What would YOU do?

[RodNTN]

This is your choice, but here's what I would do:
Build a bigger, predator proof coop. Keep the Leghorns (my Leghorns are my best layers, not to mention they're absolute sweethearts) and buy some Polish to add to that flock.
If you don't want your Leghorns picking on your Polish, though, you could divide the coop.

If you do end up rehoming them, though, I would be honest and open with the previous owners- honesty is always the best policy

 

[jolenesdad]

I also would say I agree with the posts to keep the chickens IF you can afford to separate as needed or permanently.

I rehomed one of my two leghorns this year that was a bully... aaaaaaand regretted it immediately. WHERE DID ALL MY EGGS GO?!?! I just got a new leghorn chick to fix my error.

But in all honesty I don’t regret revoking the bully for the sake of my happy flock of the chickens I WANT. Life is short. Do what you want... responsibly... which you are.

 

[Dona Worry]

I'm single, and live alone, with 14 pullets already lol, egg production is not a factor! Besides, 2 of the 4 are brown leghorn, which as I understand is a different sort of layer.
Coop space is not the biggest issue. One coop is 4X4, but has an attached run that is 10X4, which I could very, very easily slap some walls and a roof on, install a roost and TADA, more coop. The 2 coops are also very well built, and predator proof already.
But, I don't really need 20 birds! So I don't think I want to keep the leghorns AND get more.

 

[RodNTN]

I'm single, and live alone, with 14 pullets already lol, egg production is not a factor! Besides, 2 of the 4 are brown leghorn, which as I understand is a different sort of layer.
Coop space is not the biggest issue. One coop is 4X4, but has an attached run that is 10X4, which I could very, very easily slap some walls and a roof on, install a roost and TADA, more coop. The 2 coops are also very well built, and predator proof already.
But, I don't really need 20 birds! So I don't think I want to keep the leghorns AND get more.

Haha, okay then-I'll quit trying to convince you to keep the Leghorns because of the eggs

 

[bobbi-j]

I'm single, and live alone, with 14 pullets already lol, egg production is not a factor! Besides, 2 of the 4 are brown leghorn, which as I understand is a different sort of layer.
Coop space is not the biggest issue. One coop is 4X4, but has an attached run that is 10X4, which I could very, very easily slap some walls and a roof on, install a roost and TADA, more coop. The 2 coops are also very well built, and predator proof already.
But, I don't really need 20 birds! So I don't think I want to keep the leghorns AND get more.

Sounds like you're making progress with your decision. You don't think you want BOTH breeds. So, now you need to decide whether or not you want to keep the leghorns or get the polish. Or.... get rid of some of the leghorns and get fewer polish.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well I sure would TAKE the leghorns, they are good layers. And I would take good care of them.

I am not much of a forever friends kind of person, really chickens have a pretty short forever anyway.

Personally - a mountain out of a molehill. There are people that will take those girls and not look back, let them, they will be happy and you will be happy.

Mrs K

 

[LaurEliz]

This is totally up to you but you need to make sure that you feel okay with whatever you decision is, and be ready to explain this to the previous owners if you may happen upon them again.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd keep all the leghorns. I have an issue with not giving away chickens, honestly. The first time I ever hatched some I told my friend that if more than three hatched, I'd give her the remainder because I didn't want that many chickens. What happened? Six hatched and I kept them all. A broody hen started sitting on eggs immediately afterwards: Five of hers hatched-- I kept them all! So maybe I'm not the best person to give advice about this.

Anyway though, in all seriousness, there's no point in keeping chickens you don't want to deal with that you don't need for eggs. Someone else out there would probably gladly take the leghorns and give them a good home. If you really don't want them and they won't be useful to you, I don't see the harm in selling them as long as you try to find them a really great owner. If the previous owners do happen to figure out about it some day, you could just assure them that you were very selective and careful about where the leghorns were rehomed and that you are confident that they are living the best lives possible.

If I did give away chickens to somebody and they told me, "I can't keep all of them because I wanted a different variety of chicken, but I did give two of them away together to someone who I know is taking good care of them." I wouldn't be upset at all. I'd be happy that you were honest with me, that two went away together (so I'd know they had other chickens to live with), and that they were living somewhere where they were wanted. I'd also be happy that you got the chickens you really wanted. If the previous owners want, and the leghorns' new owners are okay with it, you could even exchange their names with each other so the old owners can see for themselves that the chickens are taken care of. I don't think that would be immoral

 

[RWise]

I manage my flock for a goal (mine are EEs), I hatch and sell some birds off, and keep what I want for my goals. I also bring in new DNA from time to time.
Maybe you can trade these girls for what you want

Give some thought as to what you want for your flock in the future, and do that!

 

[Dona Worry]

I manage my flock for a goal (mine are EEs), I hatch and sell some birds off, and keep what I want for my goals. I also bring in new DNA from time to time.
Maybe you can trade these girls for what you want

Give some thought as to what you want for your flock in the future, and do that!

Polish pullets are like pulling teeth around here. I would have to buy from a hatchery to get what I want.
I was watching them all chasing crickets in the grass this morning, and am more undecided than ever!

 

[bobbi-j]

This is totally up to you but you need to make sure that you feel okay with whatever you decision is, and be ready to explain this to the previous owners if you may happen upon them again.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd keep all the leghorns. I have an issue with not giving away chickens, honestly. The first time I ever hatched some I told my friend that if more than three hatched, I'd give her the remainder because I didn't want that many chickens. What happened? Six hatched and I kept them all. A broody hen started sitting on eggs immediately afterwards: Five of hers hatched-- I kept them all! So maybe I'm not the best person to give advice about this.

Anyway though, in all seriousness, there's no point in keeping chickens you don't want to deal with that you don't need for eggs. Someone else out there would probably gladly take the leghorns and give them a good home. If you really don't want them and they won't be useful to you, I don't see the harm in selling them as long as you try to find them a really great owner. If the previous owners do happen to figure out about it some day, you could just assure them that you were very selective and careful about where the leghorns were rehomed and that you are confident that they are living the best lives possible.

If I did give away chickens to somebody and they told me, "I can't keep all of them because I wanted a different variety of chicken, but I did give two of them away together to someone who I know is taking good care of them." I wouldn't be upset at all. I'd be happy that you were honest with me, that two went away together (so I'd know they had other chickens to live with), and that they were living somewhere where they were wanted. I'd also be happy that you got the chickens you really wanted. If the previous owners want, and the leghorns' new owners are okay with it, you could even exchange their names with each other so the old owners can see for themselves that the chickens are taken care of. I don't think that would be immoral

I have a totally different take on this. The original owners did not seem to ask for any guarantee that OP was to be the leghorns' forever home. They were not concerned enough to keep the chickens themselves. (I know, OP said they were concerned about predators. What chicken owner isn't? But we don't all give our chickens up - we take measures to keep our chickens safe. To me, this means they were looking for a good reason to rehome their birds. I could be wrong, but this is how I see it.) Once I sell or give a bird away, it is no longer my responsibility. I have given up all rights to know what that bird's future is. If I am so concerned about their care that I would feel the need to check up on them, I should be keeping them myself. OP does not owe the previous owners any explanation.

FWIW, I don't give away or sell chickens. We put them in the freezer when we need to thin the flock. For one thing, I am not going to give away chickens that I have spent hours and dollars on, caring for them and feeding them, just so someone else can have a cheap or free chicken dinner. (Would I give them to someone in need? In a heartbeat. Probably processed and packaged.) I know that by keeping them here, I know what kind of care they are receiving and I will know that when the time comes, they will have a swift and humane death. My chickens live a good life that ends with one bad moment.