Chickens

Brad, I've been raising chickens for nearly 7 years now. I've had game hens (avoid at all costs), RIR, NHR, Ameracaunas (those tinted eggs are awesome), Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, and several mongrels. In order of temperament (best to worst), I'd have to agree that the Buff Orps are the way to go especially for your climate. Ameracaunas, Australorps, and Barred Rocks are a close second. I've had RIR hens that were as sweet as they could be and others that were just flighty (probably from hanging around those game hens too long). In any event, mixing breeds won't hurt, but like Carl said, introducing new birds to an existing flock can be a problem. Right now, I'm running about 50 hens or so and getting 18-30 eggs a day. It's been a banner year and sales to my friends and co-workers have been really good. Blessed!

Thanks for the additional info Ben!

Brad

Sorry, know the thread is a bit old.....anyhow. We ordered 7 Red Sex Link chicks (feel kinda dirty typing that! LOL) Four were DOA on arrival, 2 died in my wife's hand and one kinda came around and was doing great but died after a day, maybe being alone, knowing chickens are flock animals. Took the kids the next day to a local feed/farm store and bought Buff Orpingtons, Red Sex Links, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds, two of each breed. All doing well, course our city ordinance says only 4 chickens...

I guess chickens can have sleep overs like kids...right?

Hope you get a refund for the first batch. A good hatchery should stand by their birds through the first 48 hours. Usually I get a store credit for any DOAs. Here's to hoping all of these biddies live well and grow into some egg-laying machines!

Yep, they stood by their promise. Total refund on the chicks.

Dang, bummer on the first batch.
Our friends who we got ours from ordered 17 for their CSA. About 3 weeks ago, something got into the coop and killed very single one, decapitated them all, only ate one. So when you have chickens, shit happens!

I will try to get pics of my hens, they are almost full grown. My largest Plymouth Rock is the boss, the other PR is 1st officer. The Cuckoo Moran hangs back but doesn't take too much crap off either of them. They seem to be thriving, quite characters really. They like being hand fed, they wait for my daughter to feed them clover every afternoon.
The chickens are like TV for the dog, she will sit and watch them for 10-15 minutes at a time. She made the mistake of sticking her nose into the fence yesterday and the boss hen nailed her right in the snout!

Thanks Carl. I never thought we'd enjoy them as much as we do. Our lab has already taken on the role of protector, whenever the cats come around, he's right there to make sure everything is on the up and up.

I know, I know...this is an old thread. I've been building a coop(8 birds) and I've decided I'm gonna go with 6 Black Australorps and 2 Wyandottes-1 golden laced and 1 silver laced(for the fiancé). She loves the way they look and they are decent layers. I wanted to get some light and speckled sussexes but were out.

A friend of ours has australorps and they are a docile, easy going bird. Not to mention they have a very pretty color about them. Black with almost a green sheen.

When you get your coop done SNAKE, I'd love to see a pic of it, or anyone else's for that matter. I kinda just winged it on my design but I think it's coming along ok.