Marans look good (love the colour of their eggs...).
Indian game and speckled Sussex are rare breeds so good option as well, fitting with our approach. (Oink have you noticed any difference in the meat/ carcase quality between the breeds you have used?).
Another website uses Barnvelders as a utility breed as well.
Anybody tried any more from the RBT list : https://
www.rbst.org.uk / poultry-breeds-at-risk.pdf
(spaces to remove the link).I'm thinking now probably best to get an incubator and different eggs for the first year, see what we like then look to build a small flock from there.
An interesting point picked up both here and on castlefarms site is feeding ie not pellets but wheat - any reason? Is it cheaper, more natural?
Also, I will need to get a new house for the youngsters, then for the boys to be kept in. Any tips on design of a house? Thinking that maybe a garden shed is cheaper than a poultry house? Is there an optimum time to seperate cocks and hens and also to introduce young hens to the laying flock?.
Thanks for the responses.