Around me, the market is very different. People only want females. They don't care about the genetics, breeding potential, or even flaws. A "mossy" SLO may sell just as easily as a nice crisp SLO. In fact people want to be able to identify their pet chickens easily, so any distinguishing factor - like smudgy/mossy lacing, recessive white, or horrible gold leakage - may even make that chick even more desirable. A trained, stunning, well-bred, award-winning rooster won't even get $5. At best, I may be able to give him away.
I haven't had any gold leakage in my lav/blacks for 2.5 years. One of my blue-lav mixes with my SLO gave a horribly ugly chick. (It taught me why people DON'T mix misc colored orps together. LOL) She had value as a layer only IMO. However, she was quickly sold for her 'unique' appearance.
I tend to get more blues from Jewel - even though the chance is 50/50. But with only one hen, we only get 1-2 blue chicks per hatch. Those always sell to the very 1st person who comes to buy chicks.
Now that my SLOs are laying, my lav hens have stopped. I just can't keep up with chick demand. I know 2 are broody, but not sure what's up with the other 2. Since they're not laying now, I'm deworming and dusting the main coop to see if helps. The SLOs and bantams are fine, but they're separated.
I haven't had any gold leakage in my lav/blacks for 2.5 years. One of my blue-lav mixes with my SLO gave a horribly ugly chick. (It taught me why people DON'T mix misc colored orps together. LOL) She had value as a layer only IMO. However, she was quickly sold for her 'unique' appearance.
I tend to get more blues from Jewel - even though the chance is 50/50. But with only one hen, we only get 1-2 blue chicks per hatch. Those always sell to the very 1st person who comes to buy chicks.
Now that my SLOs are laying, my lav hens have stopped. I just can't keep up with chick demand. I know 2 are broody, but not sure what's up with the other 2. Since they're not laying now, I'm deworming and dusting the main coop to see if helps. The SLOs and bantams are fine, but they're separated.