Maisie has gone decidedly broody. I’m always surprised when the young girls do it. They’re like teenagers anywhere, they just throw themselves into it whole heartedly. Actually, there’s almost always someone either broody or thinking about it around here. Which is good news, I think.

Once we’re moved later this month we can finally expand the flock. I’m shooting for 10 -12 hens total now that we’ve got room. Of course then we’ll be drowning in eggs by late summer. My plan there is to start a small, underground egg market with friends and co-workers. Of course that means that people that have been getting the odd 6-pack here and there would suddenly find me with my hand out. On the flip side though, they could count on getting their eggs on the schedule that they want.

That means adding 6-8 more birds. I hate brooding chicks - they’re too needy and I’m not dedicated enough. But if I can get a hen or two to sit on them that’s an easy way to add to the flock. Once we’re settled I’ll add an extra nest box or two and put some golf balls in them. In no time flat we should have some girls willing to sit for 21 days.

Now the only question is what kind of birds? I feel like I should do something to support the endangered breeds. But unless I’m going to get a rooster and start breeding them I’m not sure that my hens are helping the cause. But still, I think I’ll pick breeds off the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy list.

My hatch rate on past tries has been 25 - 35%. So if I order 18 fertilized eggs I should end up about right. The list at the moment includes the Delaware, Buckeye and Dominique. I chose these breeds as they’re all dual purpose which means we can eat any roosters that happen to hatch. I’ll also likely order a couple of bantam Serama eggs as I think Agnes could use a friend. Anyone have any experience with any of these breeds?