What breed to get?

[tammyd57]

You don't have to get all of them the same. You might try several different breeds to see which you like the most and it makes for a very beautiful colorful flock.

 

[thepremo1]

ISA Browns are egg machines

 

[felidaet]

I spent hundreds of hours researching breeds a year ago, primarily on BYC. I am very happy with my selections. My best layer of Large to X-Large brown eggs is definitely my Gold Comet. My RIR rarely misses a day and is the friendliest bird in my flock. My Gold Laced Wyandotte and Welsummers are also great layers. My Silver Laced Wyandotte (currently molting), Buff Orpington, and Barred rocks have not been laying very well. I keep hoping they will start laying good soon. I also suggest not eliminating other egg colors to quickly. My white Leghorn is an amazing layer. The 3 Easter Eggers are also good layers.

I agree that a mixed flock is great.

I recommend that before selecting breeds you should think about what you are looking for and write a list of your requirements. (I admit I am an I.T. professional and this is the way I think.) Think about things like egg size, laying frequency, temperament of the birds, etc. This is what I did. I actually spent more time on My Pet Chicken for comparing characteristics of breeds than looking at the Henderson Chart.

 

[BriteChicken]

Such as my list is:
Great layers
Very Friendly/Calm
L/XL eggs

So far I know I want at least one Red Sex-link and from there I'm blank..... Because I can only have three-four for now.

Anyone have any suggestions for the other 3?

 

[cvchickenmama]

My RIR hen lays beautiful big brown eggs nearly every day and she is over 2 years old now. She also likes to jump up in our lap if we sit in the garden. My BO is not as tame but is very friendly and big, fluffy, and beautiful!

 

[BriteChicken]

Ok so I posted in the "Breed" section and got a lot of responses under "Gaah I can't decide...!" This is what I posted and I ended up getting a ton of answers leading to me choosing the latter:

I'm looking for info I know that all chickens are different and it depends on how you raise them general weights that I got off Henderson for the ones I'm interested in are:

Delaware-6.5
Orpington-8
Plymoth Rock-7.5
Red Star-6.5
Sussex-7
Wynadotte-6.5
And again my wants are:

Great layers
Very Friendly/Calm
L/XL eggs
All must be able to live in an 8x8 Tractor (8x3 coop and 8x5 run)
And be semi-quiet chickens so they don't bother the neighbors...

So which ones will mesh well together? I definitely want a Buff Orpington, Delaware, and Barred Rock/Silver Laced Wynadotte and Red Star

 

[sillymom]

If you have kids, its fun to get a chick of each variety that you are interested in. As long as they are of similar temperments, and the same age, there is no reason you have to get all the same breed. It makes it easy to name them and it's fun to figure out who laid which egg. We got 8 chicks last year and they are all so different, so pretty and great layers, I can't imagine ever getting a whole group of the same. The tamest and best layers were the Rhode Island red, Barred Plymouth Rock and the Buff Orpington- but the other ones Wyandotte, Australorp, White Plymouth Rock and two Araucaunas were just as good. The least tame (with the same amount of attention) were the Araucaunas. They were a little crazy, but the others demanded attention and have great personalities! Hope this helps=)

 

[BriteChicken]

Which one are better tempermant for you and great egglayers PBR or SLW?

 

[rriveramri]

icked 2 RIR and 1 Barred Rock. I agree that picking different kinds of chick is nice. The RIR seem to be more calmer than the barred rock. The two breads get along well.