Help me choose!!

[warmfuzzies]

OK, I brought this idea up to DH and he seemed to think it was a good one...

I am thinking about getting a few more birds for breeding, to sell the pullets locally, and probably raise the cockerals for meat.
I need something that is a good dual- purpose bird, and also one that would sell well as pullets. (Either be well known or very catchy)

I know I dont want rir, but I am open to anything else. I will probably be ordering with my friend from welp, so they dont have a huge variety.

I already will be breeding to sell- black cochin, and partridge rock.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Have you thought about Black Australorp? or some of the Brahmas? I know the cockerels can get big in both and make good meat birds. Even the hens in the Australorps get pretty big. I have one who started laying a few weeks ago and she's the biggest of my RIR, BR, and EE.

 

[warmfuzzies]

I was really thinking about brahmas. I think they are beautiful. Do they lay well?

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
First of all you need a reality check, meaning what sells in your local market.
That vary widely from state to state and perhaps smaller area than a state also.

Nobody on this board can give you honest advise if it is in contrary to your local demand and particular taste with chicken buyers.

 

[sandypaws]

i thought any of the "rocks" are supposed to be a good duel-purpose bird

 

[warmfuzzies]

I know the local sellers have rir, BO, BR, and that sort of thing, your common brown egg layers. Plus EEers. While I like them, I thought something different would maybe sell better, as it is REALLY hard to get anything unique here, unless you order chicks. I just thought once people saw them, they would like the idea of getting something different.

 

[sandypaws]

it is usually HARDER to sell unusually breeds (at least in my area)

i have minorcas, andelusians, cochin, cuckoomarans.. ect... i tryed to sell off my Xtras,, people did not know these breeds, and kept asking me, dont you have any RIRs?? or they would look at my marans and ask "wont you sell me those barred rocks???"
i also bred a litter of karelian beardogs.. even tho the breed is about 200-300 years old, nobody KNOWS what they are, and were IMPOSSIBLE to sell.. i only SOLD ONE, gave the other 4 away for free to freinds of mine...

 

[Momma_Cluck]

I was thinking Rocks.. different "catchy" color for the pullets, good layers of nice sized brown eggs, and FAT males for the cook-pot!

 

[warmfuzzies]

I wonder if I got barred rock hens, would the crosses with my PR roo be a sex link? I also saw there are columbian rocks? Does anyone know about these?

 

[Kanchii]

Plymouth rocks. They lay wonderfully and are good sized for meat as well. If you can get them from an actual breeder, not hatchery lines, you'd be surprised with their great, big size!