NOW look what you've done!

[PortageGirl]

SHEESH!! Now you've done it! I'm going to have to get some purebloods to try for something more specific. I am getting a new flock this spring of general laying hens, but thought I'd get some pure blood roos, and matching hens also to raise both for my interest and for some decent breeding stock.

I have some ideas of my own, but thought I'd ask for suggestions from you guys! I’ve been looking over Henderson’s chart, (Excellent source BTW), and several other sites, but people here just seem to have some good instincts! I’m Located in NE Ohio, which means fairly cold winters, and humid summers.

I am considering several breeds, but thought I’d lay out my likes and dislikes, and see what BYC-ers had to say!


My Preferences Are-

Normal size, no giants or Bantams
Layers (or Dual-purpose ok)
Brown Eggs (well, ok, non-white eggs)
Cold hardy
Good foragers
A breed that could use some support in our modern mass-market society
Clean legs (I dislike feather-foots)
"Pretty" Hey, I like pretty!
Would also prefer good moms, but that’s flexible.

Are those crazy parameters? >.>

 

[chickiebaby]

The Sussex fits all these bills, and it endangered, so you'd be joining us in rescue, esp if you breed! See recent post on Sussex!

 

[Barn Maid Ann]

Just curious why you don't want white eggs?
I have chickens who lay brown, white, and in between. They all taste the same.

I think working with rare breeds is a worthy effort. I am considering this myself. I will start my own thread with questions.

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
*big smile* Nope, eggs are supposed to be brown!

Hehe, honestly? I grew up with RIR and NHR hens and have always felt deprived when forced to buy white eggs as an adult! I know they taste the same, but when I crack a brown egg, it just seems 'better'.

If I got a few white eggs layers in a mixed flock I wouldn't stew em, but if I'm going to look for a rare breed to raise, I'll choose brown layers.

 

[buckeye lady]

Hello Neighbor.
Buckeyes-they meet all your listed requirements.
I have 7 Buckeye hens. I ordered them from mypetchicken this past spring.

 

[chickNjake]

I think you want Wyandottes! they're very cold hardy, broods infrequently but a very good mother when they do, and they should be fairly easy to find and, yes, they're pretty (you'll be most likely to find silver laced, not all the funky colors on feathersite

)

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Wyand/BRKWyand.html

 

[the1much]

RIR crossed with NHR makes great birds,, i even have rir/bo birds that do great

 

[Guinea Goonie]

White Plymouth Rocks. Big, but not too big. The roos are gorgous.
They are good with cold and hot weather.
They are good free range birds and stay close to home
They are great layers
They are more disease resistant than alot of breeds.
You can cross the roo with a cornish and get some wonderful meat birds.
The roos will protect thier hens to the death, I have seen it.

 

[PortageGirl]

OK! Thanks for the suggestions, and I sent you a PM Buckeye Lady, our High Schools play each other, or used to! *cough* been some time since I graduated, so maybe they’re in different leagues now…

I’ll say that Buckeyes are already on my short list, and the Sussex sound interesting too so I’ll add them to my list of breeds to think about! Both breeds sound like they can use a boost. I do plan on isolating the purebreds in the spring and breeding them, selling some eggs or chicks, and/or, maybe donating some to some 4-H’rs to instill some good thoughts about helping to keep some of the endangered or rare breeds viable! I was holding off on saying which ones I was considering, but now I’ll say that among those I was already considering, are the

Buckeyes (the lady who originated the breed lived within 30 miles or so of my house!)
Buttercups (only moderatly rare, and they lay white eggs! *sigh* so pretty too though… so I'm thinking on it. )
Golden Laced Wyandottes ( not sure how rare, but I liked them imediately)
Black Langshans (rare? – except I think they can be feather-footed)
Dominiques (they just seem very quirky and cute! – Rare, and the basis of the Plymouth Rocks rimshoes, so thank you too!)
Sussex (Thank you chickiebaby! This seems a great addition to consider!)

So, most of these were in my mind, and your thoughts have helped me a lot so thank you all! (and any other comments, ideas and suggestions are still very welcome!)

 

[Southerngirl]

Black Australorps fill all those requirements !! Excellent at foraging, curious, great layers in the winter and very hardy. A good dual purpose all around bird. You should really look at this breed too .