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Chicken keepers

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Original poster

New chicken keeper....

11 replies

ChocolatewithRosie · 10/04/2011 12:37

Hi,

We have almost finished our henhouse and run, now just have to find the chickens, we are very excited Grin

We have had chickens before years ago, they were rescue ones as we had no space limitations to worry about, and we just didn't replace them as they left us.

This time I need something small. We only have a little garden and although they will have a free run of it, will need to be in the run (8ftx5ft) a couple of times a day for an hour or so, and occasionally longer if I food shop etc.

We would like 3, no cockrell (neighbours) and I was thinking bantams- we would like eggs though and I remember our silkie bantams when I was a child not laying much as they were forever broody. I know the eggs are smaller, but that's not an issue for us.

Any opinions on Pekin, Speckled Sussex bantams or Old English Game bantams (not that I can find any of these for sale!)?

Reading up, I see that bantams tend to be pure breeds and therefore not as hardy as the hybrids, is this the case?
If so any suggestions? They will be pets and although I know there is no guarantee, I want to limit the possibility of loosing them as much as possible!
Does anyone know a smaller hybrid I could look out for?

Bascially we would like small, reasonable layers who like being made a fuss of and aren't going to keel over Grin.

I also have some practical questions-

It is often hard to tell from the adverts for trios of birds are including a male- is there any way of telling, something in the ad that is said in chicken keepers language that I am missing? When ads are for pairs or trios, does that tend to be for breeding? I need help with the lingo! There are lots in the trade it for my area, but I just don't know how to know if they are reputable, or quite what they are selling Confused

Do I need to buy pol to be sure of getting girls, or can you tell younger?

Vaccinations- if they haven't been done by the breeder how do I go about this and how much does it cost? Googling only seems to bring up doing it yourself and no cost info.

I'm in Somerset if anyone has any little hens who would like to be treated like queens?

Any further advice?

OP posts:
Original poster
ChocolatewithRosie · 10/04/2011 12:38

I have to pop out now, but will check back later

OP posts:
Original poster
ChocolatewithRosie · 10/04/2011 14:31

bump

OP posts:
Original poster
ChocolatewithRosie · 10/04/2011 17:06

bump again

OP posts:
mummymeister · 10/04/2011 18:15

We started with dutch bantams. Lovely little chickens, excellent layers - rubbish mums though so we have an incubator for that. Found them to be really hardy and lovely brown/orange markings. We have one that is almost 7. Also really like aracuana and aracuana/poland crosses as they lay blue eggs which is fun. Frizzels are good to look at but very dodgy layers. You could go for a mix though. We also have some lilac aracuanas now but i can see why they are a rare breed the boys have no idea! We had a couple of exchequor leghorns. Magnificant plummage - black and white and really good temperament. Polands are nice too. Not very keen on the game birds as they really are "for the table" which isnt for us. You could go into your local pet shop and put up a card requesting hatchlings. or like us buy a tiny incubator. Its called a brinsea mini advance and is fab. Takes 7 eggs, does all the temp, turning etc all you do is top up the water and get the lamp and box ready! This way you can order what eggs you like in the post and have them hatch before your very eyes. Quite a lot of success with the eggs in the post so worth a try. Once you have hatched your own you will never look back it is so exciting! We don't vaccinate ours so can't help with that. All trios include a male. Somtimes it is just canny farmers who have sexed at a day old and put 3 cocks altogether so beware. 3 is quite a small number. i would go for 6 then if you lose one or two it won't be so traumatic. Good luck

Original poster
ChocolatewithRosie · 10/04/2011 18:54

Thanks mm, do you think we have room for more? I'd love more, but I thought as they will have to be shut away in the run when I am out (although this will only be once or twice a week and not all day), that it was best to stick with a small number.

We really can't have a boy, so I can't do the hatching, again would love to, but no idea what I would do with the inevitable boys. Do you know how early they can be reliably sexed?

I can't seem to find any crosses advertised, just pure breeds. I have seen an ad for a black dutch near me, she hatched it herself and it's 6 wks old.

Also I have seen one for 6 1yr old columbian aracunas but had never heard of them so glad you mentioned them!

I will put a card in the farm shop near us I think.

OP posts:
concernedaboutthis · 10/04/2011 19:03

Hello, we have wyandottes and they actually arn't bad layers, although one of them is frequently v broody.
We used to have a pekin, the most sweet little chicken, but sadly she wasn't nearly as hardy and hardly ever laid.
I started with three and when I lost one added 2 more. chickens are v addictive so I would start off with a small number with a view to building up your flock.
I now have big girls mixed in with the banties, the gold laced bantie is second in command!
Down the lane forum is fantastic site for all things chicken. Despite 'breed' all of our girls have very distinct personalities.

concernedaboutthis · 10/04/2011 19:04

ps our bantie eggs are more yolk than white

Original poster
ChocolatewithRosie · 10/04/2011 20:51

thanks concerned, I had a lovely blue pekin as a pet when I was a child, she used to sit on my shoulder as i did the horses and then roost for the night on our fat old retired pony's backGrin

I have seen a few wyandottes for sale, so that's good to know thanks

I will check out that forum, I can't wait to get them, they are such characters!

OP posts:
Charliepw · 12/04/2011 23:13

Hello choc with Rosie, whereabouts in Somerset are you, I'm in Mendips.
We bought our three hybrids from a fella in Compton Dundon, he seemed very nice and the hens all looked happy.
We bought three at point of lay apparently but four weeks later, still no eggs :-(
I have been told about another local selling various breeds but I've forgotten the village, think I have it written down elsewhere if you needed it.

Good luck with your search.

BonnetwithPosie · 13/04/2011 22:46

Hi Charlie, we are Quantocks, Compton Dunden a bit far but not horribly so, especially as I can't find hybrids, thanks. Have googled chickens, Compton Dundon but come up with nothing- is there a wayyou can get me his contact details? Thanks

Otherwise I am hoping I have found someone in Taunton, hens all vaccinated too so takes that worry away Smile.

Charliepw · 14/04/2011 23:04

Hello
We drove from Street down towards Somerton and as soon as you hit the village he's like the first on the left (their might have been a bend)
I do have his number which I get for you tomorrow.
He had lots of Hybrids 4 weeks ago though mine are not laying :(

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