Why do you have the breeds you do?

[TexasChick47]

The first year I got eight mature chickens from a "puppy mill" type chicken farm. Totally stupid idea. Didn't know the age of the chickens or anything about them. The lady told me they had all be vaccinated (yeah, right - insert wink, wink, nudge emoji here). We lost two in the first week (still don't know why). Three never did lay any eggs. Three survived and died of old age (just a guess) after we got our first batch of babies.

THEN I decided to do some research. I went for hardy, frequent layers, friendly, pretty . . . in that order. We have Orpingtons, Golden Cross X, Easter Eggers.

We got our first batch of babies from Tractor Supply Company and were very pleased with our little flock. (One turned out be be a rooster. We re-homed him to a local dairy farm that has 40 free range hens and three other roosters. I understand he is VERY happy.) We've never had any health problems with them. Lost them to predation (great horned owl and dogs).

We now have a second batch of babies, again from TSC on March 2nd. So far, all is well.

 

[TexasChick47]

First pic, my babies on 3/2 when I brought them home from Tractor Supply Company. They were just a few days old, I'm guessing. They are in the bathroom in a 100 gallon water trough.

The second pic was taken 3/20. They are out of the tub and in a 3 x 6 cage in the feed/tack room. Heat lamp at night, natural light and fresh air during the day.

Not shown in this pic is a inverted 16 gallon tub with a hole cut in one end. They coop in there at night for warmth and comfort. They are so cute cuddled up together.

 

[HarmonyHomestead]

I went with what the local tractor supply had available, going with a variety so I could tell them apart and have an interesting looking flock.
Year 1- 1 leghorn, 1 RIR, 1 black and 1 red sex link
Year 2- 2 Easter eggers, 1 barred rock, 1 more leghorn, a silkie and a bantam Cochin from the assorted bantam bin (have to get there the first day to get those I guess!)