Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[OwenLdn]

Hello everyone,

 

Im very excited as ive bought and set up my hen house today and now have everything i need apart from the hens!

 

Im looking for a quiet breed (the neighbours have expressed concern) as I live in suburbia, which are easy to keep and will become tame- as Im only going to keep 3 hens so they are definately pets! Eggs are also a very important factor!

 

I'm looking for Bantams only and have narrowed down the choices between:

 

Wyandottes

Plymouth Rocks

Sussex

Orpingtons

 

I love them all- although the Wyandottes are my first choice especially the colour choices (i like Barred, Columbian and Blue Laced)- however noise levels are important to avoid any problems.

 

Please can anyone help give me advise on which of the above breeds I should go with?

 

Your help would really be gratefully recieved!

 

Many thanks!

Owen

Edited February 16, 2009 by Guest

[thewhitehouse]

My Plymouth Rocks are v quiet. They sort of whistle sometimes. Their eggs are big in ccomparison to their size and so tasty (good for the nighbours )

[OwenLdn]

Thanks Bev for your message.

 

Does anyone have any experience with any of the other Bantam breeds above?

 

Thanks!

Owen

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry, don't have bantams but just wanted to say welcome to the forum, Owen .

[quickcluck]

Hi Owen..

 

Afraid I dont keep bantams, but just wanted to say I have 6 (soon to be 10) girls in suburbia with no problems with noise......

 

Good luck with your girls!

[the eggman cometh]

HI, again dont keep baniteis, but do have 8 girls and my neighbours didn't know we had the girls until about 3 or 4 weeks later when they saw us out in the garden with them. Im still sure that one of them has no idea that we have chicks,

[bekibutton]

We had some lovely bantam orpingtons (until recently, grr), they looked like a pair of little teacosies wondering round the garden. They were very placid and sedate and didn't make much noise at all (apart from the post-egg-laying bok-bok-bok-bogok!). Priscilla was almost tame, if a little wary, and definitely knew it was me rather than anyone else when I went out there. I'm definitely looking to get some more mini orps once I've found a breeder

 

All-in-all I'd recommend them!

 

We also had a bantam wyandotte who I'm sure was perfectly nice but had no personality whatsoever - still, every chook is unique!

[OwenLdn]

Hey everyone!

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Ive decided to go for a mix of 3 of the breeds I mentioned!

 

A Blue laced Red Wyandotte Bantam

A Barred Plymouth Rock Bantam

and Columbian Light Sussex Bantam.

 

 

Do you think these chickens would mix well with each other?

 

I'd was hoping to get all 3 hens at the weekend to avoid any problems of introducing another chicken at a later date. Does anyone know anyone in the London area (or close to) who breeds any of these birds just in case I cant source them then?

 

Really looking forward to getting the hens!

 

Thanks for the welcome to the forum!

 

Owen

[Daphne]

um... blue laced red wyandottes are called blue laced wyandottes in the UK and columbian light sussexes are just called Light Sussex (assuming you're after a white bird with black neck hackles and black in the tail. If you want a buff bird with black hackles/tail its called a Buff Sussex). Its a bit confusing because in other breeds the black neck/tail feathering is called columbian. Sorry! Oh and I've just seen the Omlet site calls them other things, but believe me everyone calls them Light Sussex.

 

Anyway, they should give you a lot of pleasure - nice choices

[OwenLdn]

Hi Daphne,

 

Thanks for your help! I did wonder about the Columbian/Light Sussex name as in my books it mentions the name Columbian for the white bird with black head! Gosh I must sound such a beginner!

 

Either way ive been scaring myself now with reading about foxes now. I think im going to buy a FoxWatch to be on the safe side. And only let my hens out when im out in the garden. I had my cat killed by a fox last spring- I live in north London so urban foxes are a real problem and aren’t scared of humans so im not sure that the male wee idea would necessarily work! (Im trying it anyway though!)

 

I think I also need some Poultry Shield- id bought separate disinfectant and red mite powder – before I read about it.

 

Do people leave the food in the runs over night or bring them in to help prevent mice/rats from being encouraged?

 

Thanks

Owen

[Daphne]

Hi - no worries, we're all still beginners in many many ways!

 

I bring my food in at night, I'd recommend you do the same too - its too tempting for rats in particular. You're right about urban foxes, we used to have one sunbathe in our garden in the middle of the lawn at 16.00 - so much for being nocturnal. So take every precaution you can. You don't get many second chances with foxes.

 

I use Poultry Shield, but maybe use up what you have first. Red mite is worse when its warmer.

 

HTH. Daphne

[quickcluck]

Hi Owen...

 

I've got a fox watch, and haven't seen a foxy (or foxy poo) in my garden since...... But I must stress they are ONLY a deterrent, not a cure, and hens should never be left unsupervised in the garden for any length of time.......

 

There has been a few very sad stories recently on here of girls being taken just while peoples backs are turned So I suppose I am saying Never be complacent.

 

I personally take my food in of a night as I dont want it to get damp.... But I think it maybe personal choice!

[OwenLdn]

Thank you very much for your quick response- it really is appreciated! This is great! Im beginning to feel a lot more confident know ive got some help here! I just don't want to go wrong with them!

 

Right….

 

Foxwatch- check!

Poultry Shield- check!

Bringing in food- check!

 

What else did I want to ask??

 

Ah yes- the henhouse itself has 2 doors on the front- one solid wood and one with a wire mesh- I was thinking about blocking up the wire mesh door 1) to stop drafts/mice entering the house/ foxes looking in! and 2) to stop the chooks waking up too early in the morning because they can see its light!

 

Should I be making alternative ventilation for the house- perhaps some air holes at the top of the house?

 

Oh and I bought some straw for their nest box- however it isn’t chopped straw (at least I don't think it is- it was with the rabbit bedding) should I chop it up myself? I also bought some Auboise for inside the house- I could use that instead if the straw wouldn't be any good.

 

Im so sorry if these questions are silly- its just good to ask and get an answer than worry about it!

[Daphne]

if the mesh is just chicken wire I would block it up, but you will need ventilation so you could either leave a bit at the top (but I understand it is possible for mice/rats/stoats and the like to squeeze thru depending on size of mesh tho I don't know how likely this is) or block it to the top and then make ventilation holes at the top (to stop it being drafty). If it was me I'd do the latter because I don't want any worries on the security front in the house. Ventilation is very important.

 

I have an eglu and a wooden house. In the latter I use aubiose on the floor. In the nestbox (I have one huge one) I use either aubiose or straw (not chopped) but some people worry it can wrap around a chooks legs and/or they can eat it - its not a worry to me as I figure straw has been used for ever in henhouses, but you must make your own choice. I've just conducted an experiment with half the box using aubiose and half using straw. I see the straw is the bedding of choice for 1 of the 2 in that house who are laying - so not much to tell yet!

[quickcluck]

I use straw with no probs, I was told just make sure it's dust extracted!

 

And RELAX you really can't go wrong. As long as they have food, water and safety they will love you forever!!!!

 

Is there anyone in your area you can visit? Have you looked in the Visit an owner section??? If you are worried you may find it helpful, or a hen party is always great!

[Troy]

Sorry to throw another choice into your already great choices, but have you looked into Pekins???

 

Fab little characters, come in an array of fantastic colours and are very, friendly!

 

Apart from my hybrids (4) I have 1 little silver laced wyandotte and 2 pekins. One lavender the other a gorgeous grey birchin. The 2 Pekins tend to keep the hybrids well in their place and Lilly our lavender girl is our top hen. The big girls are in awe of her! We were getting lovely little white eggs from them last summer right up until october and the 2 girls hang out ' together ALL THE TIME!

 

There is nothing funnnier than Watching a Pekin hitch her knickers up and leg it accross the patio for a treat!! So reccommend you look into them. Lovely 'gnomes' on the lawn as my hubby says.

Troy

[ted]

Hello,

 

I have 7 bantams of which the wyandottes are the quietest and are good fun. Always the first out and adventuring around. Good choice... I have done a few posts which were bantam specific which answered most questions have a look...

 

Cheers