Nice. I like the Marans egg, Hoppy. I don't have too much time on my hands, but I haven't been sleeping well, so I have too much time to think, which is a dangerous thing.
My spring hatch plans continue to evolve. I thought I wanted to order 15 birds from Meyer, as they have both Welsummers (ok quality, I found) and Exchequer leghorns. But part of me wanted to try Estes Hatchery, since their Welsummers came from a good breeder when he died (although he died in 2007, so things may have changed), and they have California whites to replace the Exchequers. But their minimum order is 25. Too many for me.
My new evolving plan involves buying nice Welsummer chicks from a breeder. Minimum order is 10, straight run, so hopefully I get at least 4 nice pullets. If I really want to breed them, I'm thinking I could throw together a seasonal coop. I've got these 2x4 walls someone ws throwing out. I think they make a 6'x6 square. If I could add a roof and some wire, they could spend the summer there, and in the winter, I'd have to house them in the fairly dark back half of my regular coop. It is insulated, and I don't need a third coop to haul food and water to in the winter, hence the seasonal idea.
Does anyone know of a store in central Maine where you can order a few birds of a particular breed? I still want white eggs, and I thought I could order 3 leghorns, and maybe a couple of NH's from Longhorn. I like going to Portland, but it seems silly to drive all that way for the birds. I just don't know of another place that takes specific small orders like that.
