I have 4 Rhode Island Red hens and one rooster, whose breed I don't know. They are 6 months old, so we just started getting eggs. Our main priorities for our flock is to have docile (especially with kids) hens that lay through an intense, Massachusetts winter. The coop is about 4 by 10, with a run for them about 3 by 8. I plan on Barred Rocks or Wyandottes, but I heard Wyandottes can be flighty and a little aggressive. I know I want to get Barred Rocks, but how many should I get?
My wyandottes are not the least bit agressive or flighty. They are very friendly and calm birds. They handle the cold very well with their rose combs.
I love my BR. I'd get lots of them if I were you. Oddly, they say that Turkens do well in the cold. Certainly my single little Beaky the Buzzard is laying and just as happy as she can be in our cold Colorado winter. You might try a turken or two.
Your coop is 40 sf, and could comfortably hold 8 birds - 10 at the max. Your coop needs to have at least 4 sq. ft per bird to minimize stress & pecking and since your birds may be locked in their sometimes due to harsh weather, you may want to give them a little more than 4 ft each. The run would need to be enlarged if you want to get more chickens. I've been seeing that the standard rule of them in a chicken run is 10 sf per standard size chicken. I can't help you on which types of birds do best in a cold climate - it never snows where I live. As for friendly birds, we do like our barred rocks & easter eggers.
I'm also voting for Turkens. Our girl is the most intelligent one of the bunch, quiet, docile when in the run, good free-ranger when not, and very cold hardy. They have a lot of character, too.
I've heard that Wyandottes aren't good winter layers, though. I'm a big fan of Black Jersey Giants. Lately the eggs I've been getting from them (every day) are too big to close the carton. Your run's not huge so I wouldn't get too many more. How about two BRs and two Jersey Giants?
