Neat topic. Love seeing everyone's choices and why they went with them.
I have had:
Rhode Island Reds
Americana
Buff Orpingtons (currently have 2)
Welsummers (currently have 1)
Speckled Sussex (currently have 1)
White Rock (currently have 1)
Golden Comet (currently have 2)
Black Copper Maran (currently have 1)
My starter flock was 2 RIR, 1 Buff, 1 Americana. Lost one, then got more Buffs and the Welsummers. Gave my RIR and Americana to a friend who wanted to start a flock but not chicks. Loved my Welsummers. My profile pic was of my favorite bird before she died.
Next I embarked on hatching and that opened up a world of new breeds not available locally. My first hatch was Speckled Sussex chosen for personality and friendliness and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I would love a whole flock of these birds. However I could only keep two pullets. I lost one in the first year. We think it was a hawk, but really her curiosity killed her. She wandered into the neighbors yard and got nabbed. Sad day.
Next hatch was White Rocks. I chose this breed because they were reported to be cold hearty and lay through the winter. Again kept two pullets and sold/gave away the rest. I've found this breed to be less friendly and not as consistent with eggs as I was hoping. Lost one to a predator.
Then I found a local breeder that had Black Copper Maran hatching eggs. I was interested in this breed for their egg color and temperament. Hatched 4 but three were boys so they had to go and I only have the one hen now. She is sweet as can be tho and has laid beautifully. At the time I hatched the BCM's I panicked that only one would hatch and be lonely, so I ran to the feed store and got the two Golden Comets. They DID lay through the winter, but are flighty and smaller than my other birds so get picked on quite a bit.
The weekend I pick up 2 dozen hatching eggs from the same local breeder as before. Last year she has started raising Jubilee Orpingtons and I fell in love. I've been on a waiting list for a year to get some hatching eggs. I also told her I'd take a "surprise" dozen with a few more BCM's in the mix. She raises about 10 different breeds so it will be interesting to see what I get.
My breed choices have evolved over the years, but I consistently go for friendliness, cold heartiness and egg production. I like the dark brown BCM eggs, but I like the bird more. I did have the one Americana and she did lay blue-ish eggs, but she wasn't very nice. The RIR and GC are great layers but flighty and not very interactive. (aka they run away from me vs the other breeds who run to me) The Buffs land in the middle for me. They are friendlier and calmer than the last three, but not super friendly. Kinda spoiled by my Sussex and BCM.
Other than the breeds I already have, Jersey Giants are on my hatching list. Been a bit difficult to find a reputable breeder. The few I've found have been *really* expensive. I've heard different things from hatchery stock so unsure of my next move. Maybe I'll try to hatch some later in the year, or next spring. Depends on how this hatch goes too.
Sorry for the novel. Haven't gotten to talk chicken in awhile.
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