Black Chicken Options - help me choose!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I'd never heard of Thuringians before, but I think I'm in love! I guess that means that's my vote. The Marans would be my second choice just for their egg color, but of course that's only if egg color makes a difference to you at all. I don't have any experience with these breeds as bantams so I can't help as far as personalities clashing or anything, though.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

OMG now I'm also looking at barnevelders and silver pencilled wyandottes. They aren't even completely black!

Someone stop me before I end up with a gazillion new chickens!

Ahaha, this was me earlier this spring!! Chicken math is a tough bug to beat!

 

[Chicalina]

I'd never heard of Thuringians before, but I think I'm in love! I guess that means that's my vote. The Marans would be my second choice just for their egg color, but of course that's only if egg color makes a difference to you at all. I don't have any experience with these breeds as bantams so I can't help as far as personalities clashing or anything, though.

The Thuringians are super cute, but I guess I've got muffs and beards covered by the silkies and polish I have, so I'm not in need of that 'look' iyswim. Though it is really pretty!

Yes, Marans or Barnevelder for the dark eggs. I've got only white, cream and pale pink layers atm. Would love green, blue or dark brown.

 

[Chicalina]

Ahaha, this was me earlier this spring!! Chicken math is a tough bug to beat!

And me last year too! Though I had poor success in increasing my flock.

Out of 12 eggs, 6 hatched and 5 were cockerels! It took me 5 months to find homes for them all. And I got one pullet, but also one of my hens died, so my flock stayed the same number.

Chicken math is addictive. I've got two broody hens right now. One is on 13 eggs (8 are viable I think) and I'm going to get some eggs for the other one to hatch.

Hoping for a good boy/girl ratio I.e. all girls

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

The Thuringians are super cute, but I guess I've got muffs and beards covered by the silkies and polish I have, so I'm not in need of that 'look' iyswim. Though it is really pretty!

Yes, Marans or Barnevelder for the dark eggs. I've got only white, cream and pale pink layers atm. Would love green, blue or dark brown.

That makes sense. If that's the case, I'd say Marans or Barnevelder are your best bets!

And me last year too! Though I had poor success in increasing my flock.

Out of 12 eggs, 6 hatched and 5 were cockerels! It took me 5 months to find homes for them all. And I got one pullet, but also one of my hens died, so my flock stayed the same number.

Chicken math is addictive. I've got two broody hens right now. One is on 13 eggs (8 are viable I think) and I'm going to get some eggs for the other one to hatch.

Hoping for a good boy/girl ratio I.e. all girls

Aww, I'm having similar luck this year! 20 eggs incubated so far this spring, only 6 hatched, and like you, just one pullet I have more eggs on the way, so here's hoping I have better luck next time! All girls from here on would definitely be ideal!

 

[Chicalina]

1 out of 20, oh gosh that is bad luck indeed.

By the rules of probability, we should both get a better ratio this year. It's got to happen!

What are you hatching this year?

 

[DogsAndChicks123]

Dottie is beutiful another black breed that you might like is Swedish black,Sumatra,jersey giant,Minocora and la*sham are all black breeds

 

[Chicalina]

Dottie is beutiful another black breed that you might like is Swedish black,Sumatra,jersey giant,Minocora and la*sham are all black breeds

Thank you! I'm only going for bantams so that limits my options, but I'll look at what I can find online.

I've never heard of Swedish black, so will research those.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

1 out of 20, oh gosh that is bad luck indeed.

By the rules of probability, we should both get a better ratio this year. It's got to happen!

What are you hatching this year?

Goodness, I hope so!

My next hatch will probably be silkie-feathered Cochin bantams. The person I'm getting the eggs from has Blue / Black / Splash and Barred together, so the chicks should be a mix of those.

I also have some English Orpington eggs on order, Chocolate Mottled and Crele. I'm not 100% sure when those will come because that breeder fills all chick orders and then ships out eggs, so they could come next week or it could be another month before I see them.

 

[Chicalina]

Goodness, I hope so!

My next hatch will probably be silkie-feathered Cochin bantams. The person I'm getting the eggs from has Blue / Black / Splash and Barred together, so the chicks should be a mix of those.

I also have some English Orpington eggs on order, Chocolate Mottled and Crele. I'm not 100% sure when those will come because that breeder fills all chick orders and then ships out eggs, so they could come next week or it could be another month before I see them.

Wow those sound amazing! Do post pics when you get them. I would love to see that cross. And English Orps are so pretty!