Thoughts on my future flock?

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Another interesting way you could do it if you don't need one of each is to go to cackle and try putting in a few breeds just adding 3 to the cart. It will likely tell you they are not all available for the same ship date, but then it displays a calendar with green check marks and red xs. So for example, I could get three each of GLW, SLW, and Easter Eggers shipped August 14. Or three each of Welsummers, GLW, SLW and Speckled Sussex shipped August 7. Put in whatever available breeds you like, and you'll get an idea of what you might realistically be able to get your hands on and how soon.

ETA July 19 you could get French Marans surplus, plus the two basic wyandottes, but you have to get minimum 5 for the Marans that way... Or, three French Cuckoo Marans, three of the GLW and SLW. July 5 you could get 5 French Marans + 3 white Ameraucanas... OOH!!!! Aug 9 three each SLW, White Ameraucanas, and Cuckoo Marans. Boom. Do that lol (IMHO a well-curated black and white flock that gives you regular brown eggs, blue eggs, and darker speckled eggs)

Hahaha or Aug 7 also has the cuckoo Marans available, but now at three each of five breeds, you're up to 15 chickens. Sorry . You'd have a great basket though, and a great looking flock!

Don't mind me while I go fantasy chicken shopping for internet frans.

 

[Ragfrey]

Thanks so much, definitely have me thinking of the options.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Which way are you leaning in terms of where to purchase? You can definitely check other hatcheries and see if they have fewer minimums per breed. I just had good luck with cackle. It's also frustrating with these shortages that so many breeds are sold out, but they make it easy to check availability. This is the only ship date they have for Speckled Sussex, and they are completely sold out many other places this year. . You pay a small order fee for orders under 15 birds, so it does add up compared to other ways to order, but hey. Or try to coordinate a shipment to arrive along the same time as an order from the Wyandotte breeders in Ohio?

If only... Haha

 

[Alagirl]

I am thinking a 8x8 coop will be rather small if the birds will be spending most of the day in there.
I have 5 in that space and I wish they had more room.

as far as the breeds go, get what suits your fancy,
There are so many pretty ones out there. One of the hatcheries lets you sort for 'warm weather' breeds, which is probably a plus.
I like my Ameraucanas, and my little Rhode Island Red. they are full of personality.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

My pet chicken has a GORGEOUS assortment of wyandotte hatching eggs in the Backyard Bunch location. If you wanted to try hatching yourself route. The eggs ship as early as next week (and take 21 days to incubate). A lot of people just get the Nurture Right 360 and have good success! That would be some pride in ownership, right there.

They have other locations with different selection of eggs, and a 6-egg minimum from each location.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

I am thinking a 8x8 coop will be rather small if the birds will be spending most of the day in there.
I have 5 in that space and I wish they had more room.

as far as the breeds go, get what suits your fancy,
There are so many pretty ones out there. One of the hatcheries lets you sort for 'warm weather' breeds, which is probably a plus.
I like my Ameraucanas, and my little Rhode Island Red. they are full of personality.

I was able to filter for warm weather breeds as well, helps if that's what you are looking for. It can be tough if you love in a hot climate and you love the cold weather breeds, or vice versa.

Ultimately, I think whatever chickens you get, you will fall in love, so there's no real wrong way to go.

 

[Ragfrey]

Yes. I was looking at mypetchicken.com. They have all the breeds I wanted.

It’s gonna be a tough decision. Hahaha. Just about consuming my thoughts right now.

I was good with a list until @Percheron chick brought up egg color and then I started looking at Black Copper Marans and Easter Eggers. I see that EE have a very good disposition and lay very pretty eggs and CM lay red/brown eggs.

So now I’m at a fork….want a very pretty flock with mostly brown eggs or a take some Wyandotte’s out- add EE’s and CM for pretty eggs?

Ugggg….

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

I am thinking a 8x8 coop will be rather small if the birds will be spending most of the day in there.
I have 5 in that space and I wish they had more room.

Ah! I definitely misread the OP then. I thought they meant coop overnight, run access during the day (This.) And then free ranging outside of the run while supervised. I agree they can't stay in the coop all day as a regular thing. We don't have a huge run, but we only leave ours in the coop on really, really heavy weather days. They always at least have run access. Overnight they get locked up.

 

[Ragfrey]

Yeah, you have it correct.
Coop at night, then access to the 10x20 run. Then when I get home from work at 1600hrs, free range on 3/4 acre backyard.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Yeah, you have it correct.
Coop at night, then access to the 10x20 run. Then when I get home from work at 1600hrs, free range on 3/4 acre backyard.

Yeah, so that's plenty of space for 8 or more birds. 2-4 sqft in the coop is what, 16-32 birds technically, then 600 in the run at 10-15 sqft per bird is good for 40-60. I agree though with your line of thinking bc it's better to start small with room to grow. You'll want to add birds one way or another at least every 2-3 years if you annually so even if you consider your max more like 24, you're in a "more space they have the better" type of scenario.