Which breed would you choose from my list to get into breeding??

[FuzzyCritters]

What is your goal with breeding? Working toward and maintaining the SOP? A good utility bird for eggs and meat? Hatching chicks for profit?

 

[sunnie7]

Love this advice from @chickenpolo ! I'll just add a little to supplement on what I've experienced.
I've been obsessed with Silverudd's Blues since last spring and am working on a breeding pen now. Both the roo and the pullets are very alert to aerial predators and warn others. They are little scrappers and love to forage. I've only had one layer so far, and her eggs are speckled and so pretty (in the dish in the front of the pic). They have a way to test for homozygous blue egg genes now and are working towards breeding out the tan egg gene that pops up occasionally. I'm testing my roo now and waiting for all of my girls to start laying before sending in their test packages. They started a website recently at https://www.silveruddsblue.org/ I have worked with Mika the most out of all the breeders.
I have had Ameraucana roos, and they are super mean to my kids (it of course could have been a bad line), but I've had other roos since who are sweethearts, namely my Silverudd's Blue roo and a Cochin Bantam. We gave the Cochin to my son's K teacher since his grandson was visiting regularly, and he's easy to hold. Also, the K teacher is how we finally convinced my hubby to get chickens!!
My cream legbar is the sweetest and the only bird that has flew into my arms to be pet. It may have been a fluke since it only happened once, but I will cherish that memory forever. Mixed with a Silverudd's Blue, they yield a teal egg (called Ice Cream Bar). I have a breeder near me that works with the Opal line, and they are really pretty. Love the crazy crests!
I haven't had a Bielefelder but also heard great things about their breed from another 4-H kiddo. They are auto-sexing and lay huge eggs!
Marans have dark eggs, which will give me Olive Eggers with my blue and green layers. They won't sell at a premium, but there is definitely a market for green and olive colored eggs near me. I have an Olive Egger and her green is dark with almost a greyish hue (see pic on center of skelter)...it's so unique and gorgeous to me. Another one that I have is a deep olive with speckles (a few on the skelter).
My Ameraucanas and Barnevelders are so cute and pretty, but they take forever to start laying.
I haven't owned Swedish Flowers or Aloha...now, I must go look into the Aloha! View attachment 2482577

I currently have 2 midnight majestic Marans, 2 Olive eggers and an EE (that was hatched from my Ameraucana hen and EE rooster) that are 17 weeks old and I’m really anxious to see their egg colors!!! I have 1 or 2 of several other breeds but those are the ones im anxiously waiting to start laying!

 

[sunnie7]

What is your goal with breeding? Working toward and maintaining the SOP? A good utility bird for eggs and meat? Hatching chicks for profit?

I’d like to work towards maintaining the SOP and we love incubating and hatching. end of last summer we let our 4 year old bantam Cochin hatch some LF eggs for us for the first time. it’s was such a cool experience! I also love pretty eggs! I get there’s not a huge profit but selling some chicks for more than a few dollars can add up and be a nice little deposit into the kids savings accounts!

 

[FuzzyCritters]

I’d like to work towards maintaining the SOP and we love incubating and hatching. end of last summer we let our 4 year old bantam Cochin hatch some LF eggs for us for the first time. it’s was such a cool experience! I also love pretty eggs! I get there’s not a huge profit but selling some chicks for more than a few dollars can add up and be a nice little deposit into the kids savings accounts!

Ah, ok. Legbars are challenging for SOP breeding, there are a lot of faults in the breed and good quality stock can be hard to find. But if you're up for a challenge, go for it! Silverudds Blue and Swedish Flowers have no SOP, just guidelines for how they should look. I imagine they wouldn't be very difficult to maintain if you start with quality stock. Marans and Ameraucanas both have SOPs and breed club, so you could probably find a good breeder if you decide to go with those.

I'm sure whichever one you pick will be the right choice for you. Please let us know how it goes!

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I think it depends on what you want to breed for, and the market in your area.

My number one choice would be Ameraucana.

But CCLB is also another one that would be high on my list, but as FuzzyCritters said they can be difficult.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[sunnie7]

Crested Cream Legbar! Blue eggs, crested birds but not too crested that they can't free range. My 2 CCL pullets are the most chatty birds and will fuss and whine anytime they realize that I have come to visit without any gifts (aka treats). They have such friendly personalities. I think your kids will LOVE them.

Silverudd's Blue! Green eggs, and beautiful friendly birds that are rare. I hatched one in August. He is so handsome but not SOP. He absolutely HATES to be picked up, but he is extremely gentle, friendly and hilarious to watch.

Both are dual purpose breeds so sending the extra cockerels to freezer camp should help to stock your freezer.

If you HAD to pick between the two?!
About how much can you sell chicks for?
I’m hearing that CCL can be more on the difficult side of breeding?

 

[sunnie7]

Silverudd Blue, beautiful chicken, gorgeous eggs, rare enough to fetch a decent price.

Do you know how much the chicks tend to sell for?

 

[sunnie7]

@PNWskye your egg photo is !!!!!!

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Which breed is most attractive to YOU? THAT is the one you should choose. People are better off breeding what THEY like best. Rather than worrying about what will sell best. Most breeders breed for THEMSELVES first. Then they sell the culls and those others that they don't want or need for their program. They often don't sell chicks. They hatch as many chicks as possible and grow them out to choose their next generation of breeders. Chances are you won't get any more for the chicks of any specific breed than you would get for a back yard mix chick. Because most people just want chickens (And they want cheap) and don't care so much about the breed.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Do you know how much the chicks tend to sell for?

Local breeder here (in Hawaii, where EVERYTHING, including chickens costs more...)
sells hatching eggs for $8 each and UNSEXED day old chicks for $20 each.