Help me choose breeds to raise in WI

[friskebluegills]

Hi, We are trying to start our own little hatchery in WI and I would like some opinions on what breeds to raise. It is just going to be very small, but hopefully make enough to help with the feed cost

We are definantly having buff orpingtons. They are so friendly and lay such a nice brown egg. We have welsummers and blue and black standard cochins too. I was thinking about switching from the cochins to barred rocks though

The cochin chicks just seem to be to puffy and get to much poop stuck on their butts

I know it's easy to fix, but kind of a pain. Right now, since it is WI and gets very cold, we are thinking that dual purpose breeds will be the way to go. I want to order my chicks now so they will be ready in late march to start incubating their eggs. We are looking at doing 3 breeds of chickens, plus the cayuga, muscovey, and peking ducks, and guineas of coarse.
Thanks for any help

 

[Southerngirl]

Light Brahmas are wonderful layers and do well in cold weather;very large breed.

 

[friskebluegills]

I love the brahma's too. I was actually thinking about possibly going with the buff color ones. ( I know, kind of partial to buffs) The whites are very pretty too though.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Breeds with rose combs like dominiques, hamburgs and Wyandottes are a good choice for cold weather too.

 

[SFIcelandics]

Are you going to be doing SQ birds or just hatchery stock?

What lines are your welsummers?

 

[fldiver97]

Wyandottes do well here - heavy dual purpose breed, rosecombs. As far as I know the GLW is a WI 'breed'. Also Faverolles, my BR and Wheaten Marans have done well here too..... Buckeyes are cold-hardy as far as I know

 

[bantyhen'sfriend]

I believe the thing to consider is what do you want these birds to do? Do you want to sell chicks that might be able to compete at poultry shows? Or just egg-laying farm birds? If you want to hatch the former, it would be best to go with only one or two breeds. If you want the latter, I'd say Plymouth Rocks, New Hampshire Reds, Delawares, etc. I have never liked Wyandottes, or Dominiques. I would steer clear of Cochins, because they take a very long time to mature and are not the best layers.

 

[Twin Willows]

I would have to agree with "fldiver97", you should at least consider the Golden Laced Wyandotte. They are a great dual purpose bird, very attractive and good behavior. We have both Silver and Golden Laced and really like them. Also, since you are in Wisconsin, the Golden Laced Wyandotte was developed by Joseph McKeen in Wisconsin between 1870 and 1880.
Here are a couple of our birds!

 

[augustmomx2]

I know Buckeyes are in demand. They are cold-hardy, versatile, and "made in the USA"

This year when I was ordering from Ideal Hatchery, I was able to order all of my varieties (early on in the season) EXCEPT for Buckeyes...they were already sold-out

Good Luck!

 

[friskebluegills]

I think that we will be switching to something other than the cochins. I do like those golden laced wayondottes. We are looking to do something dual purpose since we believe there would be higher demand. Th problem, I think, with doing show birds is that there isn't a high enough demand for them, and the breed seems to fluctuate to much. Plus Most people looking for exotic things are always bantams.

Our welsummers are the old European variety I guess. That's what my husband was told by the guy he bought them from. I don't know how true that is. Our rooster looks a lot like yours (SFIcelandics)
I was thinking about going hatcher stock. I don't know what SQ means (sorry) I'm afraid if I buy from local breeders that they will be inbred and not true. I was thinking about going to the show in Fond Du Lac and the one in Portage and maybe be able to pick up another nice pair or some chicks. We have 13 hens and only one roo now, I would like 20 hens and 5 roos.