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

[*Jasmine*]

Hello again!

 

I'm sure we're going to get chickens in the next few months, but I'm confused as to what exactly we should get!

 

We are going to get an eglu with run & converter. We do have a small garden and initially I thought we may be able to let them out to free range for an hour or two a day, but now I'm unsure (we only have small fences between neighbours - don't want them getting in there, plus there is a lane that runs down the bottom of neighbours garden, and a few times stray dogs have come in there off the street) - they will probably be stuck in the run all day.

 

We are thinking of 3 chickens, but not sure if that will be too many in an eglu run & converter all day long.

 

We have 3 children and would like a nice, friendly type of chicken. Eggs would be nice too, but not too fussed about production (although I can see us getting addicted to fresh, "home-laid" eggs!). I've heard that some types produce a lot of eggs in the first year, but then hardly any in their second, so would probably want to avoid those types.

 

What about life expectancy? I'm thinking we should maybe go for a longer living breed, particularly if the kids (and me ) are going to become attached to them, but I'm also aware of all the things that can go wrong with any chicken, so maybe that's not so much something to consider!

 

I suppose the main thing I'm thinking of is a chicken that would be happy in a smaller space, is friendly and enjoys being handled, produces some eggs, but doesn't drive us daft with not laying for a long period!

 

It will obviously depend on what's available near us as well - we are in Lanarkshire. I'd ideally like 3 different breeds (or different colours) so we can easily tell them apart!

 

TIA!

[BeckyBoo]

Hi there, my initial thing would be to say get hybrids - they lay more or less all year long, are less prone to broodiness (which is a pain) and are (generally) friendly hens. I think 3 in an eglu with converter should be fine - I think that's how Omlet advertise them anyway.

My friendliest hen is a buff orpington but they're big and I'm very new to her so don't know how suitable she'd be to being in all day - someone else is bound to know

If you're anything like me with our first hens I went wanting one thing and then ended up buying "the pretty hens"

 

Mrs B

[madchickenlady]

Pekins! They look lovely, come in lots of different colours and have a good life expectency. I have two millifleur girls of 16 weeks, and two 6 week old chicks. They are gorgeous, funny little birds. We're smitten! My 5 year old regularly walks around the garden with a chicken under his arm!

[brown.l26]

hi,

 

i don't know if this will be any help as i am new to all this and have only had our girls nearly three weeks.

 

We wanted friendly 'pet' chickens which weren't too noisy. We intended to free range them as much as possible and have them in the run whilst we were at work.

We were advised against the bantams as, although they look nice they may be likely to fly over the fence as they are light, (also they don't lay as many eggs as hybrids) so we went for the more chunky bird.

 

We got an Amber Star (Stottie)which is white, she is friendly and comes to us as soon as she sees us, she will follow us around the garden and is very quiet.

 

We also got a Black Star(Pickle) (we had gone for the Gold Star but when hubby saw the black Star his mind was made up) she is black with ginger feathers around her neck and her black feathers look like petrol in the sunshine. lovely. She is also friendly and will come up to us, but a little less than Stottie. Pickle makes a loud screetching noise when Stottie is laying, but is quiet the rest of the time

 

They both let us stroke them and can be picked up no problem.

 

We let them out of the run when we get in from work to allow them to free range and they love it. We have a 6 ft fence around the garden and so far they appear happy and content

 

Linda

[NClaire]

We have two runs of 3 chickens and in one we have a Bovan Goldline, a Bluebelle and an Amber Star - they look stunning together, as the colours go really well together - Ginger/brown, White with brown flecks and charcoal grey. They are good layers and really really friendly.

[Helen&Lee]

This is probably the hardest decision as once you start looking you will be spoilt for choice!

 

Hybrids will lay almost every day and throughout winter, but will probably have a shorter laying life than Pure breeds.

 

Pure breeds, do not tend to lay as much during the winter and as Mrs B says, are prone to broodiness and will stop laying when broody.

 

I have a mixture, and my 4 pure breeds (all Brahma's) have between them been broody since March, OH calls them the freeloaders.

 

I think if I could only have three chooks I would look at Hybrids, possibly Skylines/ Columbines, or Amber Stars as you would hopefully get a blue/green egg layer or two amongst them.

[craftyhunnypie]

I'd say pekins. They are little mini chickens & so comical. Their bellies nearly touch the ground & they shuffle around as if on their knees. You do only get little eggs, but they are perfect..great in salads & we have them boiled, cut in half & on a butty. Perfect eggs for children.

 

I also don't think you can go wrong with gingers - they seem to follow you everywhere.

 

I personally like black rocks - good for eggs, friendly & will jump on your knee willingly.

 

Emma.x

[chelsea]

 

Pure breeds, do not tend to lay as much during the winter and as Mrs B says, are prone to broodiness and will stop laying when broody.

 

I have a mixture, and my 4 pure breeds (all Brahma's) have between them been broody since March, OH calls them the freeloaders.

 

 

Agree

 

Dont get cochins either unless you like broody hens! (she says after getting 2 eggs from her naughty twosome since march)

[toastedblue]

I personally like black rocks - good for eggs, friendly & will jump on your knee willingly.

 

yours might, mine won't come near humans and is the hardest to catch once out

it does lay regularly though, almost every day

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Go to some petting farms or city farms or friendly proper farms or farm areas in parks and have a look at what you like. There's no substitute for seeing the real things in action. I did a lot of book and internet research before getting mine, but it was all for nothing. I saw mine in person and 'clicked' with them.

 

I'm with the others on getting hybrids. They tend to be easier to look after, less prone to difficult behaviour or attitude issues and lay more eggs. They will be 'medium sized' hens. As for what to get within that - I looked at hybrids similar to the ones Omlet sells, and was ideologically sold on them - until I saw a light sussed hybrid, a blue and a speckledy (maran-based) chicken. I fell in love with their looks, played with them in the coop where they were being sold, liked their temperaments and ended up bringing them home instead of my planned safe brown hybrids!

 

Medium sized hybrids will live between 5-10 years, so you'll have no issue with 'long life hens'. They live a long time if they don't get ill or gotten by a fox. The thing to consider is that their egg laying will tail off a lot between 3-5 years. But by then, you may end up upgrading to bigger accommodation and more hens - it happens a lot on here!

 

Three is good. If one (god forbid) dies, the other two won't be lonely. Lone hens are bad. They need company.

 

That said, everyone I know with Pekins adores them and they will be my next chickens. Additions, not replacements.

 

You shouldn't mix your sizes, so stick with all weeny bantams or all medium sized hybrids.

 

But the bottom line is, if you're not ordering them from Omlet (everyone seems to love their Omlet hens, but mine were from a local breeder), meet some hens, ensure they are healthy, take home the ones you fall in love with.

 

Anna x

[*Jasmine*]

I'm even more confused lol

 

I think the best thing to do is go to a breeder and see what they've got and what we like.

 

I think there is one near to me that has Cuckoo Marans, Araucanas, Light Sussex and Hyline (I've heard of these but can't seem to find any info on them - is it just a different name for something else?).

 

Another nearby breeder has Black Rock, Lohmann Brown and Hyline.

 

Any thoughts on these types?

 

Thanks again!

[chelsea]

we have a cuckoo maran, she is our most reliable layer of lovely large dark brown eggs. She's never gone broody or been ill (touch wood), she's a hardy little thing.

 

I wouldnt say she's the friendliest of birds and is the hardest to pick up, but the above positives outweight that.

 

Light sussex are are nice breed (lovely looking), they can get quite large but tend to be docile, quiet and sometimes a bit dim!

[craftyhunnypie]

We have a cuckoo maran & she is so sweet, very friendly - great layer of dark brown eggs, but also a good escape artist!

Got a 7 week old araucana hatched myself, bit too early to tell you what they are like.

Had black rock from chick & she is adorable, so are my grown up ladies. Amber stars are very friendly too. The hybrids are the friendliest!

 

Whatever you do..don't get a leghorn - they were very pecky & flighty.

When you go to the breeders, see if you can go in the pens with a handful of corn & see which will come to you ..& allow you to pick them up.

 

Pekin bantams are ideal for children!

 

Emma.x

[RubyReckless]

My experiences-

 

I love Black Rocks and Warrens as reliable, friendly and laid back pets. I;d recommend them to anyone.

 

Our RIR was very friendly and funny too. Gorgeous glossy brick red plummage as well.

 

The Ancona was gorgeous but useless - not that friendly, didn't lay for a year and then only erratically.

 

The Speckledy is a pain - loud, unfriendly and broody.

 

The White Star was pretty laid back but looked an absolute state in our mud-prone garden.

 

Whatever you think you want, you will make up your mind when you see then!

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

To confuse you further - my light sussex hybrid is a bit stroppy - she puts her hackles up like a dog when I go to pick her up! But she does let me handle her. It's a heck of a display! I just ignore it. And my speckledy is utterly dopey and very very easy to handle. My Mendlesham Blue is the feistiest of the lot. There are breed 'trends' but mine buck them! It is down to the individual chicken really. Play with some and choose those that you feel comfortable handling. Good breeders won't mind you having a pick up, chase round and cuddle (cuddle the CHICKENS! Unless they are a VERY friendly breeder!)

 

Anna x