What's your "Dream Flock"? How many chickens is the perfect amount for you? What breeds do you adore?

[jspeese]

I don't think you can go wrong with Plymouth rocks or Rhode Island or New Hampshire Reds or Orpingtons if you want an attractive yet productive flock. And even though they aren't exotic, IMHO there are few breeds that are as pretty as Red Island Reds. For pure enjoyment, Cochins. Although if you want setters and mothers, they too have a practical side. I am partial to blue breeds/varieties too. Egg color doesn't matter to me but if you have kids or grandkids who want to die Easter eggs, then you need a white egg laying breed, Andalusians, maybe. As I said, I like the blue color. I love the Polish too, but they may not do well in a mixed flock with more aggressive breeds because they might get their crests pulled. I've had that happen. I have mixed feelings about the sex-linked hybrids, many times they are bred for commercial production and burn out after two years. I guess that depends on the breeding program. I am intrigued with Bielefelders but don't know how well they'd do in our humid south climate.

 

[mrs3rrl]

Love your setup! We have a small coop built snugly between two trees, and no room to expand it. Originally built for 4 chickens, but after dogs and raccoons snagged them all, we now have 8 chicks ! Too many for our small coop. Didn't think about having 2 coops! We have a totally fenced area about 3 acres for free range, but raccoons climb over - will be electrifying a fence this year for them.

I have two coops and two runs where they are locked in at night. They get to choose which coop and run they go to. I also have a fenced free range area about 1/2 the size of a football field for them to run around during the day.

 

[forgive7]

No hobby here, production, with the price of feed... 14; white leghorns, and ISA's A lot of eggs

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

I’d love to have some Sebrights, gold and silver. I’ve never had any. I also like Red Jungle Fowl banties. There was this hen of that breed I had once named Mighty Eagle, M.E. for short, pronounced “Emmy”.

 

[Vicker]

I like a foundation of BOs and some kind of reds and then try new breeds a little at a time. If I have more than 12 laying at a time, I have too many eggs on my hands.

 

[barkdh]

Hmmm what is my dream flock. I think I have it now. Not without its problems however.
I have Light Brahmas, Buckeyes, Barred Rocks, blue cochin and partridge cochins, americauna, blue laced red wyandottes, salmon faverolles, brown ISA. That is the first coop.
Second coop is faverolle and silkie mixes, easter eggers, Buff Chantecler and then a huge clutch of all mixed from several of my silkie hens...Word to the wise if you do not want any hatches do not have a rooster I though cochins were an extremely broody breed lol.
My faves are the cochins and the buckeyes and then the barred rocks are a second favorite.

I did have a few speckled Sussex and they were very vocal but curious and friendly

 

[ElevatorGrl]

I have found that the friendliest chickens I have are the Buff Orpingtons and my Speckled Sussex, Sadie. I have 39 chickens and want 8 more blue egg layers! Talk about Chicken Math! I have two coops and two runs where they are locked in at night. They get to choose which coop and run they go to. I also have a fenced free range area about 1/2 the size of a football field for them to run around during the day. They are happy, but I want more! I have Delewares, Jersey Giants, Wyandottes, Barred Rocks, easter eggers, Leghorns, Speckled Sussex and 3 mixed breed hens from my rooster Harvey. Oh, and one Rhode Island Red. My Buff Orpington "Blondie" runs to me and wants to be held. When I sit down on my bench inside the big run to hold her, the others jump up on the bench and all around me too. I just love my chickens! I believe having lots of space for them keeps them from fighting and makes them content. Keep us posted on what you get!

View attachment 2045839

I have a buff named Blondie too!! She is super sweet and drops for pets all the time! Love her!

 

[goldenyears]

I ask this because I'm growing my flock this year, not merely recouping lost numbers. (We had an issue with predators that caused me to lose over half my flock of 11 last year.) We are in the process of building a bigger, better enclosure with a large shed-type coop that I can easily walk in and clean with a large run. That being said, I've calculated the run and coop can accommodate comfortably about 28 chickens.

Mind you, I'm not aiming for the max number as I like plenty of space and I'm sure my chickens do too. But I was thinking of adding a few more. I'm currently at 15 chickens counting the new batch of chicks that just came in from the hatchery a couple of days ago. So, as I sit here and dream about what sort of breeds I'd like to incorporate into my flock... I'd love to hear about your "dream flock."

My current flock is a mix of Dominicker (Rooster!), Cornish, Black Sexlink, and my new chicks are Easter Eggers. I'd love roughly 20 chickens. If I could find one locally I'd totally snag a Sapphire Olive Egger. I'm keeping a close eye on my local stores and breeders to see what chicks are available, so I can snag breeds on my watch list.

 

[kathy r]

I ask this because I'm growing my flock this year, not merely recouping lost numbers. (We had an issue with predators that caused me to lose over half my flock of 11 last year.) We are in the process of building a bigger, better enclosure with a large shed-type coop that I can easily walk in and clean with a large run. That being said, I've calculated the run and coop can accommodate comfortably about 28 chickens.

Mind you, I'm not aiming for the max number as I like plenty of space and I'm sure my chickens do too. But I was thinking of adding a few more. I'm currently at 15 chickens counting the new batch of chicks that just came in from the hatchery a couple of days ago. So, as I sit here and dream about what sort of breeds I'd like to incorporate into my flock... I'd love to hear about your "dream flock."

My current flock is a mix of Dominicker (Rooster!), Cornish, Black Sexlink, and my new chicks are Easter Eggers. I'd love roughly 20 chickens. If I could find one locally I'd totally snag a Sapphire Olive Egger. I'm keeping a close eye on my local stores and breeders to see what chicks are available, so I can snag breeds on my watch list.

We have 10 chickens consisting of 9 different breeds. My criteria for selecting breeds was they had to be friendly and get along well with the rest of the flock. We have 2 buff orpingtons, and 1 each of Speckled Sussix, Black Australorpe, RI Red, Barred Rock, Ameraucana, Easter egger, Salmon Faverolle, and a "barnyard mix". All are very friendly because we raised them from chicks but my absolute favorite is my Salmon Faverolle who wants to be picked up and held every time I go near the pen. She is very vocal, but not in an obnoxious way. I have had no broodiness issues with any of them (6 are 3 years old and 4 are just a year old) and all have been very healthy. I just like going out and seeing a rainbow of chickens in the pen. I think I have a pretty flock. I am probably at capacity given the size of the coop and the large enclosure where they are - don't want to crowd them.

 

[goldenyears]

Yes, I am at the golden number of 20 chickens also, after purchasing 10 chicks and hatching 6 myself. So, I'm not getting any chickens for awhile either (though in the in 4 or 5 months I am sure some cockerels will have to go).

My current flock have the following breeds: Dominique, Buff Orpington, Easter Egger, Gold sex-link, Black Australorp, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Production Blue, Black Copper Maran sex-link, regular Black Copper Maran (not sex-linked), Naked Neck, and a mix of Dominque and Easter Egger that I'm hoping will be female.

A lot of breeds eh?

In the future I would like to get some Leghorns, Welsummers, Black Jersey Giants, Whiting True Blues and a Rhode Island Red to replace mine that died. Also am considering getting some Cornish Cross to raise my own meat birds. I think that would be rather interesting since the only thing I've butchered so far have been accidental cockerels, who have proved to be rather skinny.

I think the perfect number for me is 50... (the number I would want!) but I don't think the coop is big enough nor my parents willing enough! (or the budget either!)

Nice! I’ve got a “herd” coming next week. 2 pullets each of Green Queen, Lakeshore Egger, Easter Egger, Barred Rock, Black Australorp, Golden Buff, Golden Laced Wyandotte, Silver Laced Wyandotte, 6 Rhode Island Reds and 6 cockerels of assorted and unknown breeds. I wanted to get 6 chicks...egads! I’ve got two “housing” units and one under construction to join a 400 square foot run. Free range opportunities when I’m home.