What decides The popularity of a Breed ?

[chickbrad24]

So I have noticed since I've been keeping chickens that one year a chicken breed is in and the next year it's not as popular. Is it the time of year where you live ? When I started I absolutely loved the look of silver laced wyandottes, Gold laced wyandotte and Blue laced red wyandottes. The silver and gold were more abundant and the BLRW were impossible for me to find let alone get.


A year later I was finally able to aquire 2 BLRW pullets There absolutely stunning birds and it seemed they were a little easier to find. But this year I had a hard time finding silkies. I did finally find a breeder in the same state and I received 6 beautiful silkies 2 black and 4 porcelain.


Now it seems my search for black cooper marans, blue splash or blue marans have constantly come up empty handed. Local feed stores can't get them, hatcheries are all sold out.


So I was just wondering what determines the popularity of a particular Breed each year ?

If anyone has any comments, thoughts please feel free to post.

Thank you
Bradley

 

[dekel18042]

There are probably many influences on a breed's popularity. Among them would be price, ease of being able to get them, looks, what they're known for, meat, number of eggs, color of eggs, showability, temperament,
Some people want to hop on the newest bandwagon while others want a breed that's tried and true.
Sometimes word of mouth. A friend gets a breed and loves it, so next thing, you try a few.
Even heat and cold hardiness have an effect on people's choices. I've had and have many different breeds and there are still a few I would like to try.

 

[Michael OShay]

Probably the biggest influence on a breed's popularity is reputation. How often BYC members have picked out the particular breeds they've purchased on the testimony and recommendations of other BYC members. The most popular breeds have a long standing reputation for traits like hardiness, dependability, good laying ability, and often good temperament.

 

[chickbrad24]

dekel18042, I noticed you live in Pa as well. Have there been some breeds easier for you to find and some harder.

 

[dekel18042]

dekel18042, I noticed you live in Pa as well. Have there been some breeds easier for you to find and some harder.

Where in PA are you? I'm in the Lehigh Valley. There are tons of mixes and local hatcheries have leghorns, RIR,s and some production birds. Individuals have silkies, cochins and Wyandottes, and I was able to get some Jersey Giants.
Tractor Supply gets various assortments in as do other feed stores. Some have a good selection ahead of time to order.
Otherwise you can do hatchery orders or get shipped eggs which increases your possibilities. However I've never had great luck with shipped eggs and although I have had luck ordering from hatcheries, last year we had a horrible cold snap during shipping which shouldn't have happened plus the chicks sat an extra day in Philadelphia which resulted in some DOA peeps, so I've pretty much crossed the last two sources off my list.

 

[3riverschick]

I you want proper Black Copper Marans, check with either of the Marans Clubs. They both have webpages with breeder's directories. Look for breeder who is showing and hopefully also winning at the egg shows.
Best,
Karen in Ligonier, PA