New Chicken Breeds

I've decided to nix the idea of raising chocolate orpingtons. I've read that they're so big and fluffy, they sometimes have problems.  I have two chocolate orpington "project" chicks that are about 5 weeks old now.  I will keep any pullets - especially if they are brown (instead of black) - but I will sell any cockerels.

I now have my long-term plan for chickens.  I will keep a layer flock of approximately 20 hens.  I'll make a little money for Lily's Garden selling eggs.  Then I will raise the following breeds to sell hatching eggs and chicks: Swedish Flower Hens, Crested Cream Legbars, Isbars, Rhodebars - and possibly Araucanas.

I will get eleven Swedish Flower Hen chicks tomorrow.  Then in March I will get Legbar, Isbar and Rhodebar chicks.

Right now I have 7 hens that are laying.  3 Araucanas who are 21 weeks old - should be laying anytime now.  They're already "squatting" - and the EE rooster is mating them.  Then there are 3 other pullets that are 18 weeks old (an EE, a light brown leghorn and a welsummer) that should be laying soon, too.  Add to that the eight 14-week olds - and that give us a laying flock (once they're all laying) of 22 - which will be plenty.