christmasoompa Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Does anybody know of anywhere that will be getting any Columbines/Skylines in stock next month anywhere remotely near Bucks? I'd love one but can't seem to find any anywhere! Another option is a Lavender Araucana (have found somewhere near us that will have them) as I'd love a blue egg layer but just wondered if anybody happened to know of any Columbines due in anywhere soon? Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Try giving Thorne's a call (01462 675767). They're in Letchworth, on the Herts/Beds border. They get batches of 230-odd hybrids in every month, although everyone seems to be struggling to source blue-egg-laying birds at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmasoompa Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 Oooh thanks! Good tip. I'll give them a try, they're not one I've come across before. Thanks for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Hi, Somebody else (sorry forgotten who you are!) mentioned on the forum the other day that they'd heard there had been a problem with the latest lot of columbines/skylines and that is why there is a shortage. That backs up what I have heard. It's probably too far for you to travel, but Warwickshire Rare Breeds does a chicken called a Lawford Blue which lays blue eggs. Here it is http://www.warwickshirerarebreedfarm.co.uk/forsale.html Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmasoompa Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 Thanks for that. I would actually travel there as it's not that far (about an hour) and my aunt and uncle live close to there so I could combine it with a visit to them! They do look and sound lovely but I think they are likely to sell out by the time I'm ready in 3 weeks (haven't got anywhere to keep a chicken until the Eglu arrives!). Will keep an eye on the website though just in case they are still available. Also, she would only be around 15 weeks by then, would that be too young to combine with the Pepperpot and Gingernut we're getting from Omlet (as I've read you should introduce similar sized birds to avoid bullying)?? Have just phoned Thornes and they have a delivery coming towards the end of the week but couldn't tell me what they'd have, so I've got to phone back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Have just phoned Thornes and they have a delivery coming towards the end of the week but couldn't tell me what they'd have, so I've got to phone back. A lot of the time they don't know what they're getting til it arrives! Their birds are top notch, the young ones sometimes look a bit scraggy to start with but grow into beautiful girls. I've got all my birds from there, except my remaining original omlet Daffodil, and I've been very happy with the help and advice they've given me. They even despatched my other omlet girl, Marigold, for me when she was really ill with a tumour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 They do look and sound lovely but I think they are likely to sell out by the time I'm ready in 3 weeks (haven't got anywhere to keep a chicken until the Eglu arrives!). Will keep an eye on the website though just in case they are still available. They had them two weeks ago, at 10 weeks, so may have them in a few weeks Also, she would only be around 15 weeks by then, would that be too young to combine with the Pepperpot and Gingernut we're getting from Omlet (as I've read you should introduce similar sized birds to avoid bullying)?? My gingernuts were 16 weeks when they came from Omlet so not that far off, depends how old the Omlet girls are when they come? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Do Thornes have a website? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmasoompa Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 Certainly not that I could find - when I googled them I found a few places saying that their website was www.thornes.biz but it's not working. Will just have to keep phoning and annoying them instead!! Have decided I really want a blue egg layer as our third hen for when the Eglu arrives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheik Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) I don't think they have a website. We got our Columbine from the same batch as superjules. It's a nice place to visit, they have a lot of pure breed chickens in lovely outdoor runs. /\dam Edited June 17, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheik Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Bear in mind that Columbines aren't guaranteed to lay blue eggs. We were told it was 70% likely (and were lucky!) /\dam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 No, they don't have a website, they are still in the dark ages. I keep nagging them........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I tried the website address on their business card but it doesn't work. Maybe that's something they are planning in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane 20 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 We got our skyline from Tracy at Southmead Poultry. I know she has had problems getting hers (we were on a waiting list for four months!). She is in Leatherhead (Surrey). She does have a website www.southmead.dsl.pipex.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
