laying machines, outlaying either parent breed.

 

[WeBeCluckin]

Leghorns don't carry the silver gene necessary to produce Red Sex Links.  Red Sex Links are produced by crossing a red gene rooster (either an RIR, Prod. Red, or NHR) with a silver gene hen (either a WR, RIW, Delaward, SLW, or Light Sussex.  Red Stars are one of many labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links.  Murray McMurray is the biggest seller of Red Sex Links marketed under the label Red Star and I believe the particular cross that they use is RIR roo X Delaware hen.  Other labels under which Red Sex Links are marketed are Brown Sex Link, Gold Sex Link, Gold Star, Cinnamon Queen, Golden Buff, Bovans Brown, Golden Comet, Hubbard Golden Comet, , Isa Brown, Shaver Brown, Babcock Brown, Warrens, Hylines, Gold Lines, Lohmans, Lohmans Brown, etc., but no matter which labels they are marketed under, they are all egg laying machines.
The picture is a little simpler with Black Sex Links which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster (usually an RIR) with a barred gene hen (usually a BR).  Black Sex Links are also marketed under the names Black Star and Bovans Nera, and like the Red Sex Links, they are egg laying machines, outlaying either parent breed. 

I'm so glad you hit this thread! You are the chicken master!!