What chicks are you getting this Spring?

[Cluckcluck1215]

I MIGHT be getting some"!Hopefully mother says yes cause they have Cuckoo MARANS!

 

[Sparklecoon]

We haven't had any chickens in about a year and a half. We'd maintained a small flock of Welsh Harlequin (plus one runner) ducks until a predator killed 8 of our 10 birds one night before Christmas. I just placed an order with Meyer for May. 11 Faverolles st run (I've always wanted some), 2 buff brahmas pullets and 2 random Cochin pullets. I'd like to keep one,Faverolles roo and any others will end up in the freezer. I also added on 3 Welsh Harlequins for the heck of it. I know they won't be the quality I had in my holderreads birds but I don't need the minimum number of ducks I'd need to order from them (though if they still bred runners I wouldn't be saying the same thing ).

 

[Leihamarie]

I've got a silver-gray dorking, a black copper marans and a welsummer coming, although not til June. I'm REALLY excited though!!! I've ALWAYS wanted a BCM and the silver-gray dorking looks REALLY sweet!

 

[Ducks4us]

Got lavender ameraucana chicks last week, and picking up white ameraucana chicks tonight !!
All chicks from breeders only an hour away!

 

[lutherpug]

My existing backyard flock includes a Black Australorp, RIR, and Dominique. This year I added an Easter Egger, Lavender Orpington, and SLW. I'm waffling on keeping the SLW-so far she has a dreadful personality but I'm hoping she shapes up as she gets a little older

I only have room for 6 hens so, for now, this is it. Of course, I can think of about 20 or 30 more breeds that I'd like to try and don't even get me started on the bantams!

 

[Ducks4us]

My existing backyard flock includes a Black Australorp, RIR, and Dominique. This year I added an Easter Egger, Lavender Orpington, and SLW. I'm waffling on keeping the SLW-so far she has a dreadful personality but I'm hoping she shapes up as she gets a little older   

I only have room for 6 hens so, for now, this is it. Of course, I can think of about 20 or 30 more breeds that I'd like to try and don't even get me started on the bantams! 

I got 4 gold laced wyandotte pullets in spetember- two turned out roosters and the other two girls also had dreadful personalities toward all the other chicks. So i sold them!

 

[Magnolia7330]

I ordered my first flock that will be coming in April. They are coming from Meyer. I ordered an Australorp, Welsummer, Easter Egger, and surprise Meyer Meal Maker.

 

[KeyFlock]

We're going to be ordering our first chicks of the year from Cackle Hatchery within the month! Planning on getting Rhode Island Reds, Rhode Island Whites, and Barred Rocks for the main flocks, and we're also going to be starting up a bantam flock this year! Thinking of some Silkies and maybe D'uccles. Along with all that, we're probably going to be hatching some Easter Egger crosses from a friend's flock.

 

[silkie1472]

I only have silkies and white leghorns now, but I'm planning on getting more. 13 silkie chicks as of now.

 

[mclanea]

Ah San Diego, my old stomping ground. Be careful and buy from a breeder, not just any backyard flock. Ya'll are close to the border and need to make sure the birds are US bred and clean of disease. The Mexicans have a tendency to bring their fighting birds across the borer without health checks. Don't want to buy from a non NPIP flock which also has fighting birds on the premises. How about getting some top notch RIR 's and upgrading your flock? Then you could maybe show them, That would be fun.
Or get some high quality Marans. Ones from a strain which is winnig for dark eggs at the egg shows. Then show your eggs. Lots of fun . Pick 3 eggs, pack include 5.oo entry fee, and mail to the show. Eggs are judged and destroyed. Club sends you any prizes you won. This is lots of fun, esp. for the kids! You can check the egg show results online and buy from a winning breeder. When you win, brag including " these are (name the beeder) strain." That's always a nice touch. Gives your seller some nice press and a nice thank you for sharing their birds with you.
Best,
Karen
And no, I am not rac-ist about Mexican chickens. I just remember several years ago when a poultry farm employee brought his illegal fighting game cock from Mexico to a San Diego county poultry farm up near Norco. The game cock was sick, the farm got sick and 100,000 birds were destroyed. Yes, you read that right, 100,000 for one game cocks' sickness. Better safe than sorry.

Do you have an breeders in San Diego county you'd be willing to recommend? We live in the city itself and are looking for 2-3 more pullets. We enjoy the chickens but I don't think showing them or their eggs is in our future. We got the others at City Farmer here in the neighborhood but they won't be getting chicks again until mid-April, we'd like to get an earlier start.

Thanks for your comment. Really encouraging.