Breeder has just refused to sell to me as I own a Cube (??)

[saltyseadog]

I've just ordered a Cube - after much consideration I chose it because I work F/T and wanted to be realistic as to how much time I would have for the upkeep of a wooden run.

I've just phoned a poultry farm (one that sells birds in v.large volumes - not a hobby breeder) to be told rather sniffily that they won't sell to Omlet Eglu/ Cube owners.

Am I making a big and expensive mistake buying the Cube? Are my girls going to be unhappy in it ?

Might it be more to do with the quantity of birds you need, rather than the Cube itself?

As werewolf has said. There probably isn't much profit in them selling a few at a time. I've never heard anything negative about the Cube, and my parents have extremely contented chickens who live in one.

Hmmmm...good point. Whilst they claim to sell individual birds I suspect that she has her eye on the big orders. They are a DEFRA registered farm, which must mean they are in it for decent profit.

She was unnecessarily sniffy mind you - I'm sure chicken housing snobbery was part of it

OMG ... that's unreal but I think Werewolf is on the right track ... they really want to sell more than a few chickens. Are there any small/nice/friendly/hobby breeders close by?

When do you get your cube? [excited emotion]

I've heard of this before. I have a wooden house, and have been asked about housing before when visiting breeders. There is an attitude in the poultry world that chickens are not pets and should not be kept in pretty plastic houses in small back gardens. The rather snobby assumption is that unless you come from a long line of chicken keepers, you are clueless and a welfare risk. They conveniently forget that everyone has to start somewhere! Nothing wrong with the Cube IMO. Like all housing, the important thing is not to overcrowd. I'd find another breeder.

Quite a few people have said this on the Omlet forum. There are plenty of places that will sell to you though. Alternatively, pretend you have a wooden ark when you ring up

Omlet has a list of recommended breeders. I don't think you would have any trouble if you use someone from that list. Where about in the country are you? There might be some that aren't on the list but still friendly.

LOL chickens - yes, that is exactly the impression she gave. Ironically we live in a rural location with space, it's just that I am too much of a slattern busy to cope with maintaining a wooden house.

Glad to hear that there's nowt wrong with the Cube. Best if I go through one of the Omlet recommended breeders I guess.

Millie - the Cube arrives next Weds

Mine comes on friday salty. I'm having the day off work!!

Oooh, I can't wait for your posts Salty & LRS when your cubes and chickens arrive. Salty - have you found an alternative chicken supplier yet?

LRS ... have you decided what to do about the Bantams? You and I are in exactly the same boat although I think I've made the decision to go ahead and get the Pekins. They're 3w old now so we won't have them for another month or so - spoke to the breeder tonight and they'll be off heat in about a week and then she'll bring them on a bit for us ... and sex them! I really need you to mix bantams and large fowl too so as I have someone in the same boat to compare notes with!

The line I seem to repeat most on these threads is 'find your nearest poultry club', and check their breed directory for local breeders of the varieties you like. I have nothing personally against commercial breeders, but from personal experience, club members are exceedingly helpful, very considerate of their birds welfare and will sell you a better quality of bird. It's also amazing how many varieties you can find in your local area you otherwise wouldn't know about!

I've wimped out Millie! I've been worrying anyway about having so many in the cube with a 3m run since I'm at work all day until 4 and so they'll be in the run a lot. So I think I'm going with six bantams (2 lavendar pekins, 2 black pekins and 2 light sussex). Went to see them the other day though and they are gorgeous. The lavendar pekins are a beautiful colour. Slightly concerned that we might end up with a boy given that they're young but I'm taking them on a "girl or return" basis! We pick them up on saturday .

DH thinks i've lost the plot but is kindly humouring me!

YY to Saggy's suggestion. Most Poultry Club members show their birds and take great pride in producing birds to the standard and in exceptional health.

Saggy and Porridge - just trying to get in touch with local breeders

One point that the snotty breeder raised was that I would have to quarantine birds from different breeders for 4-6 weeks. This would mean that I need two hen houses (something that I can't imagine dh would agree with) if I was to have a mix of hybrids and pure breeds from different breeders. Is this true or is she just trying to deter me from keeping chickens altogether .

Littleredsquirrel - has it arrived ?

No Salty . I'm toying witht the idea of calling omlet and checking there's not a problem. I've been so excited and its a nice day so if it arrives we can put it up this evening. Girls coming tomorrow so it NEEDS to arrive today!!

OMG! I am really .

Yes Omlet have delivered my cube. They delivered it to bottom of a shared driveway and left it there sometime today - anyone's guess as to when since they didn't even bother to try to deliver it to the house or even to let me know they'd left it there. I've been in all day waiting. The bottom of this driveway is 500 metres away from my house on a main road so its amazing its still there.

So I now have to get five enormous and heavy boxes three of which are too big to fit in my car 500 metres uphill to my house.

I am shocked at the stupidity of the delivery person.

LRS - you must be livid. I hope you phone up and complain - it's hardly as though it's a cheap purchase (plus you pay quite a bit for delivery IIRC).

Riven - glad your girls are happy in a Cube, makes me feel better. She was a snobby moo

Here's the cube DOG .. Cube ... those who have them absolutely looooove them. Fox-proof run, easy to clean, plastic so no red-mite - need I say more

LRS ... agree with Salty ... phone and complain. Infact, ask them to refund the delivery charge! Can't wait to hear about your chickens tomorrow ... I'm getting a bit worried about my mix now - the feeding aspect really, more than anything. Will you be able to post photos somewhere?

Salty ... are you counting down the days?

Salty, it is always advisable to quarantine new birds, but TBH I have never done it. I check the other birds at the breeders, look at combs, (should be red and healthy), feathers, tidy and neat, eye, clear and clean, breathing, no wheezes or sneezes, and legs, birds with thickened, rough scaly looking legs have scaly leg, and need to be treated. Pick your birds up, check vents and chests, look for dusty powder, louse eggs and live lice, and no signs of diarrhoea. If the birds look and sound healthy, I would put them in with mine, its a risk, but I have been ok so far.

but I am probably very very bad

Ha ha ha, at t no red mite comment. Don't buy acube if you thnkt will solve your red mite problem. Theylive in the running slts/grooves for the floor panels and also round the edge of the egg hatch door. Also mine has hundreds of little, bubble holes in the plastic where they live.

But the cube is fine for chickens.

DOG = 5 min a day to get eggs and feed/water. 15 mins once a week to clean out.