I couldn't agree with you more on the dwindling selection of breeds through the common hatcheries. Personally, I had great luck with Meyers when I bought my first hens 7 years ago. I can only have 6 hens per city ordinances (not that any of us really follow that, lol) so I went for "fun" looking breeds. Oddly enough, my various Polish Crested are still laying at age seven - far better than expected. But as pets, my favorite breed by far turned out to be Silver Grey Dorking. Now I can only find one hatchery that sells them and they don't really have any other breeds I truly want - so I will most likely be going to a Silver Grey Dorking breeder, and they are extremely hard to find too. If I was younger and could have roos in my area I'd be starting a breeding program for them. Incidentally, your post on the Cream Brabanter has me on the cusp of adding one or two to my tiny flock!
I think it’s fantastic you want to keep the rarer breeds! Some of them are so unique that they get attention but others don’t and that’s a shame. I have one jaerhorn hen (Ideal) but she’s SO high strung! Leghorns are crazy I don’t even keep that breed but I’m hoping to get spitzhauben and brabanter going this year! Also love my buff cochins and polish!
Thanks! Please do order more Brabanters from Ideal if you can-they’ve stopped offering the Gold Brabanters and SO MANY other breeds they used to. It breaks my heart. I loved my Jaerhons. I have one blind rooster left, but the hens I got were very sweet - the first bird that ever flew onto my shoulder from across the garden!
