Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[BullChick]

I tried counting them in the coop and they start protesting the flashlight, then start moving around. It's a bit of a zoo.

Mine chase the light around. I keep meaning to get them a laser pointer.
Do you live near (or in) Morgantown?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I'm about 8 miles se of Sutton. 2 miles from the geographical center of WV. There is a sign.

 

[BullChick]

Darn. I was hoping you were closer. Oh well. Looks like hatchery chicks for me again in the spring ... Am I just rushing it a little? It just turned Autumn!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

What kind of chickens do you want? It's never too soon to plan ahead.

 

[BullChick]

BC Marans.
Buff Orpington
Black Australorp
Delaware
Dominique
Wyandotte (Columbian and Black)
or
some more Columbian Rock Cross
Buckeye
Araucana
Barnevelder
Brahma
Welsummer

Any opinions on these breeds? In all honesty, I am trying I to keep my chicken math under control. I have room for 8 more. After that, the other breeds will have to wait.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I do like the buckeye characteristics, but you do know that's a rare breed? Marans would be cool to have the eggs, an auracana (sp) but once again...rare breeds to have the sop in any of them. I have American game fowl (or apppalacian game fowl as I like to call them) and sticking with them since their characteristics match my environment and i really think they are great chickens. There's nothing about them I don't like and I can breed them to what i want in my yard. Besides they taste like pheasant! I think you should try to narrow it down to one breed that fits your lifestyle and not go overboard on too many, or a multiple amount of breeds together. (Unless you like big bbqs) I notice alot if people have many different breeds of chickens and i don't understand that. I want to stick with the one breed and work at improving the health and standard of what i have. I get alot of help from mother nature there. Just me, it's not what you have to do.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

BC Marans.
Buff Orpington
Black Australorp
Delaware
Dominique
Wyandotte (Columbian and Black)
or
some more Columbian Rock Cross
Buckeye
Araucana
Barnevelder
Brahma
Welsummer

Any opinions on these breeds? In all honesty, I am trying I to keep my chicken math under control. I have room for 8 more. After that, the other breeds will have to wait.

We have 10 different breeds and all are hatchery girls, not planning on breeding at this time. No roosters here, not because of laws, but neighbors are too close and we want to stay friendly.

I have a buff orp and blk Australorp, both of which are calm, excellent foragers, good layers, and healthy. Although my BA was the one who went broody for about 2 weeks.

Several folks on my local thread are working with BC Marans, and the opinions are mixed. Biggest complaint seems to be heat intolerance. It was over 100 degrees in dry north-central California for much of the summer, and the Marans did not do as well as other breeds.

Good luck battling the Chicken Math. But you know that .....resistance.... is .....futile....

 

[BullChick]

I actually erased half of the comments I made in my list. I am planning on finding what I like, and narrowing it down from there. I think it will take a few years to do that. In the future, I will keep the breed (s) I like best, and that is it. I will also be able to figure on a number that works for me.
An example would be that I have mostly Plymouth Rocks. I might stick with the Barred Rock, and my RIR roosters to make sex links. I may need more hens to satisfy my egg customers. I may need fewer. If people know I have sex links, I can sell to the people that are in town, and don't want roosters. I can also help those that really do want roosters (for whatever reason).
The Buckeye and the Dominique are both rare. While the Dominique is "back", they were almost extinct, and are listed as a bird whose numbers are still being worked on. That is part of the charm.

 

[BullChick]

I got an egg in the new box! The temperature outside is high enough that I cannot tell if it is a fresh egg, or one from the hen I placed in there this morning. Either way I am happy. Tomorrow we will see what happens.
Speaking of chickens not wanting to lay where they are supposed to.

The dog has decided to sleep in his own bed. I couldn't sleep last night or nap earlier because he was pressed so close to me, I was falling off the bed. NOW he wants to lay where he is supposed to. Yup! He is a chicken dog!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Some breeds also are more suited to smaller yards, the buckeye was bred to forage and free range, like the games, and they typically suffer in confinement. Weather is, as mentioned, a really big issue...marans are bred for cold temps. There are so many variables it's impossible to choose a bird for someone, it's wise to look at the traits as opposed to saying, what a cool looking bird...think I'll get a few and have them turn around and eat your other chickens. Just exagerating folks...but you get my drift. Although some I've looked at will eat mine. I'd have to say though, if you see a breed you really like, and it suits your yard, buy from an established reputable breeder to get good chickens that will carry the traits you expect. Be honest about your expectations, and though it seems like it could be fun to breed your own it can be a real pain in more than one way. If you want to have chicks, order some hatching eggs from the same breeder, just research up on it and be prepared to deal with all the issues...sometimes you have to do stuff that isn't warm and comfy....like cull a roos that you raised from an egg....and making that decision isn't easy. I also think overcrowding is the bane of chickendom. They need space...some more than others...nothing is sadder than chickens overcrowded. Right now nature is having a fine old time culling my chickens for me...if you aren't fast, smart, alert and healthy you are gone...I must say though the flock looks very strong now...and I'm not worried about the coop being too small for winter.