Don’t Just Grab the Cute Ones – Pick Chicks That Produce

Let’s start with the truth: not all chicks are created equal, especially if you want reliable eggs on your homestead.

You’ve got two options: buy chicks because they’re cute… or choose breeds that actually produce.

Here’s how to make the right call:

✅ Skip the broilers. Cornish Cross and other meat birds grow fast but won’t give you a single egg worth waiting for.

✅ Choose high-production breeds. Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, ISA Browns, and Leghorns are great, but I like to keep things simple and proven.

👉 That being said, here are the breeds I recommend to get started:

• Barred Rock – Friendly, steady layers with classic farmyard looks

• Black Australorp – Calm temperament and great egg production

• Ameraucana (or Easter Egger) – Fun blue or green eggs, hardy in heat

• Brown Leghorn – Lays like a machine and does great in Texas heat

✅ Buy 4–6 chicks to start. Enough for regular eggs without overcrowding your setup.

✅ Pullets only, please. Ask for sexed pullets to avoid the surprise crowing contest from unexpected roosters. You still might get one or two roosters, it’s not 100% guaranteed

👉 Pro Tip: We’ve had great success ordering from Mount Healthy Hatchery. Since starting our flock, we haven’t lost a single chick from them, though it's worth saying that losses can still happen, especially during shipping. Always prep your brooder before the chicks arrive so you’re ready the moment they hit the box.

You can check them out here: 👉https://www.mthealthy.com/

Still unsure? Ask yourself:

• Do I want colorful egg baskets or just volume?

• Am I building a family-friendly flock or aiming for production?

🐔 Bonus Tip – The Black Australorp Advantage
Here’s a little secret most folks don’t know: Black Australorps can help keep hawks away.

Why? Because from above, they look like crows—and hawks hate crows. Crows gang up and mob them, so hawks tend to steer clear when they see black birds on the ground.

This isn’t foolproof, but it’s another reason I always recommend keeping at least one or two darker birds in your flock. Black Australorps are quiet, gentle, lay like champs—and double as aerial pest control.

Any black-feathered bird helps. But Australorps do it all and fill your egg basket.

Next Tuesday at 10AM, we’ll dive into brooder setup—how to keep those babies warm, dry, and healthy in the first critical weeks.

Get your chicks picked, get your space cleared, and let’s get to work.

— Tim Parker
Start My Homestead