Buff Orpingtons and Speckled Sussex?

[Kolibree]

So hubby and I are getting started on building the coop. Since we aren't supposed to have chickens in our town, we can't get too many. I think 4 will be the limit. I love the Buff Orpington, and the Speckled Sussex, so pretty. Will these two breeds get along ok? Are they good layers? I've read that the Orpington's are very docile, I don't want them to get picked on, and also that they get very broody. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[redsoxs]

The breeds will get along great - both are calm and docile and both go broody in my experience - the Buffs more so. I think they are ranked as average layers... once they start laying you should average 2 or 3 a day.

 

[chickencheeks]

We have Speckled Sussex...both roo and hen.... Some of the best birds we have owned....very people friendly....they also get along with our other chickens.... They are by far my top pick....

 

[Sallysec]

Hello Kol

. Best of luck on the chicken keeping, and maybe getting the laws changed in your area. Both breeds are great, if you want more eggs you might want to add in another breed as both of those may go broody on you. I know I love my barred rock and my australorp. Both lay almost every day.
I liked the charts available at some of the hatcheries or places that gave a good overlook on different breeds.
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

Where are you getting the hens from?

 

[memphis]

My Speckled Sussex are sweet, docile, curious, and smart. Usually lay a medium size egg 3-4 days in a row then will take a day off. They get along with all my other breeds. My favorite breed!

 

[IdasChickens]

Hi Kolibree! I'm new here

and to chicken keeping but I wanted to add my two cents! Hope you don't mind....

We ordered 5 Buff Orps, 5 Speckled Sussex (lost 2 though, but replaced them...), and 5 Barred Rocks. They all get along beautifully! Except when working out their pecking order. Though, this equates to nothing more than a few chest bumps here and there and some squawking. In fact, they really don't like to be separated at all! They get really chirpy on me when I start gathering a few at a time to bring to different locations around the yard.

We ordered ours through Meyers Hatchery. We started handling them around the 3rd day...to give them some time to de-stress. After that, I handled them often. I just go really slow and pick them up. At first, they weren't too fond of me picking them up but NOW *they are about 9 weeks*, they run to me when they see me coming, gather around my feet and wait for me to lift em. So cute!

I will say that the Buffs do seem a bit more docile than the Speckled's. But, as long as the yummy treats keep coming, they seem to warm up more everyday.

Hope I didn't go on too long here...I'm just really excited about this chicken business! These little ladies have so much personality and are so sweet already, I'm starting to have second thoughts on sending any to the freezer. I think my three person family just ended up with 15 layers!

Enjoy your new fuzzy butts when they arrive!

P.S- I'm not sure where you are getting your chicks...if 4, I'm guessing locally? Anyway, Meyers slipped a Buff Rock *pure yellow legs, yellow beak* in with our Orps, so we really have 4 BOs....You may already be well aware of this apparently common mistake, but in case you are not, just thought I'd add it.

 

[Sallysec]

Hi Kolibree! I'm new here

and to chicken keeping but I wanted to add my two cents! Hope you don't mind....

We ordered 5 Buff Orps, 5 Speckled Sussex (lost 2 though, but replaced them...), and 5 Barred Rocks. They all get along beautifully! Except when working out their pecking order. Though, this equates to nothing more than a few chest bumps here and there and some squawking. In fact, they really don't like to be separated at all! They get really chirpy on me when I start gathering a few at a time to bring to different locations around the yard.

We ordered ours through Meyers Hatchery. We started handling them around the 3rd day...to give them some time to de-stress. After that, I handled them often. I just go really slow and pick them up. At first, they weren't too fond of me picking them up but NOW *they are about 9 weeks*, they run to me when they see me coming, gather around my feet and wait for me to lift em. So cute!

I will say that the Buffs do seem a bit more docile than the Speckled's. But, as long as the yummy treats keep coming, they seem to warm up more everyday.

Hope I didn't go on too long here...I'm just really excited about this chicken business! These little ladies have so much personality and are so sweet already, I'm starting to have second thoughts on sending any to the freezer. I think my three person family just ended up with 15 layers!

Enjoy your new fuzzy butts when they arrive!

P.S- I'm not sure where you are getting your chicks...if 4, I'm guessing locally? Anyway, Meyers slipped a Buff Rock *pure yellow legs, yellow beak* in with our Orps, so we really have 4 BOs....You may already be well aware of this apparently common mistake, but in case you are not, just thought I'd add it.

Idas that sounds like me. I started with an order of 6....then 8...next thing you know 13 lol....and I had two casualties when they arrived. I am so in love with them now. They freak out and start talking the minute they see me coming out the back door. If they are free ranging they follow myself and my husband all over the yard. My husband actually loves it because he can be working on the cars or doing woodwork and they are all over his business keeping him company.

Now I am hatching my own. I love the look of the Orps and the broody factor. I actually am planning on some lavendar ones in the near future.

 

[donrae]

My best advice is to work on making your hens legal. Keeping illegal birds will be hugely stressful. You'll be amazed at how much noise hens make!

 

[Kolibree]

Hello Kol

. Best of luck on the chicken keeping, and maybe getting the laws changed in your area. Both breeds are great, if you want more eggs you might want to add in another breed as both of those may go broody on you. I know I love my barred rock and my australorp. Both lay almost every day.
I liked the charts available at some of the hatcheries or places that gave a good overlook on different breeds.
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

Where are you getting the hens from?

I have no idea yet where I will get my hens. I travel to upstate NY quite a bit, so may look up that way. It would be nice if I could find someone nearby here though. And yes, how awesome would it be for my town to allow chickens. I'm not very worried about it, we purchased land in upstate NY and will be building a house in a couple of years, then I can have all the chickens I want!!

 

[Kolibree]

My best advice is to work on making your hens legal. Keeping illegal birds will be hugely stressful. You'll be amazed at how much noise hens make!

We are moving in a couple years. Where we live now, we have an acre and a half, last house on a dead end street, with woods on three sides. My only two neighbors are friendly, aware that we are getting chickens and said they would love some eggs. Really not too worried. If there is any problems though, and I have to find them a home, I have a friend in upstate NY that will take them for me, so no stress. But thanks for the advice.