Which would you prefer?

[Cattle dog Mom]

That's true too. Most of what I listed aren't super common in my area. The Sumatra and Cochins are probably the most common, but I figured the self blues and sexlinked ones might give a tiny edge, plus the sexlinked might have drizzling too

But are they uncommon only because no one has them OR because there is no demand? (Though I would think anything sex linked would have a bit of demand since most average people want females.)

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It doesn't matter what WE say.. getting familiar with YOUR market is KEY..

More than that.. WAY narrow down the breeds and work with only those which YOU absolutely LOVE.. My true suggestion!

I thought Speckled Sussex were lovely as well.. they don't sell for CRUD here.. while PURE colored Silkies sell ALL day long EVERY day. French Marans also sell well. Lavender anything SEEMS popular.

I tried to find a jubilee/speckled Wyandotte.. looks like calling them Milli fleur in Europe though it has the mahogany base.. couldn't figure how to make them myself.. so TRYING to make "Isabella" laced Wyandotte from my lavs cross black laced red.

I voted for Isabella Leghorn.. though I'd be SHOCKED if you could get it AND also have it for sale in the near future.

I worked with white faced black Spanish.. FUN birds, very Leghorn'esque, good layers and foraging, challenging hatching. Screamers at harvest time.

Happy adventures!

I have some Isabellas coming from hoovers, so we'll see how They turn out. I'm working on seeing what other Montana folks seem interested too in. I'm one of those who loves the weird, practically useless birds so sometimes I forget about common dual purpose ones that are popular too

 

[JacinLarkwell]

But are they uncommon only because no one has them OR because there is no demand? (Though I would think anything sex linked would have a bit of demand since most average people want females.)

Probably because they're not meaties or lay like leghorns. Most people in my area either have bantams that come to tsc or other common birds from tsc. Not a lot of people go through the hassle of mail ordering here

 

[WVBirdsAndBees]

I have found quality barnevelders tough to locate and would like more. Same with speckled sussex.

We had similar questions last year and settled on lavender orpingtons, cream legbars, and olive eggers (legbar x bcm). All are popular but have their unique challenges.

Good luck! Tough decisions getting started.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Probably because they're not meaties or lay like leghorns. Most people in my area either have bantams that come to tsc or other common birds from tsc. Not a lot of people go through the hassle of mail ordering here

How far are you from a decent sized population? Close, Or would most people have to drive an hour or more? I get SO sick and tired of "I wish you weren't so far away" I am about to loose my MIND! I'm in a rural area in the middle of the state between 2 populated area on each side of the state. For me, driving 2 or 3 hours one way is "close" and no issue at all. Where as people in heavily populated areas don't want to drive more than 30 minutes.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I live about an hour from one of the larger cities, but I can drive about 5 hours still and be in my state. It is literally about a day to get to most places that have decent birds judging by the rehoming adds hence my love of shipping eggs and chicks or if be stuck with australorps and White leghorns

 

[BleuSaphir]

I just have the trio now (lost a gal to choking last summer. Still debating on if I want to add more or just start to phase them out as they pass away)

They are beautiful!
I have tried to email a breeder in Montana...so far no luck in even getting a response back. Ugh

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They are beautiful!
I have tried to email a breeder in Montana...so far no luck in even getting a response back. Ugh

Well if you're ever in montana, I'm more than willing to part with eggs (Healthy stock but not NPIP so I can't ship out of state). They're not amazing specimens, but the male is human tolerant and they're put together well for small time shows like 4H

 

[FloorCandy]

I only sell quail, but from my experience, anything sex linked is a huge plus. Find a snake person to take the extra males as chicks, far easier than rehoming adults you fed for ages with no return on investment. You can easily fill a pen with juveniles and know that in x- time you will have a pen of laying hens to sell at the height of spring demand. I literally can’t hatch female quail fast enough, I spent 40 minutes this morning alone answering an ad I posted for 10 chicks several days ago, and they were already gone the next day.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I only sell quail, but from my experience, anything sex linked is a huge plus. Find a snake person to take the extra males as chicks, far easier than rehoming adults you fed for ages with no return on investment. You can easily fill a pen with juveniles and know that in x- time you will have a pen of laying hens to sell at the height of spring demand. I literally can’t hatch female quail fast enough, I spent 40 minutes this morning alone answering an ad I posted for 10 chicks several days ago, and they were already gone the next day.

Wow, congrats. I particularly don't care for selling male quail personally. They're easy enough to dress out at 8 weeks for me.