We're moving to a new home this spring with LOTS more room for MORE CHICKIES!!!
I keep thinking about what I want to hatch this spring and it's SO hard!!! Right now I've got 5 Marans from a breeder and 2 BRs + 1BO that are hatchery stock. I'm definitely going to breed my marans to by pretty blue copper roo to see what kind of quality I get. I'm also planning on doing a little experiment crossing between him and my BO, possibly my BRs. The crosses will just be to expand my laying flock. I'll probably leave this mixed flock together (plus a mamma silkie or two
) in the layer pen because they get along really well. Once I'm done with the experiment hatch it should be super easy to only hatch babies from the Marans since their eggs can't be mistaken for the ones from the hatchery girls.
But here's where the dilemma comes in... I'm planning on building a coop and run area with 2 sections (plus a brooder area) so I can keep a seperate purebred flock. I've been browsing the hatching eggs section trying to decide what to raise but I just don't know what to do... There are too many beautiful birds to choose from!!! I absolutely LOVE the lavender orps, but there are some mille fleur cochins and duccles in there that are to die for. And those sweet, fluffy, snuggly Silkies... Sooo pretty! How the heck do you guys settle on just one?!?! I want them all
So I'm curious, how did you pick the breeds you wanted to raise and how darn hard is it to keep one (or two... or three) kinds when there are so many gorgeous birds croout there?

I keep thinking about what I want to hatch this spring and it's SO hard!!! Right now I've got 5 Marans from a breeder and 2 BRs + 1BO that are hatchery stock. I'm definitely going to breed my marans to by pretty blue copper roo to see what kind of quality I get. I'm also planning on doing a little experiment crossing between him and my BO, possibly my BRs. The crosses will just be to expand my laying flock. I'll probably leave this mixed flock together (plus a mamma silkie or two

But here's where the dilemma comes in... I'm planning on building a coop and run area with 2 sections (plus a brooder area) so I can keep a seperate purebred flock. I've been browsing the hatching eggs section trying to decide what to raise but I just don't know what to do... There are too many beautiful birds to choose from!!! I absolutely LOVE the lavender orps, but there are some mille fleur cochins and duccles in there that are to die for. And those sweet, fluffy, snuggly Silkies... Sooo pretty! How the heck do you guys settle on just one?!?! I want them all

So I'm curious, how did you pick the breeds you wanted to raise and how darn hard is it to keep one (or two... or three) kinds when there are so many gorgeous birds croout there?