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Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 12:33 pm Post subject:

Sarah D wrote:

I wouldn't go for ex-battery hens if you are completely new to chicken keeping, but I know some do.

We did (as you know) and they have been lovely. Granted 3 of them died for no apparent reason (much like sheep), but the remaining 9 chooks are now in full and robust health, covered in lovely full fluffy feathers (unlike the scraggy sad looking creatures when they first arrived) and are still laying a few eggs each week in the middle of winter.

We went ahead with the ex-battery hens because we knew that we had loads of on-tap advice and support here on DS which has been bloody brilliant.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 1:52 pm Post subject:
I think is the general agreement is 1. get some chickens 2. they are very easy to look after 3. Personal preference counts for a lot, but they all lay eggs, some more than others. 4. Battery hens are good, but be prepared for a few losses 5. Everyone's here to help what have I missed?

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 2:10 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

what have I missed?

Lock them up or the fox will have em away.

justme

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 2:19 pm Post subject:
Day or night. If they are for NL's back plot, tho, that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

BahamaMama

Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 2315
Location: Away with the fairies

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 2:24 pm Post subject:
We have excess feeders and drinkers to contribute to the project. PM me if interested.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 2:31 pm Post subject:

Justme wrote:

Jonnyboy wrote:

what have I missed?

Lock them up or the fox will have em away.

justme

Agree.

Also, who will look after them when you're away.

Louisdog

Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 716
Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 3:17 pm Post subject:

Our hybrids are the friendliest and the best layers - a black rock, a Bluebell and a White Star. Our three pekin bantams are also friendly and lay ok in the summer, apart from when they decide to go broody (which is often!)

We also have two cream legbars and they are great layers but we find ours flighty. One is one that we had from an egg - we bought three hatching eggs for our pekin to sit on, which was great fun.

Our maren and welsummer bantams are very nervous and also a bit prone to flying out of the run! We also have a silkie and Rhode Island Red.

Altogether though we have enjoyed all of our chickens, great fun and very entertaining to watch, as well as the delicious eggs!

Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 7:15 pm Post subject:

Chickens are great fun and very addictive!

For breeds, why not have a look at www.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk in the forums section, there's dedicated sections to most breeds, with photos.

We've got cream legbars, which are lovely - real characters and ours are not too flighty. We've also got several cross-breeds, with one of the friendliest being a young Welsummer x Cream Legbar!! Mind you, she might be a little less friendly when she comes into lay, she's still quite young at the moment.

I'd echo the "go for what you fancy", as even the worst layers will keep up with your stated needs for eggs; but do be prepared for a few weeks in autums / winter without eggs.

countryman

Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 137
Location: Cornwall

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 10:01 pm Post subject:
One word- Marans. In my mind if you only want a few hens and therefore a few eggs than you might as well have the best. EGGS BEYOND COMPARE

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 10:30 pm Post subject:
I've got marans and rhodies---and the marans seem just as hardy---If I'm having a boiled egg though it's always from a maran the very darkbrown colour is lovely and so are the eggs----kept speckledys before and they are a lovely placid bird and good layers of dark brown eggs if you want a pretty hybrid and a lower feed bill.

countryman

Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 137
Location: Cornwall

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 10:38 pm Post subject:
If you are keeping a rooster with them then Marran cockbirds are vaguely respectable as table birds. But i have to say again, I LOVE THEM EGGS

Louisdog

Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 716
Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 10:42 pm Post subject:
We had a speckledy a few years back and she was lovely and tame, lovely dark brown eggs too. Sadly she died of a prolapse and I haven't brought myself to get another one yet. She laid lots of huge double-yolkers, dunno if that contributed to her demise.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 10:52 pm Post subject:

countryman wrote:

If you are keeping a rooster with them then Marran cockbirds are vaguely respectable as table birds. But i have to say again, I LOVE THEM EGGS

I bought the Marans at auction as a box of chicks---about half were cocks---I've kept the best one for breeding and the others tasted delicious----that's another way to acquire chickens and dinners

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 08 11:47 pm Post subject:
personally I would avoid ex betteries for a first timer. They can get ill for no reason and seem a little nervous. I have L Sussex. They are robust, friendly, steady, flutter (dont fly) and produce an egg each a day for most of the year. They are also pretty.

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 08 8:32 am Post subject:

Justme wrote:

Jonnyboy wrote:

what have I missed?

Lock them up or the fox will have em away.

justme

Nearly lost one last night, the wife didnt count them back in. Foxes make a lot of noise and luckily for this ex batt i just went to check everything was ok scared off the fox and found a bedragled looking bird in the bottom of the hedge. She was shocked and has two bite marks but she took some water and a bit of corn and looks a bit better this morning. She wouldnt stand up last night so i hope that was shock and not more permanent damage, we will see when i get home!

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