Since I personally like visual variety, I'd order from the hatchery myself so I could get several different breeds. Meyer, Murray McMurray, Cackle, Ideal are all big hatcheries that seem to do well. If you've got to order 25, I say why limit yourself to just two breeds?
Feather footed is a decision to make. Do you want to deal with mud or snow balls in those toes? They also drag mud into the nest boxes and your eggs can get dirtier with feather footed birds.
Some folks feel white birds free ranging are an advertisement for an all-you-can-eat buffet for predators.
Black Aussies are great, dependable layers of large eggs. They're calm, reasonably efficient, and overall great backyard birds.
Mincoras are said to be decent layers, and some pure white eggs sure offset the other colors in the carton or basket.
Brahmas and Cochins--feather footed. Also not as great on egg production, and egg size tends to be smaller for the amount of feed they consume. They also tend to go broody more than production birds, that could be a pro or a con, depending.
Dominiques--should be great backyard birds. Good layers, efficient feed to production ratio, barred pattern helps protect from predators.
Langshan--I have no experience with. Feather footed.
Cuckoo Marans--hatchery birds often won't lay the really dark eggs. But, I've been happy with the production level of my hatchery birds.
New Hampshire--a classic Red layer. Should be nice for a backyard flock. Some hatchery Reds tend to be more on the aggressive side, but that's not an absolute.
White Rock-possible predator magnet. Otherwise good backyard birds. Calm, good layers.
Welsummers are good flock birds. Eggs are usually a darker color, making a pretty basket. Their color blends well for free ranging and they're good foragers.
Feather footed is a decision to make. Do you want to deal with mud or snow balls in those toes? They also drag mud into the nest boxes and your eggs can get dirtier with feather footed birds.
Some folks feel white birds free ranging are an advertisement for an all-you-can-eat buffet for predators.
Black Aussies are great, dependable layers of large eggs. They're calm, reasonably efficient, and overall great backyard birds.
Mincoras are said to be decent layers, and some pure white eggs sure offset the other colors in the carton or basket.
Brahmas and Cochins--feather footed. Also not as great on egg production, and egg size tends to be smaller for the amount of feed they consume. They also tend to go broody more than production birds, that could be a pro or a con, depending.
Dominiques--should be great backyard birds. Good layers, efficient feed to production ratio, barred pattern helps protect from predators.
Langshan--I have no experience with. Feather footed.
Cuckoo Marans--hatchery birds often won't lay the really dark eggs. But, I've been happy with the production level of my hatchery birds.
New Hampshire--a classic Red layer. Should be nice for a backyard flock. Some hatchery Reds tend to be more on the aggressive side, but that's not an absolute.
White Rock-possible predator magnet. Otherwise good backyard birds. Calm, good layers.
Welsummers are good flock birds. Eggs are usually a darker color, making a pretty basket. Their color blends well for free ranging and they're good foragers.
