I'm a relative newbie at BYC. We've had 6 chickens for the past year, but lost 3 to backyard predators who dug way under run. :-( Coop/run are like Ft. Knox now. I have 2 questions: 1) So I have a friend who raises chickens and is willing to sell me a half dozen which is all we want. She has Golden Comet, New Hampshire Red and Delawares. I'm looking for brown eggs, long laying, ability to get along with each other and friendliness. We currently have 2 Buffs, 1 BR & 1 Americauna I hand raised. They are very calm & friendly but not laying yet. Born April 10. 2) Will these 3 begin lay soon? Appreciate your replies. Of the 3 we lost 2 were ISA sex links (don't know what that means). THey were red and terrific layers, very friendly. They stamped their feet till I picked them up. OK that's all for now. Look forward to your answers. Thanks!
Golden Comets and ISA Browns are among the sex link hybrids. It means they cross breeds of 2 different colors so the offspring will be sexable at hatch by feather color. http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Sex-links/BRKSexLink.html New Hampshires and Delawares are both nice calm breeds that lay well. http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html#d Onset of lay is usually from 20 to 24 weeks but this time of year (shortening days) it can take a bit longer.
Of the three you've listed, Golden Comets, which are one of a number of labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links (Isa Brown is another) are hands down, the best layers, consistently churning out more than 300 large brown eggs per hen per year. I've had all three of these and as far as temperament goes they are all generally docile (about like your Barred Rock), but are not usually quite the lap pets that Buff Orpingtons are (assuming your Buff is a Buff Orpington). Since most pullets begin laying between 5 and 6 months, your birds (assuming that none of them are cockerels) should begin laying shortly. Hope this helps. )
Since you already have a mixed flock, why don't you get 2 of each? None of those breeds are known to be flighty. They are all decent layers with the Golden Comets winning the laying contest. I have a mixed flock and love that I can tell one pullet from another. Of course they all have names.
I agree on the two of each . It's nicer to be able to tell them apart, and makes a more visually diverse flock.
