Kowgurl - Thanks for reminding me. I'm sure you told me which were which when I was there, but since I can't tell the difference in the cull hens and the breeding quality birds I would never be able to remember.
When I got those eggs from you, all I wanted was something to hatch that was different from what I already had, and, as you said, dark colored eggs. I got both! The problem for me is that (what I am assuming are) the BCMs that hatched are so BEAUTIFUL in my opinion that they MUST be high quality.
I am no poultry judge, but all of my birds look good to me (they're my babies!) even the mutts (especially the mutts.)
I was not expecting to get breeder quality from you, or even pure bred, but I love the ones I did get and the eggs are so nice that I figured they must have been from your good stock. I know, I can be so goofy about these Darn chickens and once I decide which of the breeds I want to raise, I will work at knowing what I am looking at and for and hopefully develop an educated eye. I know I'm capable, I used to be pretty good sizing up halter horses.
As for these birds, I would only consider building a "breeder" pen so that the birds produced would be dark brown egg layers and not Olive Eggers. I would not be selling birds or eggs unless someone was going to eat them. Of course, I have been saying that I was going to start selling eggs for four years and I am still just giving them away!
I do plan to hatch some of the dark eggs this spring to see what hatches.
