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

[nutterly_uts]

with a mix of decent layers and more ornamental "pretty" birds (probably to show) what would you suggest? (am looking at the ratio 4 layers to 6 pretties who may/may not lay well)

 

I'm starting to plan my next hatch, and am wondering what to put in the incubator. I currently have a bantam of unknown parentage, a light sussex (maybe a cross, she grew up funky but looks LS now) and 2 silkies. I am almost certainly sticking in at least 4 silkies eggs, but that leaves up to 18 more spaces in the incy

 

 

I don't have any real preferences to breeds, am just after a pretty coop that will also provide a decent amount of eggs BUT I am not a fan of hybrids as a rule, purely as I personally find the colors pretty uninteresting, and would prefer to have prettier pure breeds (like light sussex) over the probably more productive hybrids

 

 

Ideally I'd like them all to lay different colored eggs, so I can identify who's laying, but that will probably prove to be too picky?

[Redwing]

I can't offer much advice but I do have a really pretty Bluebelle hybrid who is beautiful - a really pretty colour and is so elegant and dainty (for a fat hen!) she lays brown eggs but they have a dusky warm colouring often described as a 'plum blush'

 

Marans lay lovely dark eggs - I would love one of those!

 

Other than that I love the silver seabright hens and would go for one of them if I wanted a 'pretty'

 

Good luck with your flock assesembly

[tom123]

Wyandottes very colourful!

 

Araucana Lovely colour and they lay blue or green eggs!

 

Cream Legbar or Leghorn lay white eggs and nice colouring

 

Marans very dark brown egg

 

Hope that helps

 

 

 

Tom

[tom123]

Here is some pics of the breeds I mentioned...

 

 

Wyandottes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Araucanas OR

 

 

 

Cream Legbar & Leghorn

 

Legbar---

 

Lehorn---

 

 

 

And Marans

 

 

 

 

Hope that helps!

 

Tom

[nutterly_uts]

Oo I like some of your suggestions

 

I have been looking at Croad Langshans (sp?) who lay eggs with a plum blush, but they are rare I think so I may need to re-think that?

[tom123]

Well they are pretty (I think!) a slightly smaller orpington style bird but are better layers!

 

Two breeders near me have some...

 

In Gloucester

 

Fosters Poultry...Croad Langshan £

http://www.fosterschickens.co.uk/

 

 

Near Hampshire and Dorset

 

Chalk Hill Poultry...Croad Langshan £18 at 17weeks or £30 at 18weeks!!!

http://www.chalkhillpoultry.co.uk/

 

 

 

There you go

 

Oh and....

 

 

 

Hope Ive helped

 

Tom

 

P.S Please get some wyandottes they're amazing!

[half dozen]

 

You must get a splash cochin! look how beautiful she is at only 15 week old x

[nutterly_uts]

She *is* pretty! How big will she get/is she now?

 

My list keeps changing, but seems to be starting to form. I have googled aracana, and am not a fan of those (I am far too fussy ) so keep the ideas coming!

[ruth1]

Orpingtons are gorgeous fluffy girls, Faverolles are pretty , Silver laced Wyandottes are lovely.

 

What about Cochins, Apenzellers, Houdans, Polands and Frizzles are all lovely too, actually the list could go on couldnt it

[nutterly_uts]

I am not keen on fuzzy headed chickens (silkies excepted) so polish are out. I don't like the frizzle look (sorry ) but will have a google of the other kinds

[nutterly_uts]

I have come across Barnevelders, and am liking those

[madchickenlady]

Pekins! They have fabulous charcters, can easily hold their own over bigger hens, and come in a wide variety of colours. Rubbish layers, though Can you guess what breed my chooks are?

[nutterly_uts]

Funny you should say that.. am looking at pekins at the mo!!

 

I *think* i have my shortlist, which I will reveal shortly. . .

[aaronmusgrove123]

hi pekins are amazing i have silkie's then a few weeks aqo i got some pekins and i now dont like my silkie's they are sooo ugly compared and grumpy

Aaron

p.s have a look at the pics of my silkies and pekins on my link

[madchickenlady]

I have two millefleurs, a red and a blue pekin. They are gorgeous, fluffy little comedians. The second I open the door, they come waddling towards me, mouths open looking for treats! They are unbelievably tame and well mannered with people. My five year old regularly tucks one under his arm while pottering around the garden, and has never been pecked by a grumpy chook. I'm rather embarassed to say that I'm completely smitten Go on, treat yourself to a couple of pekins

[nutterly_uts]

My shortlist is:

 

Pekins x 3 (? egg color)

Silky bantams x 3 (white)

Blue laced Barnevelder (plum blush brown)

Light Sussex (large white)

Croad Langshan (maran brown)

Cochin (pale brown?)

 

Cochin, pekin and silky colors to be decided, but right now am looking at a splash cochin, a lavender or lavender cuckoo , a millefleur and a wheaton or blue pekin, and more then likely a partridge, a black and a blue silky. I am semi tempted to streamline a trio of blue/black silkies off into the eglu to create splash myself.. hm.

 

I know 10 is the maximum chicken number omlet suggests, but is this only for all the same size chickens? In other words, If I make my run as big as I can (probably 4-5m long), could I have more then 10, especially if most of the chickens were bantam?