Chicken breeds....Should we get 6 the same, 6 differnet, 3 pairs, 2 trios?

[ladytophamhatt]

we're getting them from here. They haven't got a huge selection of breeds but its a lovely plce and we've had lot sof good feedback.

I would get a mixture - maybe 2x Bovan Nera, 2x Wood Rangers, a white ranger and a blue haze.

is it best to get a mixture?

or is it just because they all look nice

Cos they look nice !
No don't some lay better than others etc

A mixture is good, as they lay different shades of eggs, so the white ranger will give you white eggs, a maran would give you dark eggs, the brown hens are very prolific, and bovan neras are very resilient good layers.

And they do look nice!

Any mixture of these will be fine, have whatever you like! They're all roughly the same size so should get on well together and are all good layers. The Marans might lay fewer than the others but that's the price you pay for -weirdy-- chocolate-brown eggs!

VP - if your dog is a terrier then you may have to keep the hens in a run all the time. But most dogs learn that the hens belong to you and won't chase them, though they may round them up or wander over for a friendly sniff. Our dog was about 4yo when he discovered chickens - he ran round and round their pen for a day and then got bored. By the time we let the hens out to free-range, the dog mostly ignored them.

Our dog will be terrified of them, she'd chase anything out of teh agrden that can run or fly out(properly fly out I mean) but if it doesn't then she'll be petrified.

Shes shaking like a leaf atm becuase teh dishwasher is on.....stupid bloody creature.

On my very limited sample from Martins wood...the light sussex is the biggest and is boss, the blue haze is next in line then the red one. All three are now up to speed and are laying daily without fail. The smallest red one has the biggest eggs and often does extra big double-yolkers. All 3 are friendly and will let my 4yo pick them up (although I am trying to discourage thisas they do look slightly peturbed!)

All three are incredibly beautiful....!

I don't think it matters what combination you get if bought at same time,from same flock and similiar size. I got 3 different to make it more interesting....they all seem to speak same language!

Unfortunatley my dog has history . With the next door neighbours rabbit that was in a run . And squirrels when out on walks.
We (obviously) can no longer let her off the lead on walks and have had to majorly re-inforce the garden fence.
Thank you though. My mum has chickens and two dogs quite happily. It is just our poor rescue dog who is the problem. Such a shame because she is perfect apart from this unfortunate instinct . She is a mongrel and now 9 so we are hoping for a good 5 or 6 more years from her. I will be back on here then .

I currently have a variety of hens under one of my broodies - red mottled leghorns, orpingtons, aracaunas and wyandottes.

I'm really excited to see what we get!