What should I hatch?

[nhrocks]

So I have a hen who's gone broody. I was going to hatch chicks this year, but not yet, so my breeds are still mixed up in one big flock. I'm going to give her something to hatch, but I need it to be something I can sell easily because my breeding goals do not include mystery mutts.

Hens:
Welsummer
Ameraucana (blue and black)
F1 olive eggers (BCMxAmeraucana) (blue)
Dominique
White rock
Silver spangled Hamburg
Silver spangled appenzeller spitzhauben
Leghorn x ameraucana (just barely started laying)

And the boys:
Olive egger (their brother) (blue)
Welsummer
Ameraucana (blue)
Silver spangled appenzeller spitzhauben
Leghorn x Ameraucana (will be culled soon, but is mature)

What eggs would you hatch? I can tell them all apart for sure except the hamburg and spitzhauben. There could be some pretty cool chicks in there, but absolutely no guarantees on who's the daddy.

 

[nhrocks]

And just in case it looks like I have eight hens and five roos, I don't lol. There are 19 girls, and soon to be 3 or 4 Roos.

 

[GOLDENSEABRIGHT]

What aboout the olive egger and leghorn mix... maybe that would give you a strong blue layer... Im about to try a leghorn hen with a buff orp. male

 

[nhrocks]

It could. Or they could've been bred by the welsummer, and be more olive. My problem is that she's broody now, and I need to give her eggs (or start incubating) this week. No time to set up breeding pens.

I would personally be interested in hatching the hamburgs and spitzhaubens, might get some blue crested or polkadotted things that lay Easter eggs. Or might get plain black or white flighty things that lay pretty eggs in trees.

I guess I could just hatch one of everything for fun, and price them cheap (cheep cheep!) to make sure they sell.

 

[GOLDENSEABRIGHT]

That is true and just say you dont know exactly what they are.

 

[nhrocks]

Oh great. Now another girl wants to set. Must be contagious. One of my turkeys just started laying, but I don't think I'll have enough of a clutch ready in time, considering their longer incubation. Now I'm thinking of just ordering some day old pullet chicks for them to brood, then sell them as started pullets once they feather out.

Although I think I will set all the Aneraucana eggs I get by this weekend, at least those will be guaranteed color layers.

Silly hens are starting this business far too early! Don't they know it's midwinter in northern New England???

 

[Islander11]

Breed some Welsummers! Lots of people will buy those. I bought a few a couple of years ago and i loved them!

 

[nhrocks]

I will be breeding welsummers later when I can get pens set up. And Ameraucanas, and maybe some F2 olive eggers.

Right now I can give the broodys welsummer eggs, but they may have been fertilized by any of five different breed roosters. I'm not sure anyone wants a welsummer x spitzhauben or welsummer x leghorn/Ameraucana.

That's my current dilemma. I have no pure eggs, and they are broody right now.

I'm thinking ordering barred rock or buff Orpington pullet chicks will be my best bet. Those are most popular around here.

 

[Islander11]

That sounds good. Good luck!