Breed choices: what should I get??

[BigBlueHen53]

I would say Barred Rock or Buff Orpington because I LOVED all of mine but they do lay light brown so if you want variety, I say the Marans mix or the EEs. For what it’s worth, I had 3 EEs plus bred some of my own and none of them ever had crossbeak or anything else wrong with them.

Ditto! I've had EE for 13 years and never had any idea that crossbeak was a problem, it certainly never showed up in the dozens or scores of them that I've had! They're my faves.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Ditto! I've had EE for 13 years and never had any idea that crossbeak was a problem, it certainly never showed up in the dozens or scores of them that I've had! They're my faves.

They’re my faves too!

 

[TXChixRock]

Hi all! These are my options for new chicks this year. I am trying to ONLY get 4 to add to my backyard 10. I would love to diversify my egg colors. Which should I get?? Thanks!


EASTER EGGERS CHICK
RHODE ISLAND RED CHICK
COPPER ROCK MARANS CHICK
BLUE GEM CHICK
BUFF ORPINGTON CHICK
AQUILA CHICK
BARRED ROCK CHICK
BLACK SEXLINK CHICK

Depends on your weather. Also, remember while the sexlinks give tons of eggs, they are prone to disease and have a shortened life span.

 

[andread]

BCM Roo x Barred Rock hen = Midnight Majesty Marans

Just a different name for a different hatchery.

yes! i have midnight majesty from TSC and i love her...she is my fave!
she lays beautiful very large darker brown eggs with freckles!

 

[andread]

I have a mixed flock! 2 CA Whites, 2 RIR, 2 Lavendar Orps, 2 Australorps, and an older hen mix I’m not sure of. I have almost all pale brown eggs. The RIR and the mix are a bit darker. Thanks for asking!

my barred rock lays very light brown/tan medium sized eggs.
she is a sweet girl and lays most days but her eggs are the smallest of my flock(isa browns, midnight majesty maran, amberlink and olive egger)

 

[knurse1]

I h

Hi all! These are my options for new chicks this year. I am trying to ONLY get 4 to add to my backyard 10. I would love to diversify my egg colors. Which should I get?? Thanks!


EASTER EGGERS CHICK
RHODE ISLAND RED CHICK
COPPER ROCK MARANS CHICK
BLUE GEM CHICK
BUFF ORPINGTON CHICK
AQUILA CHICK
BARRED ROCK CHICK
BLACK SEXLINK CHICK

A very golden c comets and love them

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

If I were you I would go with Easter Eggers and Buff Orpingtons. They are all around great breeds.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If I were you I would go with Easter Eggers and Buff Orpingtons. They are all around great breeds.

I love both breeds, but my BO just kept going broody so I didn't get as many eggs out of them as I would have liked. They are sweet and beautiful, though. I agree with you about the EE, I will never be without them! I love the blue/green eggs and they are very productive. Right now I'm getting brown eggs from my Dominiques, Speckled Sussexes, and Black and Blue Copper Marans. (One of my SS is VERY bossy, lol!) Sigh ... so many breeds, so little time!

 

[Demarvell]

Hi all! These are my options for new chicks this year. I am trying to ONLY get 4 to add to my backyard 10. I would love to diversify my egg colors. Which should I get?? Thanks!


EASTER EGGERS CHICK
RHODE ISLAND RED CHICK
COPPER ROCK MARANS CHICK
BLUE GEM CHICK
BUFF ORPINGTON CHICK
AQUILA CHICK
BARRED ROCK CHICK
BLACK SEXLINK CHICK

If you're trying for 4, buy at least 6. It's chicken math. Some will die.

 

[tori729]

I LOVE my marans from TSC/Hoover's. One of them has the copper and one is just black. They are both very sweet and friendly and regularly lay large pretty dark brown eggs. I definitely want to keep this breed as a regular part of my flock. My RiRs are more aggressive and don't love to be held but they are plucky and lay regularly so I would say they are a good staple breed to have.

I would love to have some EEs but what I thought were EEs are Brahmas instead! They are pretty and all but they are irregular layers and not friendly so I don't ever plan to get more of them.