pickles Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 hi can anyone help me make up my mind what breed to get or even if i could get a couple of each and put them together. im looking for something that will be ok free range and in a run. Will not rip up my entire garden. Friendly and easy to handle. Will not fly over my fence. Good to fairly good layer. Nice to look at. Wont attack people. Can anyone also recommend any breeders that fully vaccinate in my area. Ive got practical poultry and a list of breeders etc and visited hundreds of website, but i would really like to go on some recommendations. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 i would say buff orpingtons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Orpingtons are too big for the Eglu I believe. Pekins won't destroy the garden and have lovely natures, but might not lay all year round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I love my pekin, she's dainty and friendly but can stand up to chickens twice her size. I'm starting to wish I'd got another pekin at the same time. I got her from Thorne's on the Stotfold Road, Letchworth, prob not even 20 mins away from you, depending where you are in Luton. They fully vaccinate their purebreeds, and when I went there yesterday they had at least one black pekin left for sale in their purebreed pen. Otherwise you'll have to wait for the next hatch which will be a good few months yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I'll second superjules's suggestion - thanks to her, I got a couple of gorgeous pekins from Thorne's a couple of weekends ago. They do do the chicken dance (left-scratch, right-scratch, step back and peck!) but with their short legs and feathery feet there's not a lot of damage done. And Esme is laying for England at the moment - a cute little tinted egg almost every day! Pure-bred pullets of any variety are in very short supply this time of year, as the hens don't lay in winter. Worth waiting for, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 How are they getting on now Eyren? Are they all in together now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Nope - Pepper is still being extremely bossy, and Nutmeg is following her example In fact I'm looking to rehome the two miscreants - I don't think the eglu run is really big enough for all five of them, and I'm not sure I could face the DH if anything happened to the pekins (he is totally smitten!). He wasn't too happy about Pepper drawing blood when she pecked me the other day, either - muttered that she'd be in the pot, not rehomed, if it was up to him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I have cochins, they really are beautiful hens . Mine are very friendly and docile and love to be around people. The eglu run is too small for fully grown cochins as they grow very tall and like to stretch. We did have cochins living in an eglu - they didnt seem to mind but we only had 2 cochins in one eglu. We have now moved onto a cube and this is much better. Cochins cant fly, they are heavy but fluffy! They dont lay many eggs and tend to go broody a lot, I think they are more of a pretty hen than a versatile layer. I love them though and would have more given the chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 hi there many thanks for your repsonses, very useful info and contacts. im afraid i cant afford an eglu. i had my old chickens in a converted wendy house, one of those plastic ones from argos. We put in vented windows, , nesting box etc, perch, wire meshed the door and attached a drop down flap and run. I had loads of room for my 3 hens in there. photo on my website www.bedsforbucks.com so it still sounds like pekin and orpington are in the running then, and sounds like i have a really good breeder nearby. thats all really fab, many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I have 2 cochins, two full size brahmas, one brahma miniature, three pekins and an Orpington miniature. I have the big girls living in a cube but they make their way to the eglu to pinch the bantam's food at every opportunity. I wouldn't have brahmas, cochins or any of the full sized larger breeds in the eglu. My pekins and Orpington miniature are perfect in there but the larger girls don't have enough room. My pekins haven't started laying yet but I am getting eggs most days from my Orp mini, the brahmas and the cochins. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Sorry, just read the message about the wendy house. Ignore my ramblings. Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
