(What's a "cheaper" fm? I'm afraid I don't know all of them, just the ACs and Svart Honas, which I thought were also just as small. I know people from whom I could get eggs for either of these...)
If you go silkie don't bother with hatchery ones, they're already crossed with something I'm sure, I'm thinking leghorn at some point cause mine were exceptional early and great layers, not supposed to be. And my cross with white giants resulted in black skin but white breasts and only leg meat black, bones were mottled black, some of the organs were black, and they were small also, still have two pullets, one fibro and one not at all.... Cute birds though, five toes and leg feathers but not silkied feathers.
Go with breeder SOP on silkies and you might have better luck.
Check Craigslist, I found some ACs very close, 30mins from me, had on Craigslist a whole list of available Greenfire rare breeds, didn't list AC but I asked about their Rhodebars and how they were doing with them, emailed me a link to their pintrest account for pics and saw they also have a small flock of AC.
Actually look for them and ask for a cull cockerel, they cull them for white toe nails, but still very fibro, should be able to get them pretty cheap cause they don't need a whole heck of a lot of cockerels anyway. I live a easy drive from a couple BYC members that breed them, Pyxis is one of them, she doesn't ask much at all for culls.
You might be able to find some svart or ac near you and not have to purchase expensive eggs, I have heard svart are better on size?
Kassaundra's birds have made me think about getting some myself, darn beautiful/awesome.
Have you been on drayes facebook NN group? some awesome one's on there!!!
