pbfhpunk Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Ordered my Green cube yesterday delivery on 14th April with an Omlet guy putitng it together but no chickens so that's cool and saves me doing it! Now is the hard decision which chickens!! Ideally we want 6 and we'll probably go to http://www.warwickshirerarebreedfarm.co.uk/home.html for them and we'd like 6 different breeds, with a mix of egg colour, so I was thinking Buff Orpington Columbine Cream Legbar Welsummer Silkie Wyandotte Does that sound like a good mis and ones that'll - hopefully - get along? Also are they good layers? Thanks Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 That sounds lucky some lovely birds - a big difference in size on some of these - do they have them available? Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 A very eclectic mix! You won't get any of those muddled up! You've only got one hybrid there, the rest will (probably) stop laying from Nov-march. My Wyandotte bantam is rather aloof but very business-like about laying eggs. She lays 6 eggs a week at the moment. She is my noisiest chook and behaves like a guard dog. She rounds the other bantams up if they go too far and doesn't do change very well. I moved the eglu slightly yesterday when I cleaned it and she is very rattled today as a result. I have 2 columbines, but I only got them last week. They're a bit flighty so far, but other people have said they become very friendly. I don't know much about the other breeds I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hmmmmmmmmmmm, thanks for that things to think about def, I would prefer hybrids and maybe I should've got a couple from Omlet to start with and then add the others a couple of weeks later but don't have the facility to keep them apart while introducing. I know I def want the Buff Orpinton as they really are gorgeous looking birds, is the Columbine the hybrid one? Any other suggestions for good layers and a good mix would be great, I'd really like a Bluebell but they don't do them and again as not having an additional hen house wanted to get them from all the same place. Again if anyone has any advice about that and if it's necessary then that's great. Thanks Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 Just found this (apologies if it's been on here already) http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx Further to my previous post do you think I could get 2 or 3 from omlet (if it's possible to add them to my order) and then get 4 more from other sources a couple of days after? Thanks Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 (edited) Yes, the columbine is a hybrid. I've got 5 hybrids and 3 pure breed bantams because the main reason we have chooks is for the eggs. The bantams are really my daughter's, as the birds are easy for her to handle (she's 4). The little diddy eggs are lovely for the kids and a bit of a novelty but if it weren't for DD we wouldn't have bantams. As for getting hybrids from different sources and introducing them a few days apart, I would have thought that would go ok, as long as they are all about the same age and size, although I haven't done it myself. Even if you get all your birds from the same place, that's still no guarantee they won't argue a little bit in the beginning, as Lisa33 will tell you! Edited March 27, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 If they have them in stock....Omlet will certainly add them to your order. Omlet hens are excellent to start with, easy to look after and are good layers. Your hen "wish list" looks interesting, But TBH, there is such a difference in size between the Orpington and Silkie that it could lead to problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hang on though- on their website they've got loads of good hybrids listed, are they out of stock? *confused* They use the 'Fenning' names but they've got listed Amber Stars, sussex Stars, Bluebelles, Black Rocks all pretty and good layers.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Neither of those two (silkie and orpingtons) are particularly good layers are they? DD wants a silkie but I won't let her have one because I've heard they spend most of their time broody! Orpingtons look lovely, the buff ones look beautiful, but so HUGE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 Thanks again for the advice. Rhapsody - I just looked for the ones I'd heard good things about here and that were available at that breeders - I'd really like a bluebell so can you tell me what name they are on that site? TBH I'm not really fussed about having the silkie it was just a variety of chickens I was after again using what's available on that site. I haven't contacted them to see what's in stock as I wanted more of an idea of which I'd like before enquiring - hence posting on here! I'm also close to cotswold chickens are there any recommendations from there? Bottom line - I guess - is I'm looking for 6 different breeds that are good layers and would prefer hybrids. I understand about the Orpingtons being large but didn't realise they'd be so big it would be an issue, so thanks for the heads up on that. I find this site so useful even though I feel so dense when I get replies! Thanks again Helen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 The bluebelle would be a Mendlesham blue I think. Mine are the equivalent of a pied suffolk, a mendlesham amber (mine's much more white than that picture), 2 columbines and I've also got an original Omlet gingernut. They've got some nice hybrids on that site. I'd have got a bluebelle if there had been one available when I went chicken shopping but I got the pied suffolk instead and she's lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 are there any breeders that deliver all over the UK? Thanks Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 In the 'Hybrids' section the 'Mendlesham Blue' is a Bluebelle by another name, the Fenning Sussex is a Sussex Star (which I can highly recommend) The 'Fenning Black' is a Pepperpot/ Black Rock and the 'Mendlesham Ranger' is a Gingernut. All the hybrids on that page are good hardy friendly birds that lay well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 I think Gallina got some delivered from Wernlas, but I don't know how far they'll go. I've never found anywhere that'll delivered nationwide, some will send birds a couple of hours away, but any further and the birds would suffer too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 www.lphpoultry.co.uk deliver, and they have Bluebelles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Well I never knew that! I wonder how they send them? I panicked bringing my first 2 chooks home because it was an 80 mile journey!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 what is the official name for a bluebelle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 According to Snowy's chart, they are a maran/RIR cross, also known as a mendlesham blue, merrydale blue or a blue comet. These people do national delivery too by the looks of it. http://www.gardenpoultry.cwc.net/breeds.htm The birds are cheaper but the delivery is nearly £30. Worth it if you're getting quite a few though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Wheres Snoweys chart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 If you PM her she'll email it. It's an excel spreadsheet containing her own internet research into hybrids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 oooh thanks SNOWEeeeeyyyyyy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 I would see what they have got and go and have a look/talk to them to get a better idea of what you want. the Domestic Fowl Trust at Honeybourne is within an hours drive from you as well. So you have plenty of choice. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...