What is Your DREAM Flock? (And What's Realistic?)

[Johnnyfly41]

A speckled Sussex would fit in really good with what you have

You do not need to be limited in the availability of chicks locally. I used Cackle Hatchery out of Lebanon MO. I wanted four breeds so, I called them and while on the phone, based upon the four breeds I wanted, they told me when those breeds would hatch all on the same day. Two days after the hatch, I picked them up at my post office. I have Buff Orpingtons, Plymouth Barred Rock, Australorp and Easter Eggers. The brown egg layers lay a variety of shades of brown and the eggers lay a tiffany blue colored egg. I love the variety too, and people who buy my eggs do too..

 

[ChemicalchiCkns]

At least some CoChins, but no Cock. May be a bantamm Brahma. Wyandots are good, but really, some thing that handles the coldness here. (So no large Combs and Wattels.)

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Wonder if that's a breed thing or a personality thing? I bet she is beautiful. I'd love to see a picture of her!

I have a Barnevelder, she is absolutely gorgeous, but not very friendly.

What hatchery did you use

 

[feathermaid]

Disposition-wise, they are the most standoffish of my chickens. Sir Henry the Loud was acquired as an adult; the two current girls are his daughters, so I won't let any babies come out of that group. The two original hens died last year, one from a tumor (mother of the two girls; she only hatched two of her six eggs) and one from a buffalo gnat invasion here in Iowa. They also weren't terribly friendly. BUT, I do feel good about having an Iowa breed here. And, they are decent egg layers.

Thank you for your thoughtful detailed post earlier (please forgive my belated reply)!
I thought you could breed at least a couple generations (line breeding?) before having to introduce new stock. Or is it because of fertility issues with Iowa Blues? I know it doesn't seem right breeding father/daughter though! Looks like you may have to get a new roo!

Where in Iowa were you originally from? I am truly a southern Iowa girl, stuck here in the flat, ugly, windy land of northern Iowa. I still miss landforms and trees. I am surrounded by fields of blowing (but rich) soil for much of the year.

I was born in Des Moines, with relatives in Cresco, Knoxville and Mason City. It's funny, my memories of Iowa basically include lots of snow in winter, lightning bugs in summer and endless corn fields. Never thought of any part of Iowa being "not flat" especially after living in Oregon with such diverse regions... snow-capped mountains, lush valleys, deserts, forests and the coast. Or maybe because I was only familiar with the northern parts. I used to visit Iowa regularly with my parents and into adulthood, but haven't been back since my last grandparent passed away over a decade ago.

As a child, Cresco was my favorite place in the entire world... they had a nice playground and only one flashing stoplight for the whole town, and my grandma's garden. She really loved chickens, but no longer had any by the time I came along. My mom remembers having to collect eggs and the terrible stench from processing, so she hates chickens and can't believe I have my own in the suburbs. She is not approving me wanting more! I guess I'm just my grandma's girl at heart.

I have five Iowa blue chicks right now and they all started out black! They are developing lighter feathers around their neck area already. I think that's just how they start out and when they molt the new feathers are the blue gray color.

Can you post some pics? I'd like to see how they're developing. It's too late for me to get one this year, but I'm just curious.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

What hatchery did you use

Mine are coming from Meyer.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Mine are coming from Meyer.

That’s where I got mine! I am envious! What else are you getting to add to your flock?

 

[Meg-in-MT]

That’s where I got mine! I am envious! What else are you getting to add to your flock?

Nice! Also getting black copper marans, blue laced wyandottes, buff chanteclers, salmon faverrolles, black jerseys... Might be some more I'm forgetting. I'll have to check my list. All ones that I don't yet have

 

[Judy Todd]

My dream flock would consist of one of probably every breed (of course!) but sadly, I cannot have what I want where I live.

I am totally egg obsessed and trying to achieve the most colorful egg basket (and colorful chickens) with the least amount of birds possible in my suburban backyard. Seasonal availability and hatchery minimums are somewhat a hinderance, so I'm dependent on what my local feed store happens to carry.

My current laying birds include Easter Egger, Buff Orp and Blue Wyandotte. I just got 2 little chicks Sunday... Black Dominant Copper and an Olive Egger. I wanted to get one more, a white or cream egg layer... the store's getting a new shipment tomorrow. Can't decide between White Leghorn, Sicilian Buttercup, Speckled Sussex or.... Columbian Wyandotte-just because I want a white chicken and they're so beautiful even though they lay brown eggs.

Oh, decisions decisions!! What should I do??? I just want them all!!!!!!!



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I am on the same page as FlappyFeathers, a colorful egg basket. I just aded 2 Copper Morans and 2Americanas, have Sicilian Buttercups, so that takes care of blue, Chocolate and white. One of my girls lays a soft rose egg, have not figured out which one it is yet. I am out in the country, so can have as many chickens as I want, but, oh my . what they do to my flower gardens. Trying to come up with a fenced off area for the summer, to prevent their plundering. Love having them free range every day.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Nice! Also getting black copper marans, blue laced wyandottes, buff chanteclers, salmon faverrolles, black jerseys... Might be some more I'm forgetting. I'll have to check my list. All ones that I don't yet have

LOL!!! A collection, that’s what I want!

 

[feathermaid]

I really like brightly patterned or unusual ornamental birds. Laying capacity is honestly second importance to me because my family doesn't eat many eggs, and I end up giving most of them away to the maid aside from the few I cook here or there. I read everywhere that silkies are somewhat poor layers, but my three girls lay pretty much an egg a day like clockwork and as a non-breakfast eater I worry more about how to use them up than I do about production.

Me too! It's just trying to find the right balance between feather color patterns and egg colors without having a zillion birds. I'm trying for maybe 6 total, or less.

Egg production isn't that important for me either (right now) and I still have to give some away. The most readily available and diverse varieties (EE, OE, Sapphires, dominant copper, color pack etc) seem to be hybrids... but I really don't want all those extra eggs. EXCEPT... when we finally move to the country again, I'll be able to get enough birds to sell eggs and the hybrids could be useful. But then again... I might want only heritage and rare breeds to start a breeding program. Maybe I will do both... in my dreams, right?!!

Boy oh boy...let me see..I'd have a breeding trio of every LF wyandotte variety and a trio of every wyandotte bantam variety..

I've even considered that too... Wyandottes come in soooo many beautiful colors and feather patterns. Silver penciled is one of my favorites.

What are those hens that lay the deep chocolate brown eggs? Maybe that for the 6th one

French Black Copper Marans, as well as other varieties of Marans, also Welsummer and Barnevelder lay dark brown. But selective breeding of the best quality birds will produce much deeper darker chocolates than hatchery stock.

all varieties of:
d'Uccles
Silkies
Ameraucanas
Marans
Isbars
Barnevelders
Polish
Orpingtons
Seramas
OEGB
Hedemora
Swedish Flower
Icelandic
Leghorns
Brabanters
Cochins
Pavlovska--

What?
You want me to stop?
...
Okay

no need to stop... you're missing a few!