What Breeds Not to Have Together in a Flock

[LindsayStarke77]

I am brand new to the world of raising chickens and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with choosing which breeds to get. I live in Utah which goes from the extreme hot of summer to the extreme cold of winter. I would like to have 4-5 chickens. I have done some research into good breeds for beginners and I would like friendlier, not as broody, social birds. Could anyone give me some advice on the following breeds. And what ones would not go together?

Top Choices:
Americana
Orpington
Austrolorp
Cochin
Silkie
Wyandotte
Dominique
Barred Rock
Rhode Island Red
Re Sex-Links
Leghorn
Brahmas
Plymouth Rock
Sicilian Buttercup
Barnvelder
Nankin


A lot I know hence the overwhelmed feeling.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Nodaksnakelover]

I am brand new to the world of raising chickens and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with choosing which breeds to get. I live in Utah which goes from the extreme hot of summer to the extreme cold of winter. I would like to have 4-5 chickens. I have done some research into good breeds for beginners and I would like friendlier, not as broody, social birds. Could anyone give me some advice on the following breeds. And what ones would not go together?

Top Choices:
Americana
Orpington
Austrolorp
Cochin
Silkie
Wyandotte
Dominique
Barred Rock
Rhode Island Red
Re Sex-Links
Leghorn
Brahmas
Plymouth Rock
Sicilian Buttercup
Barnvelder
Nankin


A lot I know hence the overwhelmed feeling.

Any help would be much appreciated!

no matter what breed or breeds you pick, you are going to get various personalities! Though Silkies are attributed with sweet personalities, I personally have two silkies that are about as wild as leghorns are reputed to be. And on the other side of the coin, I know of friends who have leghorns that will hop on their knee for a treat and allow petting. So it depends on your handling of them from an early age on forward.

What I personally do, is three to four days after getting them settled in, I put my hand in the brooder and hold still, and have some fine grated boiled egg on my hand. And hopefully your arm won't fall asleep before someone is brave enough to take a taste test. Once one finally does, it isn't long before the rest join in. Don't let them eat too much, it's just a treat. And four or five babies shouldn't need a whole egg in one sitting. Anyhow, I give them this treat every day, once a day. So they are now programed to come charging when they see a hand placed down in their brooder instead of running away. This way they learn to take treats from your hand early on. Some birds will then allow you to touch and even pet them over time and become very tame indeed. Others, just because of personality, never like to be touched.

You asked that it be friendly but not broody...those are two traits that from my thinking are hard to seperate! All these breeds can get along with each other provided you give them proper space. You seem infected with the problem many of us chicken keepers have...so many choices...but so limited in space or time...or...LOL! It really is up to you, time spent with your birds that can turn them into pets. Myself I love the calm friendly personalities most orpingtons, cochins and brahmas have. But they DO go broody as a breed trait. Americaunas are variable in my limitied experience. One of my tamest pet chickens in the past was this breed. They can vary wildly in color and lay colored eggs. Yet one of my wildest was one of this variety! Talk about contrasts! I've also had tame sex link hens, but they weren't terribly friendly with their fellow flock mates! They are real go getters when it comes to food.

I personally think you'll be happy with any of these on your list provided you take the proper steps to tame them. Only YOU really know what colors you want. I'd hate to make that decision for someone else! LOL! Go to feathersite.com and browse each of the breed threads here on this site to look at pictures and see what people are saying about their chosen breeds. Best of luck!

 

[donrae]

I am brand new to the world of raising chickens and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with choosing which breeds to get. I live in Utah which goes from the extreme hot of summer to the extreme cold of winter. I would like to have 4-5 chickens. I have done some research into good breeds for beginners and I would like friendlier, not as broody, social birds. Could anyone give me some advice on the following breeds. And what ones would not go together?

Top Choices:
Americana good choice
Orpington good choice but can go broody
Austrolorp good choice
Cochin not great layers and tend to go broody
Silkie not great choice...not great layers, go broody at the drop of a hat, and easily get picked on by other birds
Wyandotte good choice
Dominique good choice
Barred Rock good choice
Rhode Island Red okay choice--seems a lot of the hatchery birds get aggressive to the other hens
Re Sex-Links good choice
Leghorn not a great choice for friendly bird, they tend to be flighty.
Brahmas not great layers, take a long time to mature
Plymouth Rock basically same as barred rock. Great birds
Sicilian Buttercup no experience
Barnvelder ditto
Nankin ditto


A lot I know hence the overwhelmed feeling.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Don't stress out so much by over thinking things! Pick say 5 breeds you like, get one hen of each. As long as they're all about the same size, and on one has big crests like Polish or Silkies, pretty much everyone will get along and not get picked on too much.