Your Ideal Flock....of only 4 birds!

[Tsjschickens]

Calico princess are new this year and not much info on the web about them. We have two and have no complaints at all. They seem like they can take hot weather well , started laying at 15 weeks are friendly and non flighty. Just in case you happen to run across them trying to decide on your flock.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Okay, so because of ordinances in my area, I'm only allowed to have 4 chickens total. (I know, it's terrible, isn't it?!)

We will finally be moving from a 950 ft apartment in Southern California to a large house with some land in the San Bernardino mountains. I'm so, so excited because I've never been able to keep chickens before! (Not possible in an apartment with 3 cats.) I've been researching like crazy and bought several books about chickens. There is already a large fence on the property, so we plan to free range our chickens when we're home, but they'll have a very large coop with a run otherwise.

I've done a lot of research on the topic of breeds- but many times the info about the breed isn't always accurate or is incomplete by some of the breeders and hatcheries, and I also hear a good deal about people getting different breeds than what they ordered. I also see posts about particular breeds that are known for their broodiness or their friendliness, but being complete opposites of that. So, I decided to ask all you experienced chicken lovers out there. My question is, if you could choose only 4 birds, what 4 birds would you choose to create your flock, and why? What breeds have the had the best experiences with? And what do you think are the best qualities for an ideal flock?

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

My chocolate Orpington out produced, were heartier and much friendlier than my buffs.....

My Ameracauna roo is my favorite ever. So is his hen....

RIR produce great but I don't like their temperament so their cousin the golden comet or Isa Brown.

And then a Jubilee Orpington or a EE.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I know your pain, I'm allowed 6 but due to the size of my breed vs Chicken House, stick to 4. I used to raise hatches until 6-8wks old chicks for a friend so got to "test" out several breeds ... Seramas, OEGB, Australorps, Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, Silkies, RIR

Orpingtons are my favorite, they are easy & friendly. Have tried keeping a mix "flock" but have learned all of one breed or at least two of a kind works best, no odd man out and never an odd number flock.

Keeping an odd number flock, two get cliquish although they get along
Same as when you have 3 of a breed & 1 differ
Keeping a pair of 2 breeds, seemed balanced
What works best for me is 4 of a kind, so maybe if you chose a breed that has different coloring, that may keep it colorful.
Have not tried 1 of 4 different breeds .... yet

 

[child_of_air]

Good luck with the chicken math sickness, I hope you don't get a raging case of it!

Oh, I'm already pretty sick, fever and all. I stayed up until 5 am researching about breeds, if that tells you anything, for some reason it seemed preferable to sleeping. I'm very taken with the Lavender Orpingtons......must have one!

 

[MissChick@dee]

I have a flock of only 4. Spoiled rotten, sweet, good egg laying girls. I’ve learned a lot of things the hard way. First think of the weather I love Orpingtons but I live in the desert and heat Kills, they are a heavy bird with tons of fluff. Winters get to single digits here too (not for months) so keep in mind taking care of their combs and waddles (frost bite). If you base your choice from how others rate breeds my experience has been they each have their own personality I handle my birds a lot from babies it’s easier when they trust you should you have to medically treat them. I have a mixed bag of nuts. A leghorn a brown of some type (was supposed to be a Orph) a white lace Wyandotte and a Ameraucana. I have my favorite all for different reasons all are sweet as pie. Sometimes God gives you what you need not what you want I’m happy with my brown hen Chia (like the TV commercial Chia Pet lol) and probably best she wasn’t a Orph. Did you know there as Lavender Orphingtons. My dream bird (but not best for my area) Good Luck, best wishes for your girls and you.

 

[child_of_air]

I know your pain, I'm allowed 6 but due to the size of my breed vs Chicken House, stick to 4. I used to raise hatches until 6-8wks old chicks for a friend so got to "test" out several breeds ... Seramas, OEGB, Australorps, Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, Silkies, RIR

Orpingtons are my favorite, they are easy & friendly. Have tried keeping a mix "flock" but have learned all of one breed or at least two of a kind works best, no odd man out and never an odd number flock.

Keeping an odd number flock, two get cliquish although they get along
Same as when you have 3 of a breed & 1 differ
Keeping a pair of 2 breeds, seemed balanced
What works best for me is 4 of a kind, so maybe if you chose a breed that has different coloring, that may keep it colorful.
Have not tried 1 of 4 different breeds .... yet

This is very good advice. Thank you, I have not heard that before so I will keep that in mind. I plan to get them all as chicks as once so they can be raised together and get a little hand-feeding action by me. I want friendly birds, but they don't all need to be that way.

And MissChick@dee- YES! I want one. Badly.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh, I'm already pretty sick, fever and all. I stayed up until 5 am researching about breeds, if that tells you anything, for some reason it seemed preferable to sleeping. I'm very taken with the Lavender Orpingtons......must have one!

I found mine disappointing and wouldn't get anymore. Mine are more aloof and not as typey as my buffs, or chocolates. But the great thing about chickens is everyone can find what they like the best, and what best fits them. That's one appeal of keeping chickens, the varieties.

 

[BreanneRN]

Well, everyone is going to tell you something different because everyone has different goals and priorities when getting chickens... You have to ask what your primary purpose is in having the chickens so you can prioritize those qualities above others... I don't think you need to worry about the heat as much at 4000 feet, maybe you will have snow in winter, so will need a better chicken house up there. Definitely will have predators, so will need that good chicken house and lock up at night. Are you more interested in egg production, personality as pets, should they be colorful/pretty/unusual? Are you more interested in classic or Heritage breeds? Do you want large birds or bantams? How involved will your children be? You can help us advise you if you can be more specific about your expectations for the 4 you can have... Glad I can have more than 4 and roosters, too. Some birds, like Cochins lay more in the winter months, so if egg laying is more important year round, add one of those. Maybe you will want one of each from each category?

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x @MissChick@dee on LOs (Lavender Orpingtons) ... @oldhenlikesdogs I would love a Chocolate ....I've only had Buffs from the feed store ... Maybe the next "flock" I should try ordering a variety of Orpington colors

Yes, you most certainly need to consider the weather vs breed.