toastedblue Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 visited 3 breeders today and... 1st said his Black/White Leghorns wouldn't be ready until spring 2nd only had Rhode Islands, not the Miss Pepperpots or Gingernuts he'd told me on the phone, and they looked very big 3rd had 6 breeds to choose from (I think), Black Leghorns, Welsummer, sussex (bantam ?), one that looked like a Miss Pepperpot, and a couple of others I can't remember the names of... he talked till the cows came home and I was even more confused by the time I left I need help deciding what to go for... OR, should I just drive over to Omlet and buy a couple ? it's only 2.5 hours and I'll be garaunteed good quality, healthy, vaccinated hens assuming Omlet sell birds that is... hadn't thought that they might just give me the names of breeders thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 If you look on the Omlet wiki there's a list of breeders and there might be a different one you haven't tried. Omlet don't stock birds, they get them in from Meadowsweet poultry agents and then deliver them. Personally I wouldn't go for too many leghorns as they're quite skittish and get scared easily, but one or two would be alright. Welsummers are lovely birds and beautiful too. Don't give up on the idea of Rhode Island Reds either, they're very friendly, pure breeds and very good layers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 hi have you tried the poultry mill pontyclun i got my hybrids there and i know he has various other breeds, he is a meadowsweet agent sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toastedblue Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 hihave you tried the poultry mill pontyclun i got my hybrids there and i know he has various other breeds, he is a meadowsweet agent sarah that's who had the Rhode Islands and, now you mention it, he did say they were hybrids he didn't show me, or say he had, any other breeds LJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 he definately has lots of other breeds they are on his website i had 2 of his hybrids he called them goldlines i think but i have to say they have been fab i have to say no problems and good layers sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toastedblue Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 just an update... went to Mr Welsh Eggs (AKA Orchard on Yell.com), this morning they had 18 week old Warrens which the worker, who was sent out to deal with me, said not to bother with because they only lay for 18 months or so he then took me up to a large battery(sp) shed, there were 4 breeds in there, all about 8 weeks old... about the right age for our setting, give the kids a chance to watch them grow. he told me to go for any of those as they will (are you sitting down ?) "lay until they die" to cut a long story short, we're going back next Friday, assuming the Eglu comes on time, and are going to buy (rescue) 3, 1 from each breed I must admit I was shocked at the cramped, dark, conditions they were living in but they did look healthy and alert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 just an update... went to Mr Welsh Eggs (AKA Orchard on Yell.com), this morning they had 18 week old Warrens which the worker, who was sent out to deal with me, said not to bother with because they only lay for 18 months or so he then took me up to a large battery(sp) shed, there were 4 breeds in there, all about 8 weeks old... about the right age for our setting, give the kids a chance to watch them grow. he told me to go for any of those as they will (are you sitting down ?) "lay until they die" So hes competing for 'Chicken Sales Assistant of the Year' is he? Obviously a place thats more interested in how many eggs you get out of a hen Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 just an update... went to Mr Welsh Eggs (AKA Orchard on Yell.com), this morning they had 18 week old Warrens which the worker, who was sent out to deal with me, said not to bother with because they only lay for 18 months or so he then took me up to a large battery(sp) shed, there were 4 breeds in there, all about 8 weeks old... about the right age for our setting, give the kids a chance to watch them grow. he told me to go for any of those as they will (are you sitting down ?) "lay until they die" to cut a long story short, we're going back next Friday, assuming the Eglu comes on time, and are going to buy (rescue) 3, 1 from each breed I must admit I was shocked at the cramped, dark, conditions they were living in but they did look healthy and alert Warrens are a hybrid, pretty much the same as the omlet Gingernut Ranger. They lay most eggs in the first year, but will continue to lay for 2 or 3 years. They only live for about 4 or 5 years. But they will lay 5 - 6 eggs a week in the first year or two. The others that he showed you, if pure breeds will live a few years longer but not lay anywhere near as many eggs as the warrens. Make sure that you are able to exchange the pure breeds if you end up with cockerels (a distinct possibility as some breeds are quite difficult to sex) The warrens will be all female as they can be sexed at hatching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toastedblue Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 Make sure that you are able to exchange the pure breeds if you end up with cockerels (a distinct possibility as some breeds are quite difficult to sex) The warrens will be all female as they can be sexed at hatching. I hadn't even considerred that... will ask when I go back, thanks for the heads up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 hi i rang mr. welsh egg and they were most unhelpful, the women i spoke to said chickens could not be kept as pets and was very abrupt. hence i didnt go there sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toastedblue Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 hii rang mr. welsh egg and they were most unhelpful, the women i spoke to said chickens could not be kept as pets and was very abrupt. hence i didnt go there sarah I had the same cold reception from the owner but the Polish guy who took me round was really helpfull and friendly... although scarely honest it's getting harder and harder to decide what to do now that Snowy's thrown the sexing issue into the mix realisticly we need a breed that lays regularly for it's whole life so, if we have 3 hens, the kids will have a chance of collecting an egg each day help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouncy Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 hii rang mr. welsh egg and they were most unhelpful, the women i spoke to said chickens could not be kept as pets and was very abrupt. hence i didnt go there sarah I had the same cold reception from the owner but the Polish guy who took me round was really helpfull and friendly... although scarely honest it's getting harder and harder to decide what to do now that Snowy's thrown the sexing issue into the mix realisticly we need a breed that lays regularly for it's whole life so, if we have 3 hens, the kids will have a chance of collecting an egg each day help I wouldn't worry too much about the children wanting to collect eggs every day, our kids love collecting the eggs when we get them, but equally love just watching / playing with the girlies - although they're not so good at cleaning the poo up in the kitchen!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
