What chicken breeds should I get??

[Little Chicken Lady]

Hello everyone! I am in my first year of raising chickens, but I'm loving it and have some serious chicken math. I keep getting a couple new chicks every once in a while and I want to get a more substantial number (5-10) next time I buy. I've been getting chicks from Orscheln's, Murray McMurray, Meyer Hatchery, and a local hatchery (Heartland). I was wondering what chickens y'all would recommend me getting next! I currently have a bantam cochin, a barred rock, a blue copper maran, a brown leghorn, a buff orpington, a production red, and a silver laced wyandotte (7 in total). What breeds should I get next? I only have one bantam, so I want to get more but I can't find a hatchery that will sex them! Also, my chickens are pets with benefits, so I'm not interested in meat birds. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Murple]

Try Easter Eggers! They can have muffs and beards, or both! I get green/blue/brown/white eggs from them. They really give some variety!

 

[Murple]

Try Easter Eggers! They can have muffs and beards, or both! I get green/blue/brown/white eggs from them. They really give some variety!

Here are two of mine: Hatches and Maria

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

You should definitely try brahmas. Even if it isn't the buff variety. They are so fluffy and friendly. Their feathered legs are harder to take care of though.

 

[happychicken2435]

You should definitely try brahmas. Even if it isn't the buff variety. They are so fluffy and friendly. Their feathered legs are harder to take care of though.

X2, i love brahmas they come in LF and bantam veriety. cochins are also some of my favorites, the bantams and LF are very broody though

 

[Climax]

So you mean you are looking for 30-40 chicks right?
Well let me start you off.
1. Silkies
2. D'uccles
3. Silkies
4. Japanese
5. Frizzle Cochin
6. Silkies
7. Olive eggers
8. Black Copper Marans
9. Silkies
10. Sebrights
11. Polish
12. Silkies
13. Phoenix
That's just the start
Oh and also hatcheries don't sex bantams because of how small and fragile they are.

 

[keesmom]

MyPetChicken has sexed bantams, but it will cost you on average an additional $20 per chick. Cackle also has a sexed bantam deal, but it's hatchery choice only on a few breeds that can possibly be sexed by down color.

What are you looking for? High egg production, egg color, feather color, broody/non-setter, ornamental?

 

[WVBirdsAndBees]

If you aren't raising for meat and are nervous about unsexed bantams, here are a few options:

Easter Egger - Fun for the variety and colored eggs
Olive Eggers - Same as EE but a dark brown/blue layer hybrid to get olive eggs
Cream Legbar - Blue eggs, cute crests, smaller build like a leghorn
Australorp - Good all around birds
Barnevelder - Beautiful feathers, relaxed temperament, some lay darker brown eggs
Andalusian - Great free rangers, productive
Brahma - Wonderful birds but BIG and mature slowly
Sussex - Beautiful and usually really friendly

You can find any of those sexed. There are definitely more good options but I've owned all of these personally. The variety is part of the fun of keeping chickens and the math is real. We wanted about a dozen hens at first. We now have a flock of 46.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

I have Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, White Leghorns, ISA Browns, an Easter Egger, and a Bantam Cochin.
BR: pretty gals, light brown eggs, not as frequent, a bit skittish
RIR: light brown eggs, loud and semi-friendly, lower in the pecking order
WL: great layers of white eggs, loud, good flyers and foragers
ISA: friendly, good layers of brown eggs, lower in the pecking order, pretty quiet (usually)
EE: escape artist, fair producer of greenish blue eggs, bearded and muffed, really cute, very quiet
Bantam Cochin: small, really adorable, good producer of cream colored eggs, pretty friendly, a bit loud (at least when she sees me)

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I would get an EE or 10. They are an all around great breed, and I can say from experience they are excellent.

A Brahma might also be a good choice. I personally have one, but she is only a few days old. They are very cute, but to be honest all breeds with feathered feet are adorable. They come in a bantam size too.