Zac, Good stuff here... We are on the same page we have both of these breeds and along with a Wyandotte Rooster (a gift from a neighbor). We are not hatching eggs at this point but will be there in the next couple years. A couple items that we really like about both the breeds you have narrowed down your selection to is how hearty and tough the birds are, good in the cold and handle the heat well, this is important, hearty birds keep laying eggs all year long. They protect each other and have a wonderful sense when predators are around, it is amazing how fast they spot a chicken hawk in the sky and take cover under the coop.

In my opinion chicks are a must have if you are going to live the homestead lifestyle, they do so many things for you, there is just to many positive having them!

Keep up the good work Zac!