KarmaMama Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Hello everyone This is my first post on the forum. We just ordered a green cube and a green eglu (for some Guinea Pigs) and they will be arriving on 30th April, as we live outside the hen delivery area we will be sourcing the chickens ourselves. I have been doing some research on the web, but have found myself in a head spin - we have four daughters ranging from 12 down to 1, so we need a child friendly breed. Even though we live in the middle of nowhere, our garden front's on to a busy road where the cars can travel at speed. We have a 6ft fence blocking it, but I have read that if we get a heavy breed they will have less chance of escaping. We want to start with 4 hens. I would really appreciate any advice on selecting a breed, or several breeds if they play well together. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Hi and welcome to the forum. I have been researching breeders in the south west for my omlet hen parties and the only breeder i can find in Cornwall is here - Hendra Farm Poultry Pelynt Looe PL13 2LU 01503 220701 www.hendrafarmpoultry.co.uk There are loads in Devon if you can travel. There are SO many breeds to choose from, hybrids are very popular and good layers, we have a mixture. Our heavy cochins are gorgeous tame bundles of fluff, they are big for a child to pick up but could sit on a lap! They do not fly though - so they can be kept in low fenced areas. Breeds similar are Brahmas (do not fly) and orpingtons (dont fly either). Rhode island reds are reliable layers, they are big but reluctant to fly. Silkies are smaller prettier hens, they cannot fly, do little damage to the garden and are good with children. I would maybe look through the breed guide on omlet and see what you fancy or visit a local breeder to get an idea and ask them. let us know how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarmaMama Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Many thanks for your speedy reply I took a look at the silkies and the cochins and instantly fell in love. so I think we may go for one of each and two Rhode Island Reds as we go through 2 dozen eggs a week in our home, so would like some reliable layers. I am also tempted by a columbine as I would love to have multi coloured eggs, lol. We can travel to Devon as we are in North Cornwall (Exeter is about 50 mins away), and I found the Devonshire Traditional Breed Center on the Omlet list, who seem to stock all but the columbine, so maybe the blue eggs will have to wait until I am a confident hen keeper. Thanks again for your advice and i'll keep you posted on what we go for - Roll on 30th, I can't wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 We got our cochins from the DTBC. Its a lovely place, their birds are known locally for being expensive but we havent had any problems with our cochins and they are a year old on saturday. cochins are beautiful, but unlike the RIR they dont lay so many eggs and are prone to be broody. (my white cochin has been broody for 3 weeks now!) I would definitely take a trip to the DTBC, and have a chat to the owner/breeder and ask them about reliable layers (there are so many breeds to choose from) - they have loads of hens to look at so something else might take your fancy. Dont forget to take some boxes/pet carrier as they charge about £3 for a cardboard box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hi from me, This Omlet Guide is useful www.omlet.co.uk/files/public/omlet_guid ... ickens.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarmaMama Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 That's good to know. When we get our cube set up and ready to rock, I think they will definitely be the place we will buy our chooks from. I'm looking forward to the day out already. We will go with an open mind and see what happens, I guess if we can meet the birds there and then, then we can see for ourselves which ones are the most friendly. And of course which one's take a liking to us. I wonder if it's a bit like choosing a puppy in that they kinda choose you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 If you eat 2 dozen eggs a week you will probably want 4 egg-laying hybrids at some point, as even the most productive only lay one egg a day each. But hens are addictive, so you could easily start out with your two hybrids, a cochin and a silkie and then add a couple more hybrids later (e.g. the blue egg layer that you fancy) There are also some pure breeds that lay well, for example Rhode Island Red and Light Sussex (the parent breeds for Omlet's Gingernut Ranger, I think). Both are friendly and fairly placid. Just avoid Leghorns, as they tend to be flighty and can be aggressive towards others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hello and welcome. I spent HOURS and HOURS researching breeds, reading on omlet about breeds, writing out lists and charts giving each breed a tick for each desired quality; looks, temperament; eggs; not flightly; not broody; hardy etc etc. Literally tens of hours. When it came to it. I was stood in an enormous barn with about 100 teenage chickens running around........ my head was spinning and I just randomly pointed to ones I thought looked cute!!! Got home and wondered what breeds they were! The omletteres inform me they are probably a mixture of different hybrids. I love them all to bits! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Just avoid Leghorns, as they tend to be flighty and can be aggressive towards others. I completely agree, leghorns are flighty even with clipped wings so you might be worried with your proximity to the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hello and welcome. I spent HOURS and HOURS researching breeds, reading on omlet about breeds, writing out lists and charts giving each breed a tick for each desired quality; looks, temperament; eggs; not flightly; not broody; hardy etc etc. Literally tens of hours. When it came to it. I was stood in an enormous barn with about 100 teenage chickens running around........ my head was spinning and I just randomly pointed to ones I thought looked cute!!! Got home and wondered what breeds they were! The omletteres inform me they are probably a mixture of different hybrids. I love them all to bits! Enjoy! That was me ! I asked on this forum, read all the web sites, drew up lists and thought I might get a Brahma, Orpington and a couple of hybrids. That all went out the window when we got to the farm, you can see what we ended up with and they are all gorgeous! v v v Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarmaMama Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 I had a look in our Yellow Pages and found these suppliers in Cornwall (About 10 mins from our house) http://www.poultrysupplies.co.uk They say on their website that they have blue egg laying birds that you have to order in advance, so perhaps after we have purchased from the DTBC we may give them a go, though being so close may be a bad thing if we get the chicken addiction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 you could always pop along and have a look anyway,...they have quite a few breeds there. I'd be very tempted if it was only 10 minutes away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Hi and Welcome - I too spent hours researching and driving everyone crazy at home showing them pictures and asking for opinions . Then ended up picking my girls because they were cute, calm and they seemed to be friends! Just make sure you have a list of definate "NOs" and then be open minded and enjoy! (I will have an orpington bantam one day though!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 They say the chicken chooses you....not the other way round! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 They say on their website that they have blue egg laying birds that you have to order in advance, so perhaps after we have purchased from the DTBC we may give them a go, though being so close may be a bad thing if we get the chicken addiction We went to the DTBC on Sunday. It was a lovely sunny day the place is beautiful, very tranquil and the chickens they have in pens are lovely and well kept. There are lots of the bigger breeds (although I think if you want to buy these types they are on order), brahmas, cochins with feathery legs, they are very comical when they try to run!! And ofcourse some Orpingtons - we were very tempted!! There are baby lambs and a lovely gift shop, cafe with great food. It's a brilliant day out. The chap there is a bit 'anti-hybrids' though. They currently have for sale speckled sussex, wellsummers, dorkings, cream legbars - the latter are the ones with the hair-do's and will lay blue eggs. very cute. I can highly recommend DTBC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 How could you resist not smuggling out a couple of Orpingtons Moomin?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Christian it was the hardest thing to resist I can tell you!! Their chickens are GORGEOUS!! Very freindly, they sell mixed corn for 50p and even though my two kids are 14 & 17 they insisted I buy some and most of the chooks were eating out of our hands - including some stunning (& huge!!) Light Sussex just like your Winifred!! Husband had to forcibly drag me away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Hello and welcome. I spent HOURS and HOURS researching breeds, reading on omlet about breeds, writing out lists and charts giving each breed a tick for each desired quality; looks, temperament; eggs; not flightly; not broody; hardy etc etc. Literally tens of hours. When it came to it. I was stood in an enormous barn with about 100 teenage chickens running around........ my head was spinning and I just randomly pointed to ones I thought looked cute!!! Got home and wondered what breeds they were! The omletteres inform me they are probably a mixture of different hybrids. I love them all to bits! Enjoy! Me too, then then the kids came with me and we came home without any of the breeds I'd wanted. So . . . . I had to go back and get a few columbines for me!! I'd just go and see whats available on the day, you'll want at least 6!! It's easier to get more now than integrate more later. Believe me, you'll want more they are very addictive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 Husband had to forcibly drag me away! my OH has to do that aswell I could quite happily spend all day there mooching around. And the shop - plenty of chickenalia aswell. I must pop down there soon "just to look" also - does anyone else talk to the chickens when they are looking/choosing them - or is that just me??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I can remember saying "Hello Handsome" to a lot of cocks! Also "Hello Ladies" to the hens. DD walked off because I was embarassing her! But then I talk to most things including bees, wasps, butterflies - the list is endless. Bit wary of some humans though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emily95 Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Gingernut rangers are very friendly and are very realiable on the egg front! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
