**Updated!** see my last post! Opinions needed on breeds to get!!

[scgamecock]

Cynthia, they are decent layers when I can keep them off the nest.I have 3 and they are just McMurray hatchery birds but they lay a decent size egg when not broody nothing real special but they are mostly eye candy and one day people will work on the egg laying abilities thru breeding I'm sure.There egg is a light brown and lot's of speckles most of the time, very pretty.I have some 4 week old mixed chicks I hatched from the pen and I think two of them are a cross between SLW roo and the BLRW hens.They are turning out to be more buff colored with a very light lacing.I can't wait to see what they will end up looking like.I'm headed off to church and I'll be back this afternoon.

 

[Guitartists]

Ok, have been doing a lot of looking..... here is my final list. Does anyone see any problems??? Planning on doing a swingset style coop/run but larger/longer and with 2 coops. One on each end and seperated in the center of the run by chicken wire.

coop #1

Roo -
Black Orp

Hens-
Black Orp
Blue Orp
Partridge Cochin
Blue Cochin
Mottled Cochin
Gold-laced Wyandotte
Blue-laced Red Wyandotte

coop #2

Roo-
Araucana

Hens-
(2)Araucana
Ameraucana
Easter Egger
Salmon Faverolle
Black-copper Marans
Blue-copper Marans

 

[Katy]

I think it's good you want a varied assortment. That way you'll find out for yourself which breeds you prefer. The breeds that someone else likes, I may not have the slightest interest in having and vice versa. Everyone's taste in chickens is different. Just be sure you spend lots of time with them as chicks....that's the best way to have a flock of friendly hens. Good luck with which ever ones you decide to go with.

 

[Guitartists]

Thanks for the feedback

Of course now I need to find an incubator and start learning how to hatch eggs

 

[Featherland]

I love thinking about what kinds of chickens I will be getting next. I noticed that some of the breeds you want are not as common. It would be hard to find someone that has eggs with all the breeds you want. You would probably have to hatch a lot of batches of eggs and then you will end up with a lot of roosters too. There are some hatcheries (or feed stores) that have a lot of the breeds you want. Since you are going to have a split coop you might want to order some from a hatchery and then also hatch eggs for some of the breeds that may not be available.

 

[Guitartists]

Yeah, I never make anything easy.... just ask my DH

I'm in no hurry..... plenty of time to hatch and get rid of excess chickens. Hopefully when it comes to the rarer breeds, I'll have good hatch rates and plenty to share. Luckily I will only need 2 breeds from different bloodlines since I will have only 2 roos

 

[Guitartists]

Also....trying to stick to breeders that have what I want, that way I can see the parents. Hatcheries are great and all, but so large and impersonal. I look forward to the challenge