What's on your wish list?

[Chicalina]

I've hatched, raised, kept and bred many different breeds over the years and I have long term "I'd love to have one day" list of chicken breeds.

And maybe a shorter term "let's try these out this year or next".

And some "I want those again" breeds.

And also a "no way, never again" list.

I look for different colours in feathers and eggs, body shapes, character, hardiness and suitability for wet weather.

Would love to hear about what breeds are on your lists and why?

 

[newchickychick]

We've nearly finished our first coop (30' x 15') and plan to do a handful others after! But we intend to have AC and solar-powered or just normal heating in all of our coops (or at the very least fans in the coops with the cords safely bound somehow to avoid any tipping over/etc.) Expensive, yes. Our chickens will be spoiled as can be. But this way we don't have to necessarily worry about cold hardy vs heat tolerant, as we should (knocking on wood) be able to keep them comfy in any and all temperatures. So IF that all goes well, it opens up my wishlist quite a bit.

Turkens are at the top of my list! We got two and two non-NNs that were in the bin with them the day before my birthday, which was a little over a month ago now. They're as big if not bigger than our 9 week olds now. They're some form of rapidly growing meat bird cross, so we're unfortunately not sure if we'll be able to give them long/healthy lives. (We are trying though!) They have been the SWEETEST, silliest things ever. One of them has a Delaware chicken's pattern on it and lets all the tiniest chicks jump up on it (him, I'm thinking) and sleep on his back. He even lets the Silver Laced Wyandottes we got the same day sleep on his back, and they're some pudgy 4 week olds! They've been dolls, and I'd LOVE to get some Turken as long-lasting flock members.

Brahmas are so fun to watch! I'd love a few Brahmas one day. I love their pants. We got two Cochins in our Cackle rare breed surprise, and I adore them too, but one's currently in his own little jail for feather-picking some of our younger sapphire gems. I think he's just getting antsy to get in the coop and wants more space (fair). We should have it finished within the week and we're keeping him in sight of the others, so it should be a smooth transition. It's been a hectic and loud few days getting everything together and he IS looking like a cockerel, so I'm attributing it to a little of all the above. But Brahmas and more Cochins for sure one day!

Egyptian Fayoumi are so pretty. I don't have much of a reason outside of loving how they look!

I did have Sicilian Buttercups on my wishlist, and I got one just the other day from another Cackle rare breed surprise!

Sumatras! They're just so darn pretty. We either got 3 Sumatras or 3 Dark Aseels in the order too. I'm really hoping for Black Sumatras, but if they're not, on the list they stay.

More Wyandottes! We've got 4 Silver Laceds which for the most part have been really wonderful! They're a bit mad at me right now for moving them into a large tent brooder as it's easier to change everything (feed, water, bedding, etc.) without them flying out of the kiddie pool brooder we'd makeshifted once we took the 'roof' off. (It's on our to-do list to build a huuuuge custom brooder in the garage this winter!)

More Orpingtons! We've got about 6 buffs, and so far they're little dolls!

Speckled Sussex and Welsummers. I THINK we've got one chick that's one or the other (it was in the RIR bin at TSC) but I love speckled-y eggs and speckled chickens. So pretty!

All the Easter Eggers/"Americanas". While I greatly appreciate the purebred Ameraucanas, and how beautiful they are (and how much work it must take to keep them show quality as well as deal with cross-beaks!), I absolutely LOVE not really knowing what your chicken will grow up to look like. My favorite little chick right now (shh, don't tell the others) is an Americana (or maybe one of the Prarie Bluebell Eggers) and she is an ANGEL. She's getting some gorgeous partridge patterning in on her wings! I can't wait to see her all grown up. Her body fluff right now is a light cream but the partridge coming in is such a rich red and brown. So excited!

At the end of the day, I want to try one of everything. I love having a huge variety in our flock so we can really tell who's who at a quick glance, and to know we'll have a really colorful egg basket. Our chickens are first and foremost going to be pets, so we really just want to see what likes the coop environment/big enclosed run well and that gets along well with a huge variety of other clucks.

 

[Chicalina]

We've nearly finished our first coop (30' x 15') and plan to do a handful others after! But we intend to have AC and solar-powered or just normal heating in all of our coops (or at the very least fans in the coops with the cords safely bound somehow to avoid any tipping over/etc.) Expensive, yes. Our chickens will be spoiled as can be. But this way we don't have to necessarily worry about cold hardy vs heat tolerant, as we should (knocking on wood) be able to keep them comfy in any and all temperatures. So IF that all goes well, it opens up my wishlist quite a bit.

Turkens are at the top of my list! We got two and two non-NNs that were in the bin with them the day before my birthday, which was a little over a month ago now. They're as big if not bigger than our 9 week olds now. They're some form of rapidly growing meat bird cross, so we're unfortunately not sure if we'll be able to give them long/healthy lives. (We are trying though!) They have been the SWEETEST, silliest things ever. One of them has a Delaware chicken's pattern on it and lets all the tiniest chicks jump up on it (him, I'm thinking) and sleep on his back. He even lets the Silver Laced Wyandottes we got the same day sleep on his back, and they're some pudgy 4 week olds! They've been dolls, and I'd LOVE to get some Turken as long-lasting flock members.

Brahmas are so fun to watch! I'd love a few Brahmas one day. I love their pants. We got two Cochins in our Cackle rare breed surprise, and I adore them too, but one's currently in his own little jail for feather-picking some of our younger sapphire gems. I think he's just getting antsy to get in the coop and wants more space (fair). We should have it finished within the week and we're keeping him in sight of the others, so it should be a smooth transition. It's been a hectic and loud few days getting everything together and he IS looking like a cockerel, so I'm attributing it to a little of all the above. But Brahmas and more Cochins for sure one day!

Egyptian Fayoumi are so pretty. I don't have much of a reason outside of loving how they look!

I did have Sicilian Buttercups on my wishlist, and I got one just the other day from another Cackle rare breed surprise!

Sumatras! They're just so darn pretty. We either got 3 Sumatras or 3 Dark Aseels in the order too. I'm really hoping for Black Sumatras, but if they're not, on the list they stay.

More Wyandottes! We've got 4 Silver Laceds which for the most part have been really wonderful! They're a bit mad at me right now for moving them into a large tent brooder as it's easier to change everything (feed, water, bedding, etc.) without them flying out of the kiddie pool brooder we'd makeshifted once we took the 'roof' off. (It's on our to-do list to build a huuuuge custom brooder in the garage this winter!)

More Orpingtons! We've got about 6 buffs, and so far they're little dolls!

Speckled Sussex and Welsummers. I THINK we've got one chick that's one or the other (it was in the RIR bin at TSC) but I love speckled-y eggs and speckled chickens. So pretty!

All the Easter Eggers/"Americanas". While I greatly appreciate the purebred Ameraucanas, and how beautiful they are (and how much work it must take to keep them show quality as well as deal with cross-beaks!), I absolutely LOVE not really knowing what your chicken will grow up to look like. My favorite little chick right now (shh, don't tell the others) is an Americana (or maybe one of the Prarie Bluebell Eggers) and she is an ANGEL. She's getting some gorgeous partridge patterning in on her wings! I can't wait to see her all grown up. Her body fluff right now is a light cream but the partridge coming in is such a rich red and brown. So excited!

At the end of the day, I want to try one of everything. I love having a huge variety in our flock so we can really tell who's who at a quick glance, and to know we'll have a really colorful egg basket. Our chickens are first and foremost going to be pets, so we really just want to see what likes the coop environment/big enclosed run well and that gets along well with a huge variety of other clucks.

Sounds like you've got a fantastically varied flock - I love that!

I have two Transylvanian Naked Neck bantams and they are super cute. Not like the large Turkens you have. Ive just hatched one of their babies too.

Have you thought about using broody hens in the future to hatch and raise babies, because it's much easier than having indoor brooders.

 

[newchickychick]

Sounds like you've got a fantastically varied flock - I love that!

I have two Transylvanian Naked Neck bantams and they are super cute. Not like the large Turkens you have. Ive just hatched one of their babies too.

Have you thought about using broody hens in the future to hatch and raise babies, because it's much easier than having indoor brooders.

Oh yes, absolutely! We actually got some silkies recently as hubby loves them AND we’re hoping at least a couple would end up good broodies. We do want to keep the brooder there as a “just in case” in case no one is broody or something goes wrong and we’ve got to do it ourselves, but I would love them to be flock raised if possible in the future.

Bantam NNs sound SO so cute! I absolutely love them. They’re so peculiar and I love that about them.

Definitely a huge variety! Since we’re new to it, we decided to let surprises pick our flock for us so we could learn our favorites through experience!

 

[5Australorpasaures]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Sebright_Gold_Doré.jpg

If only they laid bigger eggs.

 

[kattabelly]

Buckeyes seem like a breed I'd like to try keeping, but not easy to get hold of any this side of the Atlantic.

My first try at hatching some Norfolk Greys only yielded one runty bird from a dozen eggs. I definitely won't be breeding from that one even if it makes it that far but I'll try getting more eggs either this summer or next spring. Think the eggs from this hatch had been handled especially roughly in the post, and the inc might've been running a bit hot even though the thermometer in there was checked fairly recently.

 

[Chicalina]

Oh yes, absolutely! We actually got some silkies recently as hubby loves them AND we’re hoping at least a couple would end up good broodies. We do want to keep the brooder there as a “just in case” in case no one is broody or something goes wrong and we’ve got to do it ourselves, but I would love them to be flock raised if possible in the future.

Bantam NNs sound SO so cute! I absolutely love them. They’re so peculiar and I love that about them.

Definitely a huge variety! Since we’re new to it, we decided to let surprises pick our flock for us so we could learn our favorites through experience!

Oh, I strongly believe that experience is the best teacher. Seconded only by other people's experiences. Hence why this forum is so helpful!

Silkies are lovely. I kept them for years. Exceptional mothering skills. Tip: trim the crest so they can see. Cute isn't always practical.

 

[Chicalina]

Oh yes, absolutely! We actually got some silkies recently as hubby loves them AND we’re hoping at least a couple would end up good broodies. We do want to keep the brooder there as a “just in case” in case no one is broody or something goes wrong and we’ve got to do it ourselves, but I would love them to be flock raised if possible in the future.

Bantam NNs sound SO so cute! I absolutely love them. They’re

Bantam NNs sound SO so cute! I absolutely love them. They’re so peculiar and I love that about them.

My little fugly baby

 

[Chicalina]

Buckeyes seem like a breed I'd like to try keeping, but not easy to get hold of any this side of the Atlantic.

My first try at hatching some Norfolk Greys only yielded one runty bird from a dozen eggs. I definitely won't be breeding from that one even if it makes it that far but I'll try getting more eggs either this summer or next spring. Think the eggs from this hatch had been handled especially roughly in the post, and the inc might've been running a bit hot even though the thermometer in there was checked fairly recently.

I guess you are limited in what you can get without being posted to you, due to where you are. It's a risk with shipped eggs but I tend to take a punt anyway if it's something I want.
I've not tried either of those breeds.

I wonder if you've tried Araucanas? They are pretty, good foragers, close feathered, clean footed and fairly docile. Mine are anyway (bantam). Good for UK weather! Plus gorgeous aqua coloured eggs.

 

[Chicalina]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Sebright_Gold_Doré.jpg

If only they laid bigger eggs.

Ahhh, sebrights!

I had a little sebright girl. Plucky little thing she was. In a mixed flock, I reckon you could have one or two just for the eye candy and let the other hens be the main egg producers