In addition to hatching from my flock, I want to order some additional chicks with the goal of increasing the flock's average egg size, adding more color to my largely pinkish-tan egg basket, and improving the variety of feather patterns down the line (keeping with my no red, no gold rule). I'm mainly looking at Ideal, which has had the best combination of price, shipping minimums, and breed availability for me. (I like the quality of my Welp chicks, but the 5 per breed and 25 total minimums didn't work well).
Right now I'm daydreaming out loud rather than asking for advice/suggestions, but I thought I'd make a thread so I'd remember what I was thinking.
White eggs (pullets):
2 California Whites -- to replace Chipotle, who is in her second year and due to be culled next fall.
2 Ancona -- for variety in white layers and for their feather pattern.
Brown Eggs(pullets):
2 Black Langshans -- because 2 of the 3 pullets I got last spring were oops cockerels. I'm hoping for the pink/purple eggs.
2 Light Brahmas -- to replace my avatar. If I had no production concerns (we hope to sell eggs), I'd keep nothing but Brahmas because I love their beauty and am a total sucker for feathered feet. Dumpling *ought* to have been culled this fall because she's the worst layer in my flock. My in-town Brahmas laid better.
2 Dark Brahmas -- IMO, the absolute most beautiful hens in existence.
5 French Cuckoo Marans -- because I'm getting gorgeous dark and speckled eggs from the 2 pullets I have. Unfortunately, I don't see them on Ideal's website today.
Cockerels:
2 French Cuckoo Marans -- see above in re: the pullets.
Other:
I'd like to get some kind of blue-egg layer, but can't find any that fit my "no red, no gold" specs at a price point I can afford right now.
We're considering turkeys.
Right now I'm daydreaming out loud rather than asking for advice/suggestions, but I thought I'd make a thread so I'd remember what I was thinking.
White eggs (pullets):
2 California Whites -- to replace Chipotle, who is in her second year and due to be culled next fall.
Chipotle is both an absolute MACHINE for the laying of 65g eggs, having missed only a few days each month for a full year before entering a hard, fast molt. Ideal says that they have the right to substitute Ideal 236 instead of California White. I asked and they said that I can ask to be notified if the substitution is made. It's possible that those birds might be even better than Chipotle.
2 Ancona -- for variety in white layers and for their feather pattern.
Brown Eggs(pullets):
2 Black Langshans -- because 2 of the 3 pullets I got last spring were oops cockerels. I'm hoping for the pink/purple eggs.
2 Light Brahmas -- to replace my avatar. If I had no production concerns (we hope to sell eggs), I'd keep nothing but Brahmas because I love their beauty and am a total sucker for feathered feet. Dumpling *ought* to have been culled this fall because she's the worst layer in my flock. My in-town Brahmas laid better.
2 Dark Brahmas -- IMO, the absolute most beautiful hens in existence.
5 French Cuckoo Marans -- because I'm getting gorgeous dark and speckled eggs from the 2 pullets I have. Unfortunately, I don't see them on Ideal's website today.
Cockerels:
2 French Cuckoo Marans -- see above in re: the pullets.
Other:
I'd like to get some kind of blue-egg layer, but can't find any that fit my "no red, no gold" specs at a price point I can afford right now.
We're considering turkeys.