Production breeds are no more prone to cannibalism than any others. You've hit on the key, they are the breeds which are used on commercial farms, and so are often seen to be feather picked. They're also the first breed chosen, or sold to, beginners who know little about chickens but just want a backyard flock for eggs. Common management mistakes due to lack of experience often results in cannibalised birds.

Brahmas and Cochins are not known to be high production layers. They're bred to be ornamental breeds, and so have not been selected for high production. They're good setters, which always cuts down on production, and they mature slowly. They will lay some, and they are beautiful birds. If you're considering a mixed flock, I would definately recommend one or two. You can use them to set some of your other eggs. Of course a dozen or so hens of even poor layers will probably provide enough eggs for most families, and they're much more interesting to look at every day than some hybrid sex link or other commercial bird, IMO.

Thanks for the insight. I agree, I would rather look at those beautiful Cochins. I might get a couple just for entertainment value, as that is what this is about for me. My MIL sells her extra eggs and told me there would be no problem selling my extras, as she can't keep up with what people are asking for. Just a little extra to defray their feed costs even if it is a few bucks here and there. With the flock I'm intending, there will be more than enough eggs for my family anyway. And you make a good point about the Cochins being setters, I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. Lori

Lori,
The thing with most of the big commercial egg producers, like Patrick pointed out, is they want high egg production from the number of birds and the amount of feed they are using so they go with a few breeds to accomplish this. Something else that many of them do is steer towards white or light colored chickens as when the hens reach the end of production, either molt or old age, they get sold off to processors who want a chicken that has very few dark colored pin feathers to be pulled. These hens either become roasters or end up being canned, made into soup or processed into the chicken nuggets, strips and other things we see in the market.

If you aren't too concerned about the breed of chickens your flock is made of, other than the Cochins or some other "ornamental" breeds, many of the hatcheries offer specials on mixed heavy breed or laying breeds. Just make sure to order either all pullets or straight run. With the straight run you should get about half cockrels, which you can butcher when they reach a size large enough for your uses.
Kevin

I have a mixed flock of pure breeds and homegrown chickens. You may want to get some Easter Eggers (listed as Araucanas/Americanas at most hatcheries) for color. I love the different color eggs I get from them. In this picture the very dark brown/red eggs are from my Marans the olive from my homegrown Easter Eggers the dark brown from my Red Stars production hens. The others could be anything from Lakenvelders to Langshans.
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My flock free ranges during the day and I love to see all the variety I have.

As has been said, Production birds are going to be egg laying machines, but not really social or 'pet' quality. Give them loads of room to free range and don't overcrowd them and you shouldn't have picking problems. But in my experience production birds can be sometimes somewhat mean in groups and 'pack up' like packs of wild dogs to sometimes prey on the more docile birds.

Cochins and Brahmas are docile, gentle and lovely, in addition to being great setters and mamas, plus they have a sweet enough temperment to be good pets. My cochins have been perfectly acceptable layers as well, although not the Super Chickens that production reds are. :)

I'd consider what you want the birds for--lots of eggs for commercial value or a simple backyard flock, and then go with that. In my own mixed flock I have mostly the more docile/sweet birds (cochins, Jersey Giant, Americaunas, etc.) and a few of the more aggressive types (banties, RIR, SLW, Frizzles, etc.). However, individuals that are REALLY too aggressive or bullying I rehome. Life's too short for such nonsense and my birds are the calmer for it.

Enjoy your birds! :)

Velvet ~:>

Thanks for the comments. I do have a plan that includes the Americaunas, Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorp, Cuckoo Marans, Speckled Sussex, and Silver Laced Wyandottes. Possibly a few Delawares and now may go with a few Cochins and Brahmas. I had mentioned before that I do want some diversity in both the flock and eggs. Woodyend, I love that picture, just what I had in mind!! Thanks for pointing out the Maran's eggs because I wondered just how dark they were likely to be. I hadn't thought to sell my extra eggs until my MIL mentioned it. I grow a lot of tomato plants and love just giving them and the fruits away to people who appreciate them. I know I just can't wait to get my flock and keep coming back here for questions and comments as a way to "get me over the hump," LOL. Thanks again. Lori

The only caution I would give you is from my experience with more than 20 pure breed chickens and that is you have some breeds that don't do well mixed. Not because they are aggressive but because they are docile. My Orpingtons and Cochins are very easy going while I have threaten my Australorps and SL Wyandottes on a daily bases when they were young , and we are talking hens here. The SLW were so mean I would watch them pull the roosters off the roost when they were juveniles. They have grown out of it now. About the Cochins I have both standards and bantams. The bantams can take care of themselves but I had to separate the standards into a sweetie pen. For eggs I love my little Rosie. She is a red star and still lays eggs even though she is almost six. Most hens productions years are about two max. She is very sweet and I think beautiful, her eggs are a dark brown.
Well good luck on your "girls" Nan.

I still have a few picking problems that I think is due to a mixed flock. It seems to get worse in the winter and spring and go away in the summer and fall. I have gotten rid of "offenders" and the same problem keeps popping up. My coop is plenty big and they free range during the day, plenty of fresh water and food etc.

I like your selection of birds, it sounds like it will be a very interesting flock. I'm with Nan in that I love a variety of egg color.

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I got rid of my RIR's this spring and do miss their dark pinky purple eggs but I really don't miss them personally. I am not sure if it was the breeding (hatchery birds) or if all RIR's are bullies (my Barred Rocks were even worse). I wonder if I got some through a breeder if they would have had better temperaments.

-Sheila

Wow your eggs are beautiful!! Your olive colored ones seems to have an inner light.

I have always liked the colored eggs, and especially enjoy having someone open a box who has never seen anything but white ones! They ask everything from, "are these fresh" to "how did you do this? Are they dyed?". Just one more of the interesting things nature does that we have gotten away from understanding.