Chicken breed recommendations??

[NEWCOMER]

So, I'm going to order chickens, probably next spring...or maybe in the summer, but really I don't want to order any birds in the summer; with it being hot and all, but I might. Or I'll just incubate some chicks. I really haven't ordered any specific breeds in a long time and for a while now all the birds on my property have been just crossovers resulting from year one, lol. But anyway, I want to order some nice laying birds...to sell the eggs. So any favorite laying breeds you'd like to recommend? Also any hatcheries you'd like to recommend also, would be helpful, if you have any. Normally, I just oder birds from Cackle Hatchery, though.

 

[Baymule]

Sex links. They are black, red or gold. They lay large brown eggs, lots and lots of eggs, for 2 years. After their second molt, third year, they don’t lay as much but eat the same. Old hens make wonderful soup, broth and all time classic, chicken and dumplings. Dress them out and sell to your egg customers.

 

[Blue Sky]

I like Wyandottes, any color. They are a dual purpose bird, can free range or be cooped, have calm dispositions, will go broody and can help your kids with homework. Ok. Kidding about the last part.

 

[Mini Horses]

Whatever you do, get, etc. know they start laying at roughly 6 months. Hatched chicks like warmth, so summer takes less heat lamp time . Sex links usually start laying 4-5 months and most are calm, will forage, will coop, are generally calm. If you're interested in selling eggs they also lay more reliably. I'd go with those if that was my goal. Even knowing @2-3 they're freezer fill. It's a little different than enjoying the colors and longevity of older breeds.

 

[canesisters]

Egg customers are sometimes willing to pay more for colorful shells. If you have the room, you might want to add in a few black copper marans for dark brown and a few legbars for blue eggs. Maybe even a few leghorns for white eggs to contrast against the others.