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

[n2hec]

Hi, I could do with some suggestions please. I have 3 Goldlines in an eglu and large walk in run. We have urban foxes in the area any time of day and night so they have a netted area to free range in the afternoon and evening when we're in the garden. I'm already hooked on this chicken thing after only a month and another eglu was delivered this week!!

 

Now, I can't decide which chickens to get. I was going to get 3 more hybrids, a Speckledy, a Bluebelle and a Sussex star BUT they're impossible to get hold of for another couple of weeks and so I've had time to think about other options. And there are so many!

 

Thought about bantams - will bantams mix well with my 3 big girls? I plan to split the run in half for a while and gradually introduce them all to each other and of course the new ones will have separate sleeping and laying quarters anyway.

 

Then I thought about Welsummers, look beautiful or perhaps Sussex - Light and Buff both lovely too. Also like the Barnevelder - full size or bantam versions of these. OH HELP! I know it's my decision in the end but any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[superjules]

Oooh, I know what you mean. I love chicken shopping but it's so tough choosing from all those lovely chooks.

 

If you are going to go for bantams, get at least as many as you already have so that the bantams are not outnumbered. Also, when you do eventually integrate them, give them some areas that only they can get to so they can have some respite from the big girls if they need it. You will need to choose bantam breeds that are quite feisty. When you go to buy them, ask the breeder which breeds would work well with hybrids because they'll know their birds and which will be the best option for you.

 

Have fun choosing!

[n2hec]

Thanks. Thought I might give The Garden Hen a call as it's quite close to me and from the posts on here Simon seems to be very well thought of.

[Treekeeper]

Wyandotte bantams are mega feisty. When laceys in a mood everyone keeps out of her way including the black rocks which are more than twice her size

[superjules]

Wyandotte bantams are mega feisty. When laceys in a mood everyone keeps out of her way including the black rocks which are more than twice her size

 

Tell me about it - my broody wyandotte (Bossy!) is sitting on some pekin eggs at the moment - she's ferociously savage and tries to eat my leather gardening gloves whenever I go near her! She's not normally like this, I hasten to add, but even when not broody she's not the friendliest of chooks and doesn't enjoy being handled.

 

Now Pekins, on the other hand, are the best of both worlds, easy to tame and handle but give the big chooks a run for their money!