Phosphorus Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Would you get chickens from two different breeders - on same day. I am getting 5 or 6 from Kirsty at Hens4Homes on 26th but she doesn't have any Skylines. Thought I had accepted the thought of no blue eggs but on visiting my parents have seen their nextdoor neighbour's skyline out in the garden - I want one now I wondered whether I could get 5 from Kirsty and get a Skyline from Smiler's Farm (if they still have some) on the same day. Do you think the hens would notice they were from different breeders! and fight more or would the shock of it all reduce all the friction. I won't have any hens already so no other pecking order to sort out. Also those of you who have had hens from Smiler's farm - have you been happy with them? They all looked to be shut in small barns when I went to have a look before, not much light, which I wasn't as keen on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 I suppose it depends on whether the five from one farm have actually been reared together....if they come from different enclosures then it won't matter. Any idea what the set up is like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 We got two from Omlet and three others from another breeder on the same day, then the next day went and got two more - none had been brought up together so hadn't formed a flock and they were all going in to a new environment together and we had no problems at all. That said, have you got room for two skylines, that way you'd be introducing five to two not five to one. Good luck Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Excellent plan Mrs B........and she has got a cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 That said, have you got room for two skylines, that way you'd be introducing five to two not five to one. Oooh, that's definitely what I'd do. Then you've got better odds of getting blue eggs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Also those of you who have had hens from Smiler's farm - have you been happy with them? They all looked to be shut in small barns when I went to have a look before, not much light, which I wasn't as keen on. I got my four new hens from Smilers Farm in the middle of February. I was a bit surprised to see some in stables, and some in pens in barns - I imagined they would all be running about in fields . But the birds all looked in good health, and the ones I chose - two Skylines, an Amber Rocket and a Blue Haze - have been absolutely fine, no problems at all. The lady who took me round (can't remember her name) was really nice and helpful, caught the birds and clipped their wings for me. Here's a picture of my two Skylines, they really are gorgeous birds and lay beautiful blue/green eggs for me . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 12, 2008 Author Share Posted April 12, 2008 I suppose it depends on whether the five from one farm have actually been reared together....if they come from different enclosures then it won't matter. Any idea what the set up is like? I have seen the set up - most would be together but one would definately have been separate (the marans hybrid). If I had got a skyline from Kirsty that would have been in a seperate pen as well - she seems to keep these away from the others. The set up is really good - they all seem to run around the fields quite a lot Aaagh I knew I was going to edge towards 7 - DH is going to kill me. However I am reaching the big 40 in a few months - trying to wangle this as my 40th pressie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 12, 2008 Author Share Posted April 12, 2008 I was a bit surprised to see some in stables, and some in pens in barns - I imagined they would all be running about in fields . But the birds all looked in good health, and the ones I chose - two Skylines, an Amber Rocket and a Blue Haze - have been absolutely fine, no problems at all. The lady who took me round (can't remember her name) was really nice and helpful, caught the birds and clipped their wings for me. Here's a picture of my two Skylines, they really are gorgeous birds and lay beautiful blue/green eggs for me . They are gorgeous Nicola - do think I need to have one of those. Glad I wasn't the only one that was surprised at their set up. Glad to know that the birds were okay though. The man did seem really helpful on the phone but it was the young son that showed me round - so not much info at the time - although he was lovely and tried really hard to be helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 12, 2008 Author Share Posted April 12, 2008 We got two from Omlet and three others from another breeder on the same day, then the next day went and got two more - none had been brought up together so hadn't formed a flock and they were all going in to a new environment together and we had no problems at all. That said, have you got room for two skylines, that way you'd be introducing five to two not five to one.Good luck Mrs B I suppose I have the room - it is the getting carried away and being inundated with eggs that might be the problem We have the cube and a fixed 4m by about 3m run so just about room enough for 7. I think DH would kill me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
