Has anyone ordered FBCM from any of these farms before?

[Gilded Feather]

Has anyone bought FBCM chicks/and or/hatching eggs from any of these places?
Ballenger Farm & Homestead, Fat Hen Farms, The Zen Hen and The Honey Bee.

If so, what did you think of your chicks? Did they grow out to meet both SOP and egg color production expectations for the money you invested? Would you recommend or advise against any of these farms? Give me the good, the bad and the ugly.

I’m currently researching various options for composing a starter flock in the spring and definitely want to put my money to the best of use. Looking for beautiful birds with beautiful egg color from multiple places to insure genetic diversity. (aren’t we all? ).

Thank you in advance!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there.

I haven't ordered from the places you are asking about. But I'm including a link to a thread that discusses one of the places I have ordered from. Hope it's helpful...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/northwoods-poultry-red-feather-farm.1303747/#post-21242570

For what it's worth... I don't consider FBCM to be "rare"... when you can buy them at so many hatcheries... they are a dime a dozen these days. I did love them as a breed though, and possibly my favorite roosters.

Best wishes on your adventure!

 

[Gilded Feather]

Hi there.

I haven't ordered from the places you are asking about. But I'm including a link to a thread that discusses one of the places I have ordered from. Hope it's helpful...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/northwoods-poultry-red-feather-farm.1303747/#post-21242570

For what it's worth... I don't consider FBCM to be "rare"... when you can buy them at so many hatcheries... they are a dime a dozen these days. I did love them as a breed though, and possibly my favorite roosters.

Best wishes on your adventure!

Thank you for the thread link! But you know, your words have hit a chord with me. I think I might just order from a hatchery and get the birds I like without fussing over what breeder has the best stock. It’s just so much easier and less of a headache. Thank you.

 

[Acre4Me]

We bought Blue and Black copper Marans from Sandhill preservation this spring. Straight run. We got 6 birds, and 50:50 M:F.

I just posted in the SOP topic on BYC - there is a Marans thread. I posted pics of each female and the eggs they just started laying. You can check them out to see the pics, and the comments from a more experienced BCM owner

 

[cmfarm]

If you want dark eggs then a hatchery really isn't your best bet. Hatchery BCM tent to lay lighter eggs.

 

[Acre4Me]

Here is the link to bcm discussion. You’ll probably find some good info and sources within the discussion.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-to-the-sop.1122465/page-1304#post-21860465

 

[Gilded Feather]

If you want dark eggs then a hatchery really isn't your best bet. Hatchery BCM tent to lay lighter eggs.

I completely understand this. But I’ve decided I’m just going to go with a hatchery and avoid the headache and hassle of grooming through hundreds of breeders in hopes of getting a bird that might lay a quality egg. I’d rather just enjoy my flock as they are with no expectations and I have come to realize a hatchery will fulfill my needs quite well in this respect. No disrespect to anyone who goes with a breeder, but I just want to love my flock as they are.