Delawares

[speckledhen]

Depends on what you want to do. Linebreeding is a common practice with chickens, i.e., mother to son or grandson, etc. Hey, if you're in western NC, you probably aren't far from me. I'm in Fannin County, GA, less than a mile from the NC line.

 

[joletabey]

Let me look on a map! I don't know Georgia all that well - I moved here a few years ago!
I always wanted to breed "better" horses, so I imagine I will want to breed the best I can if I went that route- good bodies for eating and good egg production. I got the idea Delawares were dual purpose birds?
I like that your roo is sweet. My DH is leary about my having a roo.

 

[herechickchick]

There was a great article in last months Back Yard Poultry magazine about breeding heritage poultry, it was really interesting I liked it a lot. If I were you I would start a heritage breeding flock instead of a mixed flock. I am now in the process of re-homing most of my mixed flock to make way for my breeding flock (I only have space for 1 coop). It is difficult to let go of your hens when you become attached to them so if you want to breed I would go on ahead and start obtaining stock for that breed.