Patricia7455 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I am going to have some chickens in the future and have made up my mind to get a cube. I am saving up for one first, and in the meantime doing some homework and having a good think about it. I live near to Thorne's in Letchworth. Has anyone on this forum had chickens (hybrids or breeds) from there? When I have visited, the hen houses look clean and well kept. I am thinking about whether to get hybrids or something else, like Welsummers. I will eventually get some ex-batts when I am a bit more "eggsperienced". If anyone on this forum has bought their hens there, have they been happy with them? Thanks a lot, from a chicken novice and hopefully a future eggspert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Hi Patricia, I've replied to you elsewhere but just to repeat myself, Thornes are fantastic - we are very lucky to have them in the area. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Patricia. You cant go wrong with Thornes. They are so very helpful and friendly and their birds are all healthy and carefully bred. Ask for Frank or Roberto for ANY help you might need and they will always help. Have fun choosing your girls! Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 Thank you for your replies. I do like wandering around Thorne's and gawping at their hens but haven't managed to speak to the chaps, I think it must have been Frank who last time had a few people with him by the hybrids' house. I have looked at the hybrids, and also seen the website where the hybrids come from, the name escapes me atm. They seem to be similar birds to the Meadowsweet range but have different names. I fancy getting one or two ginger ones, and at least one of the Amber type of hen, white with red markings, but have never seen them at Thornes, maybe already sold out. A speckledy is another must. Quite fancy a white egg layer as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Oh crikey Patricia You sound really organised and focused knowing what you want in the way of breeds, cube etc. Have just got one quick query......have you seen an optician lately I may be totally wrong but I feel you may have undiagnosed short sightedness, just in case CHICKENS ARE ADDICTIVE you WILL end up with more Were you ever a Girl Guide Remember your motto Be prepared Welcome to the forum and good luck Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Just happened to glance at your reply and must add that its pot luck with which type of hybrid you get at Thornes sometimes. Even they're not always certain as to which are coming in that week. By experience -and talking to the boys- the goldlines (red with white tail feathers and meadowsweets (more chestnut with black trimmings) are always the most popular and first to go. You might find them under various different names ie ISA Browns, Warrens etc but they are essentially all Rhode Island Xs. They are VERY friendly and inquisitive birds and you cant go wrong with them! We have 2 of each and they are fab with 4 distinct personalities! One lays Rosie pink eggs Thornes definately get Amber Stars in along with Maran Cuivres, Spekledys and the 'redheads' as hubby calls them. You'll be spoilt for choice! I did my homework for a year before we plunged in and although we said we would have 3 or 4 we ended up with 7! (3 bantams that boss the hell out of the big girls) Bet you get more that you THINK your getting Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smanners Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 OMG you are all so right! CHICKENS ARE SOOOOO ADDICTIVE!! I started with 1x and 2 hens 1st Sept this year, a week later it was 3 hens. This weekend we got a cube and are planning to get another 3 hens ( that's what OH thinks anyway) but I'm sure it will be a few more than that!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 You are all so right, of course. Even in the planning stage, the numbers of chickens have increased from 3 to 6. But I won't get any more hybrids than 6 to start off with (Well I don't think I will) ! This will be my husband when I go out to buy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggypeggy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Thornes are fab.. I was just down there yesterday and they are so knowledgable. I would suggest you pop down on a weekday if you can.. less busy and have a chat with Frank he'll bend your ear with everything you need to know.. you'll want to have a dictaphone to tape it all! Picking up hybrids is a bit like buying goldfish.. you take what you get .. If you have a couple of favorite breeds.. That you def want .. ask and they'll be able to give you a rough idea about when they'll get them in. I wanted a skyline and a whitestar.. but they didn't have them in at the same time... you can't buy chooks adhoc.. you need to just get a load in one go. I'm sure you know that though. So I got a skyline and a silvernik.. both lovely birds.. So good luck.. enjoy. It's great fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 Thank you, eggypeggy. That sounds like really good advice. The only ones I feel I really must have in my flock are the amber and a speckledy, it does not matter about the rest. I would choose the others from what he'd got. I would also see what else he'd got available in the pure breeds to go with them. Looking forward to choosing them and seeing how their personalities develop. Can't wait to get to that stage. Can't do it now because we have our house on the market. I know what a whitestar is but what colour are the skyline and the silvernik? What colour eggs do they lay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Hi Patricia - we've had all our hens from Thornes - like everyone else says they're great, and Frank is a real gem! We also have a Silver Nick from them, and on our limited experience of one bird I'd definitely recommend the breed! Lily is small, creamy white, very friendy, very greedy, and lays an egg virtually every day! She's incredibly reliable! And when you pick her up she doesn't struggle, which is great. One thing though: I'm not sure that all the chickens you can see in Thornes are for sale. I think that what some people do is to go in and choose their hens as chicks, and then let Thornes look after them until they're at point of lay and ready to mix with an existing flock. So if you want a full choice, you might want to consider doing this too. Otherwise by the time they're at 19/20 weeks there's much less choice as some are already sold! Do go and talk to Frank about it. But ring first because I don't think he's in every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I highly recommend Thornes. I always 'big them up' at my Hen Parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I had Thornes recommended to me a few times when I added a post a few days ago - not been yet but they sound like a good bet. Here is my post viewtopic.php?f=5&t=33713 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggypeggy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Ditto on the silvernik.. just about the most placid bird you could come across, great for children. Silvernik should lay a creamy brown egg, I'm led to believe. Haven't had an egg yet so can't confirm that. The Skyline has pretty brown feathers and a little feathery hat. A much flightier chook, very fast (until she started to crouch so now I can finally catch her!) She laid her 1st bluey green egg today, very exciting.. let out a little yelp in the garden when I found it! Because they're hybrids they are only about 70 odd % likely to lay a blue egg... so you don't know what you're going to get! Good luck with the house sale and have fun planning. Good advice re calling ahead. If you can't get Frank all the other guys there are really helpful too, I think Karl and Roberto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Ditto on the silvernik.. just about the most placid bird you could come across, great for children. Silvernik should lay a creamy brown egg, I'm led to believe. Haven't had an egg yet so can't confirm that. Yes Lily's eggs are brown. Funny how with our 4, the lighter the feather colour the darker the egg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejmum Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Eight of our hens are from Thornes and we have had no problems. Two of the are white stars, which are a bit scatty but lay great white eggs. The marans are lovely too. I just want some blue egg layers now! All of our hybrids are still laying even though it is colder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 I highly recommend Thornes. I always 'big them up' at my Hen Parties. Hi Lisa I came to your Hen Party in September, and you did "big up" Thornes. I went there the following week and looked at the chickens. Then, when I stood in the shop debating which eggs to buy, jumbo or large, a man said to me: (it was probably Karl) Well, aren't your hens laying at the moment?" I haven't got any hens, I replied, a bit puzzled. He then pointed to my Omlet bag which I had slung over my shoulder and asked why I had that. I got it free at an Omlet party, I said, where the hostess recommended Thornes as a very good place. I wasn't able to stay to ask questions at that time but he gave me his card (I already had one). He did seem very willing to help. Did enjoy your party last month, it was very informative. Hope you and your man, who makes nice tea are well also your 4 chickens. It's nice to see that there are so many other fans of Thorne's on the site. When I get our chickens it will be a big venture for us, so I am doing a lot of research in the meantime. Patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 Thank you to everyone for their very helpful and informative replies, I am feeling much more confident about buying and looking after chickens now. Patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 I suspected it was you from your post. Good luck with your chicken hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Hello, I too can highly recommend Thornes. 8 of my 10 current girls are from them, all hybrids from Thornes as I couldn't bear to wait for the pure breeds (you order and then wait for them to be ready which may take a few months, longer this time of year as they don't hatch duringthe winter). I have 2 silver nicks - very very nice cuddly girls, 2 different ages, and both exactly the same temprement (beige eggs). 1 muran cuvee - not the friendliest, but defintely the biggest eggs and a darker brown colour 1 Magpie - again - just like the Muran Cuvee - not one for cuddles, beige eggs 1 coral - lays cream/ white eggs and was told a lot less flighty than the white stars (I wanted a white chicken that layed white eggs) 1 bluebell - beige eggs, she;s new to my flock so not yet accustomed to me, but getting there. 2 skylines - blue/ bluey green egg layers (thankfully), only one does the crouch - marmalade - and she;s cuddly now too. Toast is very vocal! Thornes are brilliant, a wealth of Knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 24, 2008 Author Share Posted October 24, 2008 Thank you for that, as well. It's interesting to hear about which chicken lays which coloured eggs. I dont know whether to choose my chickens for the egg colour, the chicken's colour, how friendly they are likely to be, or what. Probably when I go there I will just take my pick of what is available although I think I would like an amber, a skyline, a couple of ginger ones, one or two white ones, a speckledy and a black one. Hang on- that adds up to 8! oh, well .......! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Hi Patricia, Nice to see you on the forum. Look in on the nesting box as well By the way, you have to pretend not to be able to count that way you can sneak in a couple of extra chooks When are you getting your cube and what colour Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggypeggy Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Ooh Boris70, my skyline is a very vocal chook too!.. I'm hoping she's not going to start being a crazy noisy chook as so far we've been v lucky with reasonably quiet chooks and the neighbours would hardly know they're there. I love the silvernik, so slow and easy to catch.. very cuddly! the skyline is super speedy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 24, 2008 Author Share Posted October 24, 2008 Hi, Jackie It won't be just yet awhile that I get my cube and chickens. I have to save up for them, and also we are trying to sell the house and will probably go into rented for a while before buying again. I thought I would get a blue or a green cube, but if my daughters have anything to do with it I will probably get a pink or purple one! They are all nice, so I don't really mind. Did you get your cube delivered to you in France btw? Ooh la la, and are your chickens French ones? Patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted October 24, 2008 Author Share Posted October 24, 2008 Ooh Boris70, my skyline is a very vocal chook too!.. I'm hoping she's not going to start being a crazy noisy chook as so far we've been v lucky with reasonably quiet chooks and the neighbours would hardly know they're there. I love the silvernik, so slow and easy to catch.. very cuddly! the skyline is super speedy! Any more eggs from your skyline since the first one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
