Any black, white, and/or blue breeds that I HAVE to have?

[PowellAnimals]

I am putting together an order from Ideal and trying to make sure I get all of the breeds I want as there won't be room after this batch for awhile. I am looking for only blue, white, or black breeds (this is the easiest way for me to limit the amount of breeds I need to consider!). I currently have Silkies, Dominiques, Silver Laced Polish, and definitely getting some Silver Laced Cochins. I am looking for temperament and egg production. Any breeds that Ideal carries that I absolutely have to order?

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[GitaBooks]

Sounds like an awesome flock your getting!

I've worked with silkies, cochins and other breeds like that. My little Andalusian is actually really friendly! She is black, not blue, but I don't mind. She is still so cute!
My Silver Laced Wyandotte is really friendly also, friendlier even then my young brahamas.
I think I have a Black Langshan also (my free extra chick from McMurray), but I'm not sure of its personality yet. Giants are suppose to be awesome, and they come in black, white and blue. I have a friendly Black Giant named Mrs. Potter, but my white giant is still a little shy (she is young).
My Delaware, Dexter, is the friendliest bird in the universe. Loves to perch on my shoulder or hand. She's still young, but she is awesome!
Lakenvelders are beautiful, though I'm not sure how friendly they are. I wanted one, but I didn't get it this year (hopefully soon!).


If you can't tell by the long list, I love getting as many breeds as I can as well.

Best of luck!

My Speckled Sussex, Captain (very friendly)


My Silver Laced Wyandotte


A lot of my chicks, with Andi (the Andalusian) near the front


My 18 chicks on day one

 

[junebuggena]

I love my Ideal Barred Rocks. Their personalities are great. They are really active, curious birds and are excellent foragers. All six of mine were sexed accurately and all were laying by 21 weeks.

 

[Michael OShay]

If you would like a colorful egg basket, you can add Cuckoo Marans (similar black and white barring to Barred Rocks) to your list. They are good layers, and in my personal opinion, the chocolate eggs of the Marans are the prettiest eggs in the chicken world.

 

[Manningjw]

Black Australorps are a must if you want temperament and good egg production. If you are into appearance of the bird, Blue Andalusian is a beautiful bird and a decent egg layer in my experience also less flighty than Leghorns. My parents original Blue Andalusian hen is still laying eggs several years after their Red Star of the same age quit laying altogether.

The Ideal 236 leghorn will be an amazing egg producer but temperament is lacking obviously with a leghorn. Temperament aside, I couldn't recommend a better egg layer for JUMBO sized eggs every day. I would recommend a Blue Ameraucana but they don't offer that breed, only EE's labeled as being Ameraucana. I would recommend EE as well for a nice colorful basket of eggs but it doesn't fit your "blue, black or white" requirement for feather pattern. Their temperament is good and in our experience lay lots of large blue or green eggs. Very unique looking birds with fun egg colors.

 

[Michael OShay]

Black Australorps are a must if you want temperament and good egg production.

X2 on Black Australorps as a must; extremely hardy in both heat and cold, calm and gentle (my children and granddaughter made lap pets of them), and the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds.

 

[AmyLM]

Faves of mine... Silver spangled bamburges, ancona, silver penciled Egyptian fayoumis, silver spangled spitshaubens. Black faced white spanish (mine got frost bite in a mild winter so i wont be reordering)

Oh and blue hamburges.. ive had all these. Im very fond of the hamburgs a d anconas