Mrs Webmuppet Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi, The latest update: We won a hen house & run on ebay, collected it and the OH has assembled it . It is now sitting in the back garden, awaiting the paving slabs for the being sited and levelled (we are re-arraging the slabs that were under the old wendy house). Little Miss Webmuppet and I went to the equestrian/ small holders store and bought feeders & waterers etc, So the next question is what chickens to get & where to get them.Little Miss Webuppet wants pekin bantams, the OH has suggested he might like 'comedy chicken'(funny how he's gone from NO to might wanting his own chicken) and I would like a normal sized chicken that will supply some eggs for the kitchen. One of the local breeders (the Hen House at Eye) suggested a hybrid hen but which one to get ? They list : Speckledy Calderanger Bluebell Blue-egg-laying Bluestars I can find info on Speckledy & Calderanger but very little on Bluebell and nothing at all on Blue Egg laying Bluestars ( which sounds very exotic). Suggestions/ advice etc please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgley Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi, The latest update: We won a hen house & run on ebay, collected it and the OH has assembled it . It is now sitting in the back garden, awaiting the paving slabs for the being sited and levelled (we are re-arraging the slabs that were under the old wendy house). Little Miss Webmuppet and I went to the equestrian/ small holders store and bought feeders & waterers etc, So the next question is what chickens to get & where to get them.Little Miss Webuppet wants pekin bantams, the OH has suggested he might like 'comedy chicken'(funny how he's gone from NO to might wanting his own chicken) and I would like a normal sized chicken that will supply some eggs for the kitchen. One of the local breeders (the Hen House at Eye) suggested a hybrid hen but which one to get ? They list : Speckledy Calderanger Bluebell Blue-egg-laying Bluestars I can find info on Speckledy & Calderanger but very little on Bluebell and nothing at all on Blue Egg laying Bluestars ( which sounds very exotic). Suggestions/ advice etc please Speckledy - personally I don't like the look of these Calderanger - every time for me. Bluebell - very nice looking & have heard good reports about them, never kept them. Blue-egg-laying Bluestars - ? not sure what they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I've never kept any of them either, but I have seen a bluebell in the flesh and they are lovely looking hens. Heard good reports about them on here also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I know wher you went! You went to the hen house in Thorndon didnt you! I have his calder rangers bluebelles and Bluestars (also known as Jasmines and columbines) They are all great chickens, but you will need to be very carefull about putting these hybrids with a pekin bantam as you may find they bully her. But if you do have any problems like that he is a good bloke and will let you go back for a swap if needed. The Bluestars can be flighty (although mine is friendly) all of them are friendly lovely birds and good reliable layers. You could always go for a mix. Tell Stephen there that Cat says hello! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Woo Hoo! Congratulations! OH has suggested he might like 'comedy chicken'(funny how he's gone from NO to might wanting his own chicken) You watch...in a month or so the whole thing will have been his idea! I quite like the look of Speckledies myself. I have never heard of Bluestars....but it would be a novelty to have a blue egg layer and fun for your daughter. Warrens, Black Rocks, Meadowsweet Rangers, Sussex's are all lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Congratulations on your new hen house/run . Don't know about the others, but I have a Columbine who lays green eggs. She's very friendly and good natured. Did the Bluestar you saw look like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 Thanks for the advice - my hen would be out numbered by the bantams especially if the OH wants a chicken too. He is day off tommorrow so I have asked him to call Hen House to find out what chickens they will have for sale in a week or so ( we should have it all sorted out by then). Thanks for the recomendation Catscube.......Stephen seemed very helpful when we paid a visit on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkybijou Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 'aint "Ooops, word censored!"ody here' - I LOVE the bars in your run - are they just regular roosting bars propped up? I think my chooks would love those! (sorry Mrs Webmuppet for posting on your thread! - I have a nervous and flighty Wyandotte, and a lovely sweet natured Welsummer - both are gorgous) Kris Kris Doris, Welsummer Dora, Wyandotte both arrived three weeks ago tomorrow, and both happily freeloading too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I have a blue belle, she is pretty, friendly and cuddly. They are a hybrid and lay approx 280+ eggs in the first year I was told. Quite similar to a speckledy, but I chose the blue belle because I thought she had a better looking coat. My advice is to go and see them and go with what you like. When I saw the chickens, as opposed pictures, there were some I didn't like at all - also take the breeders advice - I was told white stars can be a bit flighty and flappy for a first timer, though they lay well. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 (edited) Just to add in case you still haven't decided we have a Speckledy and she is BEAyoootiful, all fluffy grey knickers, she's a good layer but she did go broody last year which was a pain. We have a calder ranger to who is Mrs reliable for eggs, our black rocks are the best layers tho (same as an Omlet pepperpot. And after we inherited 4 bantams we were pleasantly surprised to find their eggs were nowhere near as small as we thought. Good luck choosing, within two days of getting our first five OH had gone and bought two more! Mrs Bertie Edited February 13, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Thanks Pinkybijou . It's just half of an Ikea shoe rack. I had one that was a bit broken so just used one "shelf" and one set of legs. The ends fit through the run holes perfectly! They seem to like it - they often sit on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
