Coop is just about complete, and with this time change, I should be able to make some actual progress each evening after work. This being the case, I'll be ready to order soon. I was initially eyeballing the "Rainbow Egg Layer" package through Cackle Hatchery, and I may still go that route. Just not sure. We have a 1 year old and the most important things to me are equal parts:
1. Colored egg production
2. Pleasant interaction with birds, birds with interesting personality, etc
A distant third would be visual appeal. Some chickens are just prettier to me than others.. which of course is 100% matter of opinion.
That package would be kind of fun, but seeing as you don't know what all you're going to get, there is some potential for a few chicks that might not line up perfectly well with what I'm after. As such, I've been considering putting together my own order. I'm going to be set up to handle 15 chickens, and currently thinking about a mixture of:
1. Plymouth rock (3 ish)
2. Australorp (3 ish)
3. Wyandotte (3 ish)
4. Easter Egger (6-7)
ALSO...
Considering reducing that whole flock by about half so that we can order a 3-4 new chicks each spring to keep egg production steady and after 3 years be replacing old with new at a constant rate... would always leave me with the bulk of the flock as good layers, a few old birds and a few young ones. However, there will never be a more exciting time than now, so the temptation to go full capacity right out of the gate is pretty sporty.
THOUGHTS???????
1. Colored egg production
2. Pleasant interaction with birds, birds with interesting personality, etc
A distant third would be visual appeal. Some chickens are just prettier to me than others.. which of course is 100% matter of opinion.
That package would be kind of fun, but seeing as you don't know what all you're going to get, there is some potential for a few chicks that might not line up perfectly well with what I'm after. As such, I've been considering putting together my own order. I'm going to be set up to handle 15 chickens, and currently thinking about a mixture of:
1. Plymouth rock (3 ish)
2. Australorp (3 ish)
3. Wyandotte (3 ish)
4. Easter Egger (6-7)
ALSO...
Considering reducing that whole flock by about half so that we can order a 3-4 new chicks each spring to keep egg production steady and after 3 years be replacing old with new at a constant rate... would always leave me with the bulk of the flock as good layers, a few old birds and a few young ones. However, there will never be a more exciting time than now, so the temptation to go full capacity right out of the gate is pretty sporty.
THOUGHTS???????
Last edited:
