[gsc]

What should my priorities be?  Hardiness? Docility?  Eggs per year?
Would it be crazy to have 1 of 4 or 6 different breeds?

Here's what the local place is offering on their website as point of lay pullets.

AMBER STAR   
 This bird lays around 320 eggs a year. A lovely placid creamy white bird with various shades of amber markings.
£12 each.
 
BLACK STAR   
 Our beautiful Black Star is bred from a Rhode Island Cockerel and a Barred Plymouth Rock Female. Laying around 290 - 300 brown eggs per year, she really is a stunning bird, being very hardy and placid. Ideal for all free range conditions.
£12 each
 
SUNNYSIDE BLUE 
 Our Blue lays around 260 brown eggs a year. She is a very placid, pale blue grey bird who would stand out well in a mixed flock.
£12.50 each
 
GOLD STAR RANGER
 Our Gold Star is a Rhode Island x Light Sussex.  She lays an abundance of brown eggs and continually proves how placid and hardy she is.
£10.50 each
 
SUSSEX STAR
 A lovely old fashioned style bird, white with black markings around her neck and tail.  Lays approximately 260 brown eggs per year.
£12.50 each
 
WHITE STAR
 A beautiful white leghorn, laying 300 - 320 white eggs per year. A petite little ballerina. Often ends up on your shoulders.
£12 each
 
SPECKLED STAR   
 A barred feathered bird crossed with a barred Plymouth Rock and a Rhode Island Red. Lays a lovely brown egg.
£12 each

[joyfull]

Go and have a look at them and then decide which you like the look of. I like chickens that lay different coloured eggs this way I know who is laying. Remember though that commercial hybrids will lay in abundance for a couple of years then slow down, wheras a pure breed hen will lay less per year but continue laying for a longer period. Over their laying life all hens will lay about the same amount of eggs - it's just that some treat it like a sprint wheras others treat it more like a country stroll 

[gsc]

Lol Joyfull - you learn something new every day.

I like the idea of different coloured eggs so I know who is laying.

At the moment I wouldn't know a commercial breed from any other   Guess I need to start doing my homework fast.

[joyfull]

take a look at this link of a post that Babe did it may help you, also look at the Omlet website as they have pictures of different birds and their egg colours 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=29685.0

[nicky d]

well i have an Amber star and she is such a lovely girlie, there good egg layers aswell and very friendly.   Nickyx

[Sassy]

At the moment I wouldn't know a commercial breed from any other   Guess I need to start doing my homework fast.

I think all the breeds you mentioned in your first post are commercial

[nicky d]

well i think the answer here is to get one of each, that will be 7 then,  they will certainly be a lovely looking group, go for it.   Nickyx

[GrannieAnnie]

Well if you only had one of the white ones, that would bring the number down a little! 

[gsc]

We went to have a look yesterday - very nice chap.

Problem is there were even more to choose from than he had on his website.  My head was spinning before we left.

The coop arrives today - if I can get it put up for the weekend I think I will choose 3 and see where we go from there.  I may need something bigger for 6 or 7 

[joyfull]

buy a shed you can get loads in there 

[gsc]

buy a shed you can get loads in there 

Yeah but THE bl**dy neighbour will complain then the planners will be round - again!

[joyfull]

do like I did then and get 8 coups 

[gsc]

do like I did then and get 8 coups  

Now THAT sounds like a plan  

Wonder how big a chicken coop can be before it's called a shed.

[gsc]

Just had an email back - couldn't remember what other breeds he had yesterday.

Columbine
Copper Black
Coral

Now who was it that was warning me about it being addictive?   And I haven't even got started.

[joyfull]

told you to get 8 coups