Who has chickens then?

[MrsDoolittle]

I'm starting out. I was all for starting with a trio of rare breed Brahmas but it seems I might be better with some hybrids, Black rocks maybe.
What do you keep?

[SoupDragon]

PPH has some.

[tallmummy]

We started with black rocks - eggsellent layers (Teehee - I am SO lame). We now have a wellsummer hen a rhose island red hen a light sussex rooster who is so beautiful. We also have 5 little rescue hens they are rir/light sussex. They came from a free range farm. They cull theirstock every 18 months.They are really friendly, a bit scruffy and although small lay the most eyewateringly enormous eggs. fresh eggs everyday. I really want some Buff Orpingtons

[tallmummy]

soory that's rhode island red not rhose. Squirming baba makes typing difficult

[tallmummy]

Soory?!

[BettySpaghetti]

Can I hijack quickly here please and ask a question - are chickens at all noisy? (I know cockerels are but wasn't sure about the females -sorry if that's a really dim question to ask ).

Its just DP has always wanted to keep some and we do have the space but I'm wondering about possible noise

[tallmummy]

Ours get a bit noisy when they've laid. They do it everyday but it still seems to surprise them. It tends to be for an hour or so in the morning.

[BettySpaghetti]

LOL at the idea of a chicken being surprised at an egg emerging from their nether regions!!

When you say "in the morning" are we talking early?

Its just that the spot in the garden most suited to putting chickens is quite near a neighbour's house and I'd be worried about noise annoying them.

Also, do you mind me asking how much time they take per day/week to look after?

[handlemecarefully]

No there is not much noise; no more volume that early morning bird song.

We've got 3 buff sussex; good layers who kept on producing eggs (albeit fewer of them) all through winter.

The rare breeds are often poor producers MrsD. If you get Practical Poultry Magazine they have a directory of chicken breeders at the back...

[jmum6]

Mum and dad have chickens - well 5 bantams and 2 silkies that wander around the garden.

Only make a noise whilst laying.

Anyone worried about bird flu?

[tallmummy]

Ours seem to have their noisiest time between 9 - 10 am but it isn,t that loud.

They live in a large fenced area in our front garden. They get fed twice a day plus the odd bits and bobs fron the kitchen. DS3 aged 2 loves to collect the eggs.

I clean out their shed and nest box every weekend and give it a good scrub two or three times a year.

Their enclosure is very large but now the evenings are lighter we let them out for an hour or so to eat the grass - good for egg production - makes lovely yellow yolks.
Go get yourself some chooks. It is so satisfying the first time you eat your own home laid eggs.

[tallmummy]

We had some info from the local council about bird flu. If it appears in the UK we would have to keep the chickens locked up. Realistically though we would have to get rid of them. It wouldn't be worth risking the health of our kids.

[handlemecarefully]

No not worried about bird flu. Will just have them 'despatched' should the time come...

[jmum6]

Yes iagree don't think i'll take ds around to gp if birdflu arrives in uk, unless they get rid of them of course

[MrsDoolittle]

Now that's what I would like. Three buff sussex, they are lovely looking. I like the buff colour and their fluffy looking 'pants'.

[handlemecarefully]

In that case Mrs D I can recommend the following breeder:

Andy Marshall, Liphook, Hampshire. He also does Cochins and Marans, and he knows his onions (he does a regular column called the Poultryman's Diary in Practical Poultry Magazine. His telephone number (and I can list it here, since it is public information listed in the Practical Poultry Directory, is 01428 723030)

and he runs short courses in Poultry keeping...

[MrsDoolittle]

oooh ta HMC! I'm not too far away

[hellsbellsdownunder]

We got our two chooks from 'Omlet'. Sorry can't do links - but they are a lovely company to deal with. The 'eglu' is great and you don't need a big garden. We've had Ginger and Babs for nearly 2 years.
We've recently moved them from our pub garden to our private one cos we thought customers might be put off visiting by the possibility of bird flu.
If (when) bird flu is a problem in England we might just keep them in a shed.
They are lovely pets - far more rewarding than I expected.

[MrsDoolittle]

HMC - I have CAT you!

[rosylizzie]

we had them till a fox visited in October -weve had black rocks, white sussex bantams, marams and rhode islands. they are wonderful to keep handled really well for the kids and kept us in eggs. we live in suburbia so we had a house and a run then used to let them out to free range in the garden during the day. not noisy at all but we never had a cockerel. minimal effort to look after - minutes each day, eat a lot of kitchen waste but you must make sure they are shut up EVERY night and that there is someone to do this for you if you are away - this is where it went wrong for us in october! wouldnt let children name them or get too attached as foxes do get one or other of then periodically.
cant recommend them enough but we have decided not to replace ours till bird flu is over - partly in case neighbours complain and partly coz our 4 year old handled them a lot - used to take a chicken down the slide with her at times....

[katyrocks]

dd used to push the hens aorund in the doll buggies!! they didn't object! concerned about bird flu now, dont' want to get rid of Bean, (only got one now) but don't think i have a choice, I think she's got to go, and she's a wonderful layer. I was hoping the community farm might take her

[sillymare]

can you catch bird flu by eatin it? Is it plump and juicy?

[sillymare]

I'll give it a quick whizz round hte garden before I eat it, honest!

[sillymare]

in the pram

[sillymare]

well fine. I'm off to pick my carcass. Chicken that is. Off Sunday lunch. Katyrocks call me if you want me to re-home Bean

[katyrocks]

thats a bit inflammatory sillymare, its rather sad to have to get rid of an innocent pet