Quality of the bird and your location can influence prices quite a bit. For show or elevated breeding quality chickens, I've seen asking prices upward of $100 per bird. I also look at it as: how much do you want the silkies in question? If you really like the looks of them and want these...
A lot would really depend on your goals.
Are you interested in showing? If so, I would start with birds from an experienced breeder in a breed you are interested in.
If you just want to breed dual purpose chickens, I would want:
* good laying (4+ eggs per week)
* good foraging ability and/or...
For a fast growing breed, you definitely do not want Jersey Giants. They get huge, but not quickly. 8-10 months is the earliest I'd want to butcher mine and in that time they have eaten a LOT. Slow cooking is best at that age. As Amer stated, you'd be better off with another breed if fast-grown...
There is a lady in Georgia who has Faverolles. Her program is called Snobby Silkies.
I have personally had eggs shipped (of a different breed) from Caitlin of Keep On TruckinHomeNStead in New York. I believe she still has some Faverolles or could recommend someone to you if she no longer keeps...
No DQs LOL. The highlight of the day was my homebred cockerel getting Reserve American! I had the only Jersey Giants, but there was a decent American class.
In my opinion, they don't have a DQ, but I'm still nervous I'm overlooking something.
Also, white birds are surprisingly hard to keep clean. I posted in the club FB group hoping for some magic tip the experts know. Nope, just bathe and hope for the best.
They are susceptible to frostbite. In addition, they do not grow quickly. If you are set on buying from a hatchery, their Jersey Giants will disappoint in the size department.
Hold out for the breed you want. :)
It can definitely change with time. Twice I have marked a few of my Jersey Giants as culls too early. Mainly because they looked too small and thin at the time and I was inexperienced. Waited for them to grow to go in the freezer. I went out one day and they were completely different. Better...
I'm not familiar with any of the breeds you're interested in so I can't help you with specifics. I would encourage you to buy a SOP. Some breed clubs will post the breed standard on their website, some do not. When I joined the National Jersey Giant Club, I was sent copies of drawings...
For the right birds, I would do it if eggs and chicks weren't available. I've heard good things about using a private transporter but have personally had mixed results transporting other animals.
I'm not sure what the typical size is for them these days. I don't have any Houdans of my own, it's just a breed I've been interested in so I have read about them and spoken to a couple of people but no firsthand experience. From photos I've seen, they are probably half the size of what they...
Nutrition can play a part, but overall the breed is smaller than they should be due to selection over time. The breed is rare so people tend to hatch from any Houdan in order to help preserve them, but now is the time for selection toward correct size. After all, they were once meant to be a...