Which breeds did you wish you got?

[themenagerie]

I have too many chickens to count.. literally.. I think it's in the 60ish range with all this years chicks and roos. I'll be downsizing in the fall. My first priority was Heritage breeds who were good layers, no sex links, pretty was a plus, but no "foofy" types such as Frizzles and Silkies... My best layers have been my Australorps and New Hampshire reds, none of my reds have been aggressive as some others have mentioned. The friendliest and most inquisitive have been my Speckled Sussex, my favorite all around have been my Welsummers, who are friendly, great foragers and lay a beautiful egg. A close second is my Barnevelders, simply GORGEOUS birds and so sweet. I have Easter Eggers and Wyandottes to round out the flock. plus some Blue Orpingtons (pretty, not great layers...did I mention they were pretty? lol). The ones I have not liked were Leghorns (WAY too flighty), Buff Orpingtons (have tried, and tried with them... I want to like them, but they're not very productive and seem to have a penchant to be egg eaters) and Salmon Favorelles (too timid for large, mixed flock). I 've had two Brahmas, the Buff ate all the time and didnt' lay, plus had no personality, so she was rehomed. I have a dark brahma pullet this year and she's a really nice, friendly bird. I really hope she lays well. This year in addition to the laying birds, I"ve branched out into Black Copper Marans (gorgeous eggs, not so great layers) ,Olive Eggers and real Blue/Black/Splash Ameracaunas. My plan for next year is to sell eggs and chicks that are BBS Ameracaunas and BBS Olive Eggers, while keeping my laying flock. I thought I'd branch out into bantams, I have some Mille Fleur D'Uccles, but I'm just not feeling it with them, too much work to keep them separate from the others, I'm looking to rehome them.
What I haven't had yet, that I'd like... Buckeyes, Dominiques, Delawares, Cochins, more fun varieties of the Marans and Ameracaunas probably.

 

[Hatching]

Wish I had more room and money, I'd get LF lavender Cochins, chocolate laced orpingtons and chocolate partridge wyandottes, sultans and salmon faverolles

 

[Harbinger]

I am just starting out. I have 4 variations of Marans, Coronation Sussex, and Barnevelders. I am planning to get Ayam Cemani soon. What is some advice on how to keep the bloodlines intact. And how often do I need to get new roosters?

 

[wineryrooster]

we have colubian rock cross, black sexlinks,and arucanas also two rouens couldnt have asked for a better flock they are all grate birds and serve the perpose we wanted them four but i could have a rooster i would choose a jersie giand because they are the best one i have ever come in contact with very nice and very big

 

[Two Chicksahs]

We currently have a Cuckoo Maran, a Plymoth Barred Rock, a RIR, Two full sized EE's and one Bantam EE, and a Buff Orpington. Our RIR is either Rhonda or Red. If it turns out to be a cockerel we will most likely get something like an Black Australorp, or perhaps a Houdan or Polish cause they make me laugh. I'd like us to get some meat birds but since all of ours are named we don't want to be bigots so we'll likely stick with dual purpose or layers. I do really like the Chocolate or lavender colored hens but we'll most likely wait until next spring to add to our flock since this is our first time.
If anyone has to get rid of some laying hens or started pullets in Thurston, Pacific or Grays Harbor even other areas in Western WA we/I would consider adding a few (2-3) but setting up and building a brooder and coop ran more than we thought it would! Our pen is 20 x 20 with a coop of 6x6 so we should probably wait but I don't like to see perfectly good chickens go to waste if they are healthy and still lay. They are definitely addicting!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have a very wide variety.

I will NOT be getting any more wyandottes. Both of my current ones are mean as heck. They willingly chase down and beat up other hens. They have plucked feathers out of my BA to the point I had to pull the BA and keep them separated for an entire summer. The GLW will draw blood if you try to touch her. Pretty birds but not my cup of tea.

I wish I got more BA's.
I will be slimming my numbers down and hopefully have room next year to get more BA's.

DH adores the BO's and they have been wonderful hens. I have no complaints on them at all.

The Polish are proving a bit more work than I had imagined at first. The poofs are huge and require trimming in order for them to see to eat. Trimming the poof is easy but needs done frequently. I like them but will not be getting more when these are gone.

 

[torilovessmiles]

I wish I got Easter Eggers this year. BUT I did get (what I think is) polish x EE. And boy, do they look funny!
What I want next is Russian Orloffs!

 

[SageB]

I have been wishing and hoping for a buff orpington but have had no luck. I'd love to get a few of them as chicks and raise them. But alas, no luck finding them in my area!

 

[Deej211]

i have Araucanas, polish, australorps, wyandotte bantams, maran x, rirs, db plymouth, sl wyandotte, blue orps, gold spangled hamburgs, lots of ee's and 1 indian game as well as quite a few crosses. love all my chookies but if i had to start again i would go with more bantam breeds and just the araucanas. i think when all my babies are laying i'll be having a big sell off to raise money for the ones i really want.

 

[Frankie Ruiz]

Well I really wanted to try some Wyandottes, New Hampshire Reds, and Rhode Island Reds. I've had them all before but have never raised any to laying age except for a few Blue Laced Red Wyandottes and they were nice birds. This year I went with Silkies, Buff Orpingtons, Speckled Sussex, Light Brahma, Easter Eggers, Gold Sex Links and Black Jersey Giants. I also added 3 little Buff ducklings! 1 Male and 2 Females to have around the yard. I'm really excited for the Black Jersey Giants. It also turned out that one of my Easter Egger Roosters turned out to be pure white so it should be interesting to see what kind of babies come out of him!