2021 Breed Suggestions

[Blw18]

Not sure if this is the right category to place this thread in but here goes anyway. I am looking to add another breed or two to the farm next year for breeding. This year I added liege fighters, blue wyandottes, shamo to the menagerie. Other breeds I already have are Ayam Cemani, buff laced Brahma, several varieties of Orpington, Egyptian fayoumi, BLR wyandotte, naked neck, white silkie, black langshan, and ameraucana. I’ve kept many many breeds over the years on one end of the spectrum to other so experience isn’t a factor. I’d like it to be one that sells well to help keep down the costs of feeding. Also looking for it to be a rarer breed so I can help in building numbers up. It doesn’t matter if it’s APA accepted or not. I’m also trying to steer away from bantams due to hawk predation while free-ranging but given the right breed, I might consider. I have my own candidates but I wanted to get other opinions. Thanks!

 

[Blw18]

I suggeat the brabanter. I have a 5 year old that still lays a good size bright white egg 5 -6 times a week. She is a sweet girl that is very people friendly. Also great with my toddler grandkids.i dont have a rooster so i dont know thier temperament.
This is a beautiful breed that is very hard to find. I think deal poultry still sells them, but you are waitlisted.
Best wishes finding the best breed for you.

Thanks! I almost bought a dozen chicks a few months ago but didn’t and now I regret it. If I can come across some good quality brabanters, then they’re definitely a possibility.

Temperament aside, Iowa Blues are a possibility. Mine are not the friendliest birds and if they free range, it's a challenge to chase them down. BUT, when the hens have escaped, they've always managed to stay alive in the great outdoors until I can round them up again.

They are fairly rare, dual purpose birds that go broody and are protective mothers. There's a legend that the first Blues were the result of (and here goes the ridiculous part) a mating between a White Leghorn hen and a scoundrel pheasant.

Definitely a breed I’ve considered simply due to the history of the breed. My problem now is getting good stock. I’ve never seen Iowa blues anywhere close to where I live so I’d have to have them shipped in and I really prefer to stay away from hatchery stock. How big are yours? Thanks!!

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Sultans. There pretty rare. White faced Spanish.

 

[Blw18]

Sultans. There pretty rare. White faced Spanish.

Oh I completely forgot about the white faced Spanish.

 

[Blw18]

I've had mine for more than four years and purchased a breeding trio from a farm near Carlisle, in central Iowa. I have no idea how old they were when I got them, but the two original hens are dead. One died of unknown causes after raising chicks; the other during a summer when buffalo gnats overran Iowa, and Lady Emma was a victim.

I now have my beautiful rooster, Sir Henry the Loud, and his two daughters -- which means no breeding here. Which, given my problem with chicken math, is probably a good thing.

I love the names btw. Sir Henry the Loud made me laugh

Dong Toe aka the Drangon Chicken. If your in the US I don't know if you can get these though.

Unfortunately I’m in the US but if they happened to be imported, I’d jump at the chance to get some!! They’re so cool!

 

[Blw18]

Were the dozen brabanter eggs local or online? I looked for eggs or chicks for a while because i had 2 hens left, comet-6 and brabanter -5 , so i knew i had to get more flock or i would end up with a lone hen soon. I.ended up with a dozen common breeds.

They were online. I was looking at leige fighters in a rare breed Facebook page and saw the post about brabanter chicks. I inquired about them and almost bought them but I had my mind set on buying the liege chicks. I had seen the liege right before and decided just to use the money to buy a few extra liege rather than the brabanters...that way I only have to worry about one shipment rather than two.

 

[Blw18]

No experience with them yet, but OEGB.
They're at the top of my list of breeds I need.

I have only heard good things about them. I LOVE everything about them.
If I didn't already have a full house (stuffed a load of Orps into my coops) I would definitely be looking for some OEGB.

I also like Sussex. Fairly normal, well-known breed - you've probably had some yourself, but I've had a great experience with them.

YESSS!! I’ve always wanted to get either porcelain or spangled OEGB’s. And I understand about the Orps. I have jubilee, BBS, chocolate cuckoo, grey cuckoo, and black Orpingtons running all over the place. I used to have a pair of coronation Sussex that I thought were great. HUGE too.

 

[Duckee]

I suggeat the brabanter. I have a 5 year old that still lays a good size bright white egg 5 -6 times a week. She is a sweet girl that is very people friendly. Also great with my toddler grandkids.i dont have a rooster so i dont know thier temperament.
This is a beautiful breed that is very hard to find. I think deal poultry still sells them, but you are waitlisted.
Best wishes finding the best breed for you.

 

[Callender Girl]

Temperament aside, Iowa Blues are a possibility. Mine are not the friendliest birds and if they free range, it's a challenge to chase them down. BUT, when the hens have escaped, they've always managed to stay alive in the great outdoors until I can round them up again.

They are fairly rare, dual purpose birds that go broody and are protective mothers. There's a legend that the first Blues were the result of (and here goes the ridiculous part) a mating between a White Leghorn hen and a scoundrel pheasant.

 

[Callender Girl]

I've had mine for more than four years and purchased a breeding trio from a farm near Carlisle, in central Iowa. I have no idea how old they were when I got them, but the two original hens are dead. One died of unknown causes after raising chicks; the other during a summer when buffalo gnats overran Iowa, and Lady Emma was a victim.

I now have my beautiful rooster, Sir Henry the Loud, and his two daughters -- which means no breeding here. Which, given my problem with chicken math, is probably a good thing.