breeding seems like it's far off, if ever, because my neighbor would probably explode if i got a rooster -- and i'm not remotely ready to deal with separate breeding pens, etc. i've just got my one coop/run (for all of a month now!), fabulous though it is.
the calculus i'm struggling with is how many chicks to order, knowing that some are likely to be male & therefore i can't keep? the six i've gotten so far were all pullets already, 6-8 weeks old, & so gender was fairly certain -- and IF the cream legbars i've ordered hatch okay, they're auto-sexing -- but everything else i'm thinking of is straight run, & from the way(s) i've been considering this, i could end up with anywhere from 8-14 hens, which is a pretty wide swing.
also trying to decide between breeds i'm a little more excited about but that would need to be shipped from afar, vs. ones i can drive & pick up the chicks. i prefer the latter, but also realize that once school starts again (aug 21) my schedule will be WAY less flexible...
too many variables!
