Single hen

[redfrock]

the more I have read tonight the more concerned I am about the quality of the hens from Perfect Poultry, and the conditions they are kept in. Does anyone have a good experience there? I know he is anti-Omlet so that is not a problem - we'll just keep stum on that front. The welfare is my main concern and I don't fancy travelling a couple of hours just to get upset.

 

I know the Garden Hen was very good but they have closed due to illness. We would consider travelling to THornes if the hens would be ok travelling that distance. The only thing is I can't find a website for them - doesn anyone know if they have one?

 

If anyone can enlighten us where we should go for our LF pure breeds this weekend I would be grateful. We have our heart set on t=going this weekend - especially as Andy is home and we have a long weekend.

 

thanks xx

[Janty]

I have travelled from Merrydale in Leicestershire to Suffolk with hens and they have been fine. It was about a three hour journey. I don't know how far Thornes is away from you but it is worth travelling for the right hens.

[Egluntyne]

Why not have a chat with the fork at the Wernlas Collection They deliver, and enjoy a first class reputation.

 

Their delivery charge will be no more than the price of a tank of petrol and will save you hours.

[quickcluck]

Hi Redfrock.... Thornes do not have a website I'm afraid

 

I've got 4 LLF (lovely large fowl) on order from the wernlas. If you call them they will send you an up todate price list. Or if you know what your after I've one here, let me know and i'll see if they have them on the list.

 

Mine are being delivered. They use special people for the girls. The price is £55. But it's far cheaper than driving there and back and a possible stay over!

 

let me know if you need any info or prices....

[redfrock]

thanks for all the replies. Odd that Thornes don't have a website - I'm terrible; I always presume everybody has one!

 

Thanks for the offer QC. I remember you saying earlier that you have to wait until the summer - I don't think I could be that restrained! Is it because what they have are already reserved do you think? I am interested in the prices though if you would;t mind checking for me .... just a couple will give me a good idea. An orpington and a barnvelder, brahma or cochin would be good.

[quickcluck]

I think i've to wait because of the the mix that I want, plus I only want to do one set of intros..... I really didn't want to wait that long, but it gives me time to build the new run!!!!

 

Will PM you with the prices!

 

 

Have sent it, but it's a bit slow in going

[TAJ]

Wernlas prices vary with age - I think mine are all £31-£33 at 20+ weeks, but about half that at 8 weeks - I would just ring Wernlas. The reason why mine will be April/May is I am waiting for them to be old enough to be sexed and want them all together for one set of intros - they think they can usually sex a barnvelder at 14 weeks, I am not sure about the other breeds you mention.

 

Tracy

[Griffin]

I've got chickens from Mother Hens Poultry before. Jacqueline there is very helpful and I'd recommend buying from her. She's just outside Reading.

 

http://www.motherhenspoultry.com/index.htm

[redfrock]

quick update - I've spoken to Thornes this morning. All their pure breed stock are going out this morning. The next release date for Pure breeds won't be until August . This is because they hatch their own.

 

I think we shall take a jaunt up to P.P and see what's what. If I'm not happy I'll walk away. Hopefully by now I am fairly clued up as to what is a healthy hen and what isn't! A friend of mine got her's from there and they are all ok.

[Tulip]

I did indeed

 

As I said last night hon - if he's the only option this weekend, take a look and if you're not happy, walk. (Hard, I know).

 

Our four girls are wonderful, happy and healthy - though we sometimes wonder if our Lt Sussex is a bit older, rather than POL when we got her.

 

I know it would be so disappointing to come home empty-handed, but you know exactly what you're doing - you can tell a healthy young chook from an old girl. You also don't need the bloke's rubbish advice!!

 

xx

[redfrock]

I did indeed

 

As I said last night hon - if he's the only option this weekend, take a look and if you're not happy, walk. (Hard, I know).

 

Our four girls are wonderful, happy and healthy - though we sometimes wonder if our Lt Sussex is a bit older, rather than POL when we got her.

 

I know it would be so disappointing to come home empty-handed, but you know exactly what you're doing - you can tell a healthy young chook from an old girl. You also don't need the bloke's rubbish advice!!

 

xx

 

cheers honey! LOL! how embarassing you stumbling across my ramblings

[Tulip]

My weekends are ruled by checking the forums

[Jaime]

I went to Merrydale yesterday and they have a nice selection of hybrids. All appear very happy and healthy with a reasonable choice of hens.

 

Dont know if there are any pure breds as we were looking for hybrids. Came away with a Merrydale blue - gorgeous black face and head and very dark grey body, a Merrydale Sussex - white with a black necklace and black tail, and a stunning Merrydale Crested - partridge pattern/salmon coloured with a a funny hairdoo. They also had Warrens, Pieds, and cuckoo.

 

I'm really happy with our choices and the people are so helpful and knowledgeable.

 

The big downside is the distance - From Stockport and return took 5 1/2 hours because of traffic and roadworks a total of 200 miles. As I always wanted a coloured egg layer - I think the trip was worth it.

[mostin]

Did you have any luck Redfrock?

[redfrock]

Did you have any luck Redfrock?

 

so kind of you to ask . I've logge don to share my news

 

We are now the proud owners of a Buff Orpington, Indian Game bird, Barnvelder, Lavendar Aracauna and a black Silkie . There were a couple of breeds I did want that weren't for sale.

 

I will keep my views to myself on the place, save to say I won't be rushing back. However our girls are healthy and sparky. I have them in quarantine for now in the extended eglu - plenty of room for them at present as 3 of them are very young. Turns out the silkie is older - about 7 months old and although I said I didn't want bantams I have a sneaking suspicion she might be as opposed to one of the large silkies he had. My only concern is that she is able to hold her own when I do integrate her with our others. We have dusted them with red mite powder and I am going to worm them, which I always do as standard when I get my new girls. They are also on a heavy dose of Lifeguard (which I swear by).

 

Photos will follow in a few days . I love having new girls and there was me claiming I was only going to get 2 I mean 4

[Janty]

No brahmas

 

 

No cochins

 

 

How could you resist?

 

Sounds like you did get an interesting collecting though.

 

Hurry up with the photos.

 

[redfrock]

No brahmas

 

 

No cochins

 

 

How could you resist?

 

Sounds like you did get an interesting collecting though.

 

Hurry up with the photos.

 

 

Alas no - it's not that I resisted - he just wouldn't sell me any. There were a couple of Buff Sussexs that he was very keen for me to have though and that made me walk away from them. I went up there with the expectation of coming home with a Wyandotte, and a Brahma which I desperately wanted and which he said he had in stock only to find when I got there that he was keeping them all for breeding I do love my silkie though even if she is older than initially led to beleive and possibly a bantam rather than a full size one. In fact i would like a whole flurry of them, but I think my walk-in-run will probably be just about right numbers wise now.

 

I'll put the photos in a new thread - I'll pop out and take some in a mo, when the rain eases

[redfrock]

Quick update - just back from the vet

 

I noticed that 2 of them sounded gurgly this morning and correctly diagnosed chest infections.

 

They are now all on a water soluble anti-biotic. Fingers crossed they pull through - although I am concerned about one of them. I wonder if that is why these two were given to me from the field rather than the pens I saw their siblings in

 

I also noticed this morning that they have worms but I was prepared for that and had already started the flubenvet

 

Thankfully they are a good distance away from my other girls and free-ranging had been curtailed until they had been quarantined for 7 days - now it will be 14 before I let anybody out.

[mostin]

So sorry they've been ill already . Hope they get better soon as they sound a lovely collection of girls.

[Tulip]

Oh dear Sorry to hear that. Which two is it?

 

14 days.... does that mean when I come down it'll be time for their first adventure?

 

OH sends love and says sorry he can't make it x

[redfrock]

Oh dear Sorry to hear that. Which two is it?

 

14 days.... does that mean when I come down it'll be time for their first adventure?

 

OH sends love and says sorry he can't make it x

 

The Indian Game and the Barnvelder . The Indian Game seems to be the most poorly but has perked up as the day has progressed.

 

They have been tucking in to their special green water and their pellets though which is a good sign. Our vet is so good. She saw us out of surgery time, at midday, and all 7 of us toddled down - 5 chooks and the man. Charged us pennies and gave us a big pot of medicine - enough for any future problems

 

Hope to be freeranging them when you come down . Will also have to plan another day when OH can make it too so that I can feed you both

 

Not yet chosen names for them all. The aracauna is probably Claudia and the Silky is Tallulah simply because she is such a daft looking thing (and my favourite). I told Andy we should call the Orp Artichoke because of her shape!