I realize this is a super old thread but in case anyone is googling this subject: I have a small backyard flock and ordered "designer" crossbreds and for blue and green eggs from my pet chicken as I unfortunately cannot have a rooster and prefer bantams. I had good luck with the standard breeds - cream leg bar, bantam cochin, sussex, etc. but lost the majority of the "designer" chicks who were very weak after shipping and two that died a couple of days later. In thinking about it, I wonder if lots of inbreeding went into developing these crosses. I will avoid these well-marketed crosses in the future.
