Hi! I have kept a small backyard flock for about three years, just hens since we are in the suburbs. We are planning to move to a house with some land next year, which means MORE CHICKENS! And a ROOSTER! I am so excited about it, I just love chickens! My husband says "I love you and all your silly birds." He is very understanding of the obsession.
But if I have a rooster, that means there can be CHICKS! I have gone round and round on what breed I'd like to keep, and the leaders of the pack are Ameraucanas, BC Marans, other Marans, Wyandottes, Jersey Giants, Turkens and Cochins (for the lols, as they say.) I know it is true with dogs, horses and the like that crossing breeds and making extra babies is not a responsible thing to do, just because you want babies. The same is not true for chickens, right? I have NEVER had a problem selling the chicks, the few times I have incubated a clutch. And with extra room, I could always keep the chicks until they matured, and we could eat them. Not exactly cost effective, but it would be a balm to my troubled mind - I hate the way factory chickens are treated, I would rather eat our own, who had a wonderful chicken-ish life, even if they are way more expensive to raise. So, I don't have any "this is irresponsibly creating more chickens without homes" the way it happens with dogs and horses, right?
So with that concern out there ... I like Ameraucanas for the blue and green eggs, BCMs for the chocolate eggs, BCM/Ameraucana crosses for the olive eggs, Jersey Giants for their size, Wyandottes for the laced colors and personalities, and Turkens and Cochins because they are hilarious looking. I love the frizzled guys! Is there any reason NOT the cross them, and see what comes out of the cross? A green-egg laying, frizzles, laced, naked-necked chicken would be really cool!
Any feedback appreciated! Thanks, guys!

But if I have a rooster, that means there can be CHICKS! I have gone round and round on what breed I'd like to keep, and the leaders of the pack are Ameraucanas, BC Marans, other Marans, Wyandottes, Jersey Giants, Turkens and Cochins (for the lols, as they say.) I know it is true with dogs, horses and the like that crossing breeds and making extra babies is not a responsible thing to do, just because you want babies. The same is not true for chickens, right? I have NEVER had a problem selling the chicks, the few times I have incubated a clutch. And with extra room, I could always keep the chicks until they matured, and we could eat them. Not exactly cost effective, but it would be a balm to my troubled mind - I hate the way factory chickens are treated, I would rather eat our own, who had a wonderful chicken-ish life, even if they are way more expensive to raise. So, I don't have any "this is irresponsibly creating more chickens without homes" the way it happens with dogs and horses, right?
So with that concern out there ... I like Ameraucanas for the blue and green eggs, BCMs for the chocolate eggs, BCM/Ameraucana crosses for the olive eggs, Jersey Giants for their size, Wyandottes for the laced colors and personalities, and Turkens and Cochins because they are hilarious looking. I love the frizzled guys! Is there any reason NOT the cross them, and see what comes out of the cross? A green-egg laying, frizzles, laced, naked-necked chicken would be really cool!
Any feedback appreciated! Thanks, guys!