How did you pick your breeds?

[that_crazy_lady]

I didn't, they picked me, so far at least.
I got what ever pullets they had at the feed store, and what ever other oddies that I wanted.


the breeds that keep me are Delaware, EE, BA, Games, and in bantams Sebrights, OEGB, and the list keeps going. I don't have all of thses right now, but trust me I will.

My plan is SQ Dels, Games, and that long list of bannys, with a wild colored laying flock - birds and eggs. I'm giving my self 6 months, 6 months to plan/build coops, get the cash, then the new birds. then I have an 8 month plan/list, a year list, and then a 'one of thses days" list

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
Love it!!
That's what I did too, then over the years, it doesnt take long, you'll weed out the ones that dont pay for themselves.
It all depends on what you like, and what is in high demand. I ended up do my main focus on d'anvers because not many people here in the states had them, at least outside of quail, I now have 17 colors of them and working a dozen or so more in the next coming few years.Also like the crested bantams, but My new project for this year as well will be the bantam longtails, they're just cool as all get out!
You really cant go wrong with any, get good quality birds if you want the hatching egg business, bantams fetch more than standard in most cases, and the rarer the better in a lot of cases as they usually will be a higher demand on them. Ebay and Eggbid are good tools too for selling hatching eggs, people will go crazy over them if you have something in short supply.
But in the long run, get the ones that you love and cant seem to go with out, that way, you'll enjoy them everytime you head out to see them
Good luck
Aubrey

 

[Illia]

Yeah honestly I'd say, too - Get what you like! Everyone says get Australorps, Barred Rocks, RIR's, Sexlinks layers, etc. Personally I disagree, but that's because I like breeds that aren't sooo exceedingly common. (Also, my experiene with Sexlinks, Rocks, and RIRS were all on the agressive or not too friendly side.) I like Brahmas, Easter Eggers, Turkens, Polish Crested, and Black Copper Marans. (Mainly because of their amazing eggs, good looks, and quirky personalities. It is better than having an average looking chicken with an average brown egg)

Oh, and some of my breeds don't lay as superbly as the commonly advised breeds, but to me it is worth the wait.

 

[chicken+quail=luv]

I pick chickens more for their behavior. Like if I heard one breed is very calm and friendly, versus one that avoids human contact, I'll most likely choose the friendlier one.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
AMEN sister!

 

[wing it]

i picked some, some picked me

 

[Mahonri]

My wife who was initially anti-chicken saw how beautiful the W/BW hens were and said, All of your chickens should look like that... and she also loves the comments from those who buy eggs and those she gives them to about how colorful the eggs are... so she likes the variety.

 

[Ariel301]

I've got EEs and a Leghorn right now. I got them because they were available and a good price, but I knew I wanted some EEs. I'm not fond of the Leghorn, but have not decided yet if I want to eat her or keep her. I'm researching what else to buy when I have the money to order chicks, and the list keeps growing...I want mainly more uncommon types, but they need to be good egg layers and have good personalities so I can trust them around kids, as my extended family loves to bring their kids out to play with the animals. I'll probably end up ordering a few each of a lot of kinds, to just see what I like. I might choose one or two to keep purebred groups of for selling chicks, but for the most part I am just interested in producing nice egg laying birds that are pretty and friendly.

As far as bantams, I think the D'Uccles and the Japanese bantams are both beautiful. I've never had either, but love their looks.

 

[newchickmom09]

We actualy chose ours from our outcome on the MyPetChicken.com breed selector thing they have. http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx We wanted chickens that would lay great. We were going to order from them since we only wanted 5 chickens originaly. We ended up ordering 7 chickens just because I really liked the SLW and hubby really liked the GLW so we HAD to get one of each.

Then we got the BA because they are laying machines and that is what we wanted also if we wanted to hatch eggs we were hopeing they could do that for us. Next the EE because I loved the idea of colored eggs. They were smaller but still lay good and didn't go broody that often so they won our vote. All I knew is I didn't want the regular looking chickens.

We didn't know anything about chickens just want we read on the different hatchery sites. I am so glad with our choices and wouldn't change them. I agree with what everyone else said get what you want! You want eye candy get eye candy, you want egg machines get egg machines.

 

[Bantimna]

Well I'm still making up my mind.
I would choose a breed on:
1. Laying Ability
2. Hardiness
3. Friendliness
4. Compatibility
5. Broodiness

I have many favorites and I might add mit, that I love some thing of everything.
ETA: To change no.1 and I might add. I would like my birds to pay for them selfs.