Which chicken breed should I get?

[dkam]

Hi, I'm new to chickens and to this website

I live in the suburbs where neighbors are very close by. I have a 10X10 run area that is great for the chickens. Our neighbors gave us the okay to get chickens. I am looking for a fairly quiet, friendly, calm breed that is a VERY GOOD/EXCELLENT egg layer. I am thinking about getting 6 chicks soon. I am thinking about getting Buff Orpingtons, Barred Plymouth Rocks, and Black Australorps. They will only be used for eggs, not meat.

Would you recommend these? Are there any other breeds you would recommend? Also, how much sunshine should be in their run area? There is some sunshine in the spot where I would like to keep them. The run is more than big enough, right? I have read that 10 square feet minimum per chicken. I

Thank you for any advice or help!

 

[Bantamsized]

I highly suggest Plymouth Barred Rocks. I have one and she is the sweetest of the bunch- although her eggs aren't as large. If you want larger eggs I would go with a golden star (this breed has a lot of names such as golden comet) because they lay larger eggs. And as far as egg producers go leghorns are notorious egg-layers. I hope this helped and good luck.

 

[dkam]

Thanks for the advice! My local feed store, where I plan on getting my chicks don't ever have Golden Stars. They will have Black Australorps and Buff Orpingtons available one week later this month and Plymouth Barred Rocks the next week. I do not want to mix one week apart chicks because from what I have read here, I would have to keep them separate for the first week. I would rather get Black Australorps and Buff Orpingtons or just Buff Orpingtons that week, OR get all Plymouth Barred Rocks the next week.

So, I'm deciding on an ALL Plymouth Barred Rock flock, a Buff Orpington/Black Australorp flock, or just a Buff Orpington flock.


Are Black Australorps usually quiet and docile?

 

[Spangled]

I've not ever had a problem putting chicks with a one week age difference together. I have done it a lot -- even two weeks is doable. You just have to make sure that there's enough space at your feeder for the newbies when they come home (or hatch). But I time it so that I am at home all day for a few days so that I can watch and make sure there are no problems. But do what you feel is best and what you feel comfortable with. Life always seems easier that way.

Chickens are unpredictable much of the time and some strains or lines will carry different traits, personalities, and temperments. My Barred Rocks were noisy. And it wasn't an environmental issue because I gave some Barred Rock chicks away and those two are still very noisy for my friend who has close neighbors. I guess you can't always be sure. The Barred Rocks were good chickens to have around, friendly and very good at laying eggs, but ours were noisy.

My Marans are very quiet and docile/calm, but aren't super layers. My Australorps are very quiet, but a little stand offish (but still fine). My two Speckled Sussex are quiet and docile, but not as great a layer as an Australorp. My green egg layers are good egg layers and are quiet and docile, but a lot of people say that theirs aren't so calm. (I think it depends on what they are crossed with.) My Wyandottes were good layers over this last winter and were quiet and docile, but a little pecky to other chickens at the feeder.

10 x 10 is a good sized run for 6 chickens. Yes, the sun is great for them, but they also need the shade. Some folks use tarps; some use 8 x 4 pieces of plywood across the top or propped along the sides. As soon as it gets around 70F or so, mine will seek out shade. I guess I mention that because we didn't think of that with our run when we were designing it (luckily we can free range them so that they can go hang out in the bushes/trees).

Any one of your plans sounds smart to me. It sounds like you're on top of things. I would probably get the earliest chicks I could because you never know if the next week's order will come in (plans change) and also sometimes they all get bought up really quickly. A bird in the hand is better than hoping to get chicks next week ... probably. Plus, the earlier you get chicks, the earlier the eggs will start appearing and when it gets close, waiting for the first egg can be nerve wracking.