4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[daisymay]

Hi

 

We are getting our 2nd hand mark 2 eglu on friday and I am just after advice on which breeds to get. I have 2 young children (aged 2 and 4 yrs) plus am a childminder of similar aged children. I need them to be friendly etc etc but also to be able to ideally produce at least one egg (between them!) a day so as not to disappoint!

 

Omlet will sell me their breeds for £12 each plus £25 delivery. Their's are apparently excellent but I would ideally like a couple of 'prettier' hens as well as the 'basic' ones!

Any suggestions on what to go for?

 

Don't know what i would've done without this website and forum!

 

Thanks

[chickenanne]

How about getting a bantam breed, rather than full sized? The eggs will be smaller, but the kids might get more fun out of them.

There are loads and loads of lovely chicken breeds, so it's difficult to know where to start! Many also have a bantam variety.

Most will lay pretty well - I have a light sussex, a Rhode Island Red, and 2 hybrids, and they all lay pretty much an egg a day.

[Tweety]

In your situation with young children I would stick with 3 Omlet girls. They may not be as pretty as some of the more exotic breeds - although I have to say that I think my Pepperpots and Gingernuts are every bit as beautiful as my rare breed hens - but they are very friendly and reliable layers and I wouldn't be without them.

[LisaP]

We've got 2 Omlet Gingernut Rangers are they are brilliant with our children They need to be

 

The children love them to bits, regularly pick them up for cuddles and love giving them treats and love it when the chickens 'chase' them around the garden

 

Lisa P

[BarbaraJ]

Hi,

i am also a childminder and wondered how the chickens would cope. originally i wasn't going to let them free range at all when the kids were here because of poo but i have let them out occasionly later in the afternoon for a while and the kids are told not to chase them and no bare feet lol

i always pick up the poo evry night so the garden stays clean.

 

i think most chickens will get tamer if you give lots of attention, 2 of mine i can handle the 3rd i leave alone at the moment as shes very jumpy.

[daisymay]

Thanks very much for your advice. I'll let you know what I get and sure you'll be seeing more of my questions!

 

 

[HENthusiastic]

You will love them to bits and think they are beautiful what ever you get! To know them is to love them!

[jomaxsmith]

My Rhode Star (generic little red hen like the Gingernuts but I think including a bit of White Star) is the friendliest hen that I have,

 

My children (6 and 4) adore her and she follows them everywhere. She doesn't let them catch her or pick her up but to me, that's no bad thing!

 

My other two hens are not worried by the children (and skip happily over any misaimed football!) but aren't as loveable.

 

Jo

[ajm200]

Our Omlet girls are great with my 18 month old. They let him stroke them. Scurry away if he gets too loud and boisterous but follow him as soon as his back is turned.

 

Two have even followed him into the crawl tunnel of his climbing frame hoping that he'd share his lump of cheese with them.

 

I guess if you have a 2nd hand eglu, you'll be getting your girls from a breeder rather than Omlet. I believe that from a breeder the gingernut rangers are rhode island rangers and the pepperpots are black rocks.