Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[lilfarmmomma]

Okie Dokie!! I will try them out then. I was just worried. Maybe that is all they meant by flighty, but I wasn't sure, so I was trying to stay away from them. Thank you for sharing your experience. When we had chickens before, I only had RIR and Ameraucanas that I raised from chicks. I did end up purchasing a flock of Serama/Araucana mixes who all looked like Serama, but laid the blue and green eggs. They were pretty cool and the roos had the longest, most beautiful tails I had ever seen. Anyway, what I was trying to say, I have never had any white layers before, so I had no idea where to begin. Starting from scratch is a little bit of a challenge when you have no experience with the different breeds and personalities.

Oops!! Sumatra, not Serama. I had that wrong. Sorry.

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Okie Dokie!! I will try them out then. I was just worried. Maybe that is all they meant by flighty, but I wasn't sure, so I was trying to stay away from them. Thank you for sharing your experience. When we had chickens before, I only had RIR and Ameraucanas that I raised from chicks. I did end up purchasing a flock of Serama/Araucana mixes who all looked like Serama, but laid the blue and green eggs. They were pretty cool and the roos had the longest, most beautiful tails I had ever seen. Anyway, what I was trying to say, I have never had any white layers before, so I had no idea where to begin. Starting from scratch is a little bit of a challenge when you have no experience with the different breeds and personalities.

I've had Leghorns before and they were flighty but I didn't mind. They were practically impossible to catch (I could never do it but my man usually could) and they did hop the fence to forage in the neighbor's yard while our others didn't even though they could. From everything I've heard and seen, Leghorns are similar to EEs/Ameraucanas in personality. But they were by far the most fun to watch and of course, they lay a ton. One thing to consider, though, is that Leghorns lay white eggs, which probably will not be as popular with customers. It's silly because they taste the same, maybe better since white-eggers are excellent foragers. If I were starting an egg biz I might go with EEs because they lay almost as well as Leghorns, probably eat about the same amount of feed, but of course the brown and green eggs would likely sell better and at higher prices.

 

[lilfarmmomma]

I've had Leghorns before and they were flighty but I didn't mind. They were practically impossible to catch (I could never do it but my man usually could) and they did hop the fence to forage in the neighbor's yard while our others didn't even though they could. From everything I've heard and seen, Leghorns are similar to EEs/Ameraucanas in personality. But they were by far the most fun to watch and of course, they lay a ton. One thing to consider, though, is that Leghorns lay white eggs, which probably will not be as popular with customers. It's silly because they taste the same, maybe better since white-eggers are excellent foragers. If I were starting an egg biz I might go with EEs because they lay almost as well as Leghorns, probably eat about the same amount of feed, but of course the brown and green eggs would likely sell better and at higher prices.

I started off thinking that I would just do brown and possibly the green/blue. Then my husband said that I might be better off if I also offer white, as some people shy away from brown as it is different from what they are used to (grocery store eggs). I figured that it wouldn't hurt to have both and if they don't sell as well as the brown, I have lots of family and friends who like white eggs, so it can't hurt. I personally can't tell a difference in flavor, whether store bought or home grown, or brown/colored or white. I just like knowing that my eggs come from happy chickens that have a nice life, rather than being cooped in a cage all day, and I am not willing to pay grocery prices for "free range" that may not really be so. My chickens will have a very large run, more like a yard than anything and my plan is to build a tractor or two, so that I can rotate them out for "free range" time, since I have to keep them enclosed. I am really egg-cited (sorry, couldn't resist) to get this going, I just have a lot to learn still.

 

[walady944]

Still haven't made it outside yet but when I do, I'll surely look for some strawberries for you!
I have Tristar and the new Puget Crimson. (I really want some Hood and Shuksan; that's why I'm making room!)
Your chicks are growing! I think I may have a couple boys in there, we'll find out eventually!
By the way, have you worked your last day? Are you officially retired?

Friday (tomorrow) is the last day at work; hooray! And then a fun weekend coming up.
Sorry, I hope you don't have boys! I may have a couple also.
thanks.

 

[Slinglings]

Quote: my 'customers' seem to like having a variety, and I like being able to tell them which eggs came from which hens When I have enough I let them choose their eggs, and they always pick a variety of colors. I've never had anyone say "I only want brown eggs", for example.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Haha--> it doesn't get much more redneck than this:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/grd/3662873496.html

I know but hey I was doin the best I could. Then I soon learned I couldn't keep up with the maint. on a coop that big !

 

[lilfarmmomma]

my 'customers' seem to like having a variety, and I like being able to tell them which eggs came from which hens When I have enough I let them choose their eggs, and they always pick a variety of colors. I've never had anyone say "I only want brown eggs", for example.

Well, I personally do not have a preference either, but some people swear that there is a difference in taste between them. To me an egg tastes like an egg.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I actually wanted the VW bus. I love all things VW, but hubs would not have appreciated it at all. I thought it was great!! I guess that is the inner hippie in me.

I wish I had this now ! !

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:
I have had my egg customers not want white eggs, because those are the most common eggs in the store.

 

[lilfarmmomma]

I wish I had this now ! !

LOVE.

I have tried looking for one, but have you priced busses lately? Good grief!! My 18 yo DD's dream car is a Thing. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.