Kelly it IS hard to pick, a combination of seeing your babies go off, yet wanting to do right for the most diversity in their new homes, but it must be.
BTW, my BYC mail box haas been emptied for 3 days and still says full, who do I contact to get that changed!
I am with you Michelle, I checked my incubators out, both are right on, do have new thermometers, so I am pointing the finger at the Postal Service. My local office got them right to me. ASAP.
I dont want to raise a hundred next year, a couple dozen, so I will have about 18 hens, and hoping for broodys to do most of it, if I get one or two broodys will try to incubate some eggs at the same time to be able to slip the chicks under the broodies.
I want to keep what I have, varied, and hopefully add any traits that I dont have in the flock.
Mary thats a fascinating video of the Isbars on your blog, thanks, how big are the adults? An awful lot to find out, its a new one to me !
I do want to add the Iowa Blues next year, maybe some Delawares, I like the small pens you have and will probably do much the same. The Icelandics are the main breed, a colony flock only. Plan on 1 roo per 4 hens. The others will be small flocks, 6-8 hens and a couple roos.
Next year will be the first in a LONG time without any RIRs, or Wyandottes, but, they are in much better shape numbers wise.
Life is good, and Better with Icelandic Chickens and Pack Goats !