How do you choose??

[Mrs. K]

I plan and plan, and then take what I can get. Chicken plans never go through for me. If you do get a broody, and have someone willing to take roosters, getting fertilized eggs and setting them under her is a fun extension for the hobby.

I admire that you did not FILL the coop, gives you room for a multi-generational flock. Do know that a lot of chickens are not real long lived. Do not be surprised if you get a highly desired bird, and then...not quite like it.

It is a fun hobby.

Mrs K

 

[KnightsMist]

I plan and plan, and then take what I can get. Chicken plans never go through for me. If you do get a broody, and have someone willing to take roosters, getting fertilized eggs and setting them under her is a fun extension for the hobby.

I admire that you did not FILL the coop, gives you room for a multi-generational flock. Do know that a lot of chickens are not real long lived. Do not be surprised if you get a highly desired bird, and then...not quite like it.

It is a fun hobby.

Mrs K

I built the coop and run to comfortably hold about 25 chickens but I'm hoping to not exceed 20...!!

We'll see about hatching eggs, it seems roosters aren't super easy to give away. I may be more inclined to swap out sexed chicks for unfertilized eggs under a broody hen and have her brood them. We'll see..!

 

[Pollito Pelon]

Naked Neck is a must

 

[Mrs. K]

swap out sexed chicks for unfertilized eggs under a broody hen and have her brood them.

Been there, done that, works like a charm. NOTHING is more fun that watching a hen with chicks.

 

[saysfaa]

After years of research and planning, I finally got my chickens this spring

Me too !!!

...how do you choose which breeds ...I was hoping to not get them all so quickly, as I know egg production wanes over time and I won't have the heart to eat anyone lol. Thoughts? Advice? Fun stories??

You might look into the relationship between high production and longevity. Both genetics and management matter.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I plan and plan, and then take what I can get.

x2. No matter what I pre plan, it goes out the window once I get to the feed store and see what's actually available. My stores have been pretty good about providing expected chick lists, but they have no control over losses in shipment/delivery. And I've had 2 misidentified chicks so far.

That said, so far I've been pretty happy with what I've gotten. I just want some variety in the flock, egg laying isn't a priority for me. I live in a fairly moderate climate so most breeds would do fine.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I have generations. I stay with a small group, let them grow, then hatch more! Once they are grown I can hatch more

 

[goldenyears]

After years of research and planning, I finally got my chickens this spring Wanting a diverse flock of bird colors and eggs, I started with 8 girls/7 breeds (2 EEs because egg color is a crap shoot). I'm already planning in my head what breeds I will add next year, but there are SO MANY to choose from and I want them ALL (almost) .

So tell me, wise chicken folk: how do you choose which breeds to get when you have a limit to how many you can keep?? Right now I have all pretty safe, standard breeds (RIR, BSL, OE, 2 EE, BPR, BO, WLH) but there are other LF breeds I would love (Marens, speckled sussex, cream legbar) and then all of the fun bantom and polish breeds!!

I'd be comfortable up to 20 birds I think but I was hoping to not get them all so quickly, as I know egg production wanes over time and I won't have the heart to eat anyone lol. Thoughts? Advice? Fun stories??

Bielefelders.

 

[goldenyears]

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I can't have roosters in my town, so any concerns about breeding/candling etc. are out the window. Mostly the chickens for me are a fun hobby to add to my farm. My only goals are to help reduce bugs (via free ranging), provide eggs for my family, and to sell the remaining eggs to help offset feed costs. I enjoy having a colorful flock and I'd like to create colorful egg baskets, as well. Variety

Gotta be a bummer to live on a farm and have an ordinance against roosters. I do enjoy the different colored eggs I get from my mixed breed flock.

 

[John Kechejian]

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I can't have roosters in my town, so any concerns about breeding/candling etc. are out the window. Mostly the chickens for me are a fun hobby to add to my farm. My only goals are to help reduce bugs (via free ranging), provide eggs for my family, and to sell the remaining eggs to help offset feed costs. I enjoy having a colorful flock and I'd like to create colorful egg baskets, as well. Variety

yeah that’s kind of what I was thinking a variety I really just wanted to but the hatchery had a minimum order of six so I did some research and I tried to balance friendliness of breed with egg production…
so I was trying to combine easy temperament good with children no aggressive behavior with egg laying at least every 2 to 3 days