Purchasing for the first time in Colorado

Hello,

I am looking to start a flock in the spring. I did a breed search and it seemed like Faverolles were the best breed for us. What is the most economical option for me?

I am also open to other breeds. I have four children, so I would like a docile bird that is easy to care for and is a good layer.

Thanks!

rgcamire said:

Hello,

I am looking to start a flock in the spring. I did a breed search and it seemed like Faverolles were the best breed for us. What is the most economical option for me?

I am also open to other breeds. I have four children, so I would like a docile bird that is easy to care for and is a good layer.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

The most economical option would be to order a readily available breed of chicks from a hatchery. I would suggest paying a little extra and ordering pullets rather than straight run. What extra you spend you will more than make up for by not having half (or more) of them being roosters. Even in a pullet order, you will likely get a rooster or two as most hatcheries only guarantee 90% on pullet orders. Also, if the minimum order is more birds than you want or need, you can easily sell off some of the pullets (you will have the order form to show that they are pullets) and recoop your money. As far as other breeds go, I would recommend Black Australorps. I've raised them for years, and they are extremely hardy. I've raised them where winter temperatures reached 30 F below zero and they did just fine. They are calm and gentle. My children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets out of them. And they are the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds. A Black Australorp holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days, and while none of mine have ever reached that kind of production (and likely never will), I've still had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year.
Other breeds that I've raised that are very cold hardy, decent layers (although not as good as the Australorps), and very friendly and gentle (my children made lap pets of these as well) are Buff Orpingtons, Light Brahmas, and Speckled Sussex. Whatever breeds you decide to get, good luck with your flock.