Which breed should I get from these four breeds?

[Angiebubs]

My suggestion is to get rid of the Leghorns and get some docile breeds that are also excellent layers, such as Black Sex Links or Australorps. Your problems with your Leghorns is exactly the reason I quite raising Leghorns many years ago. Whatever you decide to do, good luck.

x2 I havent added any leghorns or Rhode Islands due to them being more aggressive in a mixed flock. My GL Wyandotte is my current pain in the butt LOL She chases my bantys around and now the broody hens and chicks. However, she is so quirky and fun I haven't rehomed her. She isn't overly aggressive towards them just likes to chase them away from her. Ont he other hand, My Blue Laced Wyandotte (from a breeder) just hatched some eggs for me and when the chicks were a couple weeks old, I was always holding them, cooing and talking to them. She started pecking at my leg and when I didnt get the message she jumped up on to my lap (another time on to my back) and snuggled in for some loving LOL It was the cutest thing-she needed a mommy break!

 

[sssharon]

Thanks or your reply. I think that's what I will do. Do you think that they need to be in a coop where there are roosters? The one that I have acts like a rooster. I would like to give them to my daughter who I think told me she has a leghorn. She has had bad luck with her chickens. A family of foxes lives somewhere close to them and they have lost some chickens to them. I guess I'll have to ask if she wants to take a chance with my bi------! I named my girls and they all have the same name. Hahaha

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks or your reply. I think that's what I will do. Do you think that they need to be in a coop where there are roosters? The one that I have acts like a rooster. I would like to give them to my daughter who I think told me she has a leghorn. She has had bad luck with her chickens. A family of foxes lives somewhere close to them and they have lost some chickens to them. I guess I'll have to ask if she wants to take a chance with my bi------! I named my girls and they all have the same name. Hahaha

LOL! I don't know how many roosters your daughter has in her coop, but the number of roosters needs to be limited with any breed. The only reason you really need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching, and the recommended ratio is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. I currently have 25 hens, no roosters, and I get loads of eggs without feeding any non-egg laying mouths, without the aggression, fights, crowing in the middle of the night, and over-bred and battered hens that frequently goes along with having roosters (especially too many of them). If you do decide you want a rooster for breeding with your girls, a docile breed rooster, such as a Black Australorp rooster, would be considerably better to have around than a Leghorn rooster.

 

[Angiebubs]

Or a Salmon Faverolles rooster I have yet to hear of ANYONE having a mean SF roo ;-) I go back and forth with the having a roo or not. I was without for a short time and it was sooo quiet around here. Plus the hens scattered everywhere when free ranging. I love how the roo is constantly watching for anything suspicious and alerting the hens when he sees something he doesnt like. As they are all so oblivious. On the other hand, I hate having to watch for any aggression from the roo during spring breeding season.

 

[sssharon]

I live in the city and can't have roosters. I really don't want any either. I don't like the noise. I thought maybe a rooster would show them whose boss. I actually think she only has two roosters right now. I gave her one of them and he is a little polish white crested rooster and I don't think he is big enough to do the deed. lol I have raised two batches of chicks in incubators that I got the eggs from daughters nests when they had over half of their chickens killed. I ended up getting 5 wonderful chicks and unfortunately one was lame and did not last long but ended up with four of the sweetest chicks and my grandkids love them. Just wanted to get them some back. Sorry to talk so long. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mccluckers]

As Angiebubs said, it depends on what you want the chickens for.  If you wanting a docile, friendly, gentle breed, the Brahmas and Pekin bantams would be the best on your list.  If you're wanting colored eggs, the Araucana (actually you would be better off with Easter Eggers) would be the best on your list.  If your wanting beauty, that would strictly depend on your personal preference.  If your wanting excellent egg production, I wouldn't recommend any of these (although the Wyandotte and Easter Eggers are pretty good layers). 

Thanks I would like a friendly breed that perhaps will give me a few eggs a week as well I would like all different breeds as well have you had any of these breeds? What bout a salmon faverolle?

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks I would like a friendly breed that perhaps will give me a few eggs a week as well I would like all different breeds as well have you had any of these breeds? What bout a salmon faverolle?

I have a lot of different breeds over the years, including many of them on your list or mentioned by others in this thread (although not always the same color variation). Here is a list of the breeds mentioned in this thread that I've had:

Light Brahma
Easter Egger (still have them currently; few people actually have true Araucanas which are tailless and lay only blue eggs, as opposed to the different colored eggs of the EEs). You can see the differences in true Araucanas, Ameraucanas, and Easter Eggers at http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/09/ameraucana-easter-egger-or-araucana.html.
Golden Polish
Buff Pekin bantam
Silver Laced Wyandotte
White and Brown Leghorns
Speckled Sussex
Welsummer
Buff Orpington (still have them currently)
Buff Cochin
Rhode Island Red
Barred Rock
Black Sex Link (still have them currently)
Black Australorp (still have them currently)
I've never personally had Salmon Faverolles, but I had a good friend and neighbor who had them, so I'm quite familiar with them.

1. The friendliest, calmest, gentlest tempered birds on this list (not necessarily in this order) are Orpingtons, Australorps, Cochins, Brahmas, Sussex, Faverolles, and Pekin bantams.

Wyandottes, Welsummers, Polish, and Barred Rocks are generally docile, but occasional individuals can be aggressive.

Rhode Island Reds are usually pretty docile, but the roosters in particular can be aggressive.

The most high strung and flighty birds on this list are easily the Leghorns.

2. The best layers on this list are Black Sex Links, Leghorns, and Australorps.

Rhode Island Reds are not far behind, followed by (these all have about the same lay rate) Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Sussex, Barred Rocks, Salmon Faverolles, Welsummers,
Brahmas, and Polish (Polish can vary quite a lot from hen to hen).

The poorest layers on the list are Cochins and Pekin bantams.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Mccluckers]

Thanks that was a helpful I thinking am going to get I faverolle standard 1 brahma standard but I am not sure on the bantam what is your altimeter favourite bantam?

 

[Angiebubs]

Michael great post!!!

McCluckers good choices!! And my vote for a banty would be a cochin!!!

 

[Lollie508]

I silkie hen! They are the most lovable breed ever and my favorite! Also they make wonderful mothers.