Mcmurrays is mostly a broker, buying hatching eggs from other hatcheries and some large private breeders. Their poultry is ok for a backyard flock, I have had hundreds from them over the years. I think I stated that several breeders have written to the hatcheries which mis represent their birds and there is no response. Those hatcheries are not breeders, they are chick sellers, and they sell alot. It is ultimatly the responsibility of the buyer to do his/her homework. I have bred many different types of animals, all purebreds, from Horses, and beef to rabbits, poultry and dogs. I also work with plant stocks, I have seen just about everything mis represented, mostly thru ignorance but sometimes with malice. Those hatcheries know they arent being straight up, why they continue is beyond me??!! Some of those photos at Feathersite arent too hot either. Some are ok and some are very good representatives. The hatcheries provide a service and a product which are useful to many, but, for those who desire to breed quality and enter the breeding and or showing world, they are best steered clear of. I sell hatching eggs for way less than McMurray(my price is $25 per doz postpaud) and I send eggs from birds which have won top awards at national shows, check the price of their eggs, from birds which in most cases are not good representatives of the breed.

Velvet Sparrow gives excellent advice. It's best to just start off with a few. Before I made the plunge, I bought a chicken book that had a ton of info on various chicken breeds and went from there. I chose from those listed as "docile" and "good for beginners", plus I wanted ones who laid a brown or tinted egg, and was fairly prolific. I wasn't interested in Bantams, nor Polish-type show breeds. Therefore, please bear this in mind when you read my advice. Although I've gone more "commercial" and the majority of my hens are hybrid layers.I still have a variety of "heritage" or dual-purpose chickens. I think that the best of these is the Barred Rock. The females lay a good quantity of light brown eggs, and the males make really excellent eating. Very, very tasty. I've only had 3 Buff Orpingtons (one was killed by my dog), so now I have two, and I just love their looks and their personality. My Easter Eggers (Ameracaunas) have been the only "fragile" breed I've had. Of a total of six - one was euthanized for crop impaction before she came into lay, and another died without explanation - and she was the one who laid beautiful blue eggs, and was really, really sweet. One other lays only white eggs extremely rarely....(grrrrh!), and another is so low in the pecking order that she frequently has a bald back. My Marans are nice birds, even the Roosters (although I've read differently - mine have been nice). The hens don't lay well (except for the spring of the first season. HOWEVER, my Maran-Ameracauna hybrids lay REALLY well - an olive-green egg. I really like my Welsummers. To me, they just have a very pleasing look (and the roosters were the Kellogg's rooster!). At the moment, they're young, they lay a smaller, but nicely colored brick-red egg. They are very curious and have a very sweet disposition (even the roosters). I'd also like to try Barnevelders - the double-laced variety - just beautiful. I've heard that a typical novice error is to buy too many different types of chickens. However, I just don't agree with that. It's MUCH cheaper to buy eggs and chickens from the store. Depending on how your raise your chickens, it's usually much more humane to raise your own chicken and eggs. Therefore, given that you'll be paying more, my stance is that you may as well raise different colored eggs, and chickens that please you visually! It's a lot of work - why not enjoy it! Although I'm raising eggs commercially now from several different breeds - I still get untold pleasure by looking down on eggs ranging from blue - green - olive green - pink, light brown - brick red - dark brown - speckled brown. Plus, since my restaurants are buying "farm fresh eggs" it's kind of a good way of making sure I'm different from the competition! Have fun!

I am so glad you got one GDF too, :-) and your Polar Ice looks huge, it's way over a band size. I hope you didn't pay a lot since they ordered from High Country Rose, and they have to make some profit as a business. I paid $14.95 each for 2 ramblers( GDF and Victorian Memory), and $16.95 for a DA rose band (Tess of the d'Urbervilles), the shipping for 3 rose bands is $18.95. We have 2 "sister" GDFs here since yours and mine are both from High Country Rose, let's see who's grows faster. :-) Will that be fun!? :-) When you're ready to start, just let me know, mine is still in pot, not sure where to put it yet.

Mike, hello, I think I know you from another life. You know me by my real name. Yes, it's a beautiful bamboo, I can tell even from my wee little seedling. Vigorous too. bboy, I think it's possibly the hardiest of the Borindas. Perhaps the northernmost? Reputedly from Szechuan (I think it's been found in habitat) although it arrived by way of a Japanese garden. I did see a "before" and "after" photograph of a Borinda that defoliated in Oregon after a bad winter--but leafed out nicely the following spring. Don't remember which species it was or how cold it had gotten. >>When I was in the rhododendron society in the 70s such were called California Specials or Tender Harold Greer flamed me royally for claiming that I have grown Rhododendron edgeworthii outdoors for many years in Seattle. Temps below 15F are rare this side of the lake and always have been, except in 1955 when they hit around 9F. I left the Yahoo Rhododendron list and never came back. I was tired of the constant arguments about the "correct" classification of various species that struck me as being arbitrary--and being called a liar was the straw that broke the camel's back. I actually have a Rhododendron nuttallii outdoors. Not the best place for it but I have no choice as it has gotten too big to bring inside (and my house is too small anyway). Not recommended. I looks tired after the last freeze, but did survive.