Chevgrl,
Welcome to the wonderful world of breeding. Its a cutthroat world, don't let them tell you otherwise. I know I'll get crucified for saying that, but remember these threads have been shut down in the past for such reasons.
No, I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just making light that while someone has to be the watcher of the roost, and make sure we actually preserve breeds so that we all know what they are supposed to look like, if too many people become strict adherents to such dogmas we will all fall victim to such.
Someone already mentioned it... What characteristics you desire in your flock are the ones you want to promote. Maybe you just want dark eggs, or just a yard full of beautiful birds to spend the day laughing at their antics. Maybe you really want to get into showing them, or maybe you want meat and eggs with as little work as possible. I am a member on another forum about Survival and Preparedness. There have been discussions there about someone that didn't like what he saw in modern poultry with regards to a true survival chicken. He actually went through the process of selecting breeds that were known for being able to survive mostly on there own, such as game fowl that can fly up into trees to escape predators, hardiness to disease and common parasites, and so forth, all with an toward a breed that would still provide reasonable meat and eggs plus raise and care for their own young.
That isn't likely to be what you are trying to build in your flock, but the point remains. It is your flock. You get to make of it what you will, if you have the patience and audacity to actually do it. Don't be afraid to keep a primary flock and a breeding flock. Your primary flock can provide you with eggs and meat, while leaving the breeding flock to provide young chicks and future breeders. I would recommend, from experience, to work on one breed or color pattern at a time, or at least combinations that work together like Copper Blue, Copper Black, and Splash. Lucian and Selene should provide me a mix of those 3, so I'm not pursuing any other patterns. I do want to increase the gene pool soon, but thats cuz I only have 2. My primary flock will come back with a lot of Vic's bloodline x with those RIR hens. He had the leadership qualities, growth rate, meat qualities, and so on. 41 eggs in the bator and I take the turner out tomorrow.
So again, what are you looking for? Your welcome to change your mind later... I did. I learned from mistakes in raising them. The question is where do you want your flock to be in a year or two? What kind of flock do you want? If you really want show quality, I'd suggest getting at least a pair from a reputable breeder and working from there. That way, you at least know what you are working with. I could take a small flock of Marans hens that lay dark eggs and mate them with any old barnyard roo and sell them for $30/dz. You wouldn't know until they begin to grow. I should be shot for such things, just making a point. I was told that Vic was a Rhode Island Red, and my lack of knowledge suckered me into a great deal despite it. lol
