Single hen

[ted]

Has anyone bought any stock from the Domestic Fowl Trust? Any views welcome?

 

Thanks

[cathychic]

Hi Ted,

 

Yes, I bought two Speckledys and two Bovans Goldline last May at POL and they have been super. All started laying within a few weeks and have laid 6 eggs each a week since then, even all though the winter. They have all been very healthy.

 

Cathy

[..lay a little egg for me]

Yes, we got 3 black rock and a goldline in April. One of the black rocks got quite a bad cold with the shock of moving house and they exchanged her for a speckledy. We knew nothing about hen keeping and the lady there gave us a mini chicken-keeping course for free, showing us how to hold a chook, where to clip wings, etc etc. They were very helpful. However, the range of birds they have for sale varies from day to day so if you want a particular breed/hybrid it is best to ring first to check what they have. The black rocks and goldlines were £10 last year but the speckledy was £20 and the pure-breeds were £25+. No idea of prices this year.

 

They have a fully stocked shop with loads of supplies and chickenalia which are hard to keep on the shelf (they keep falling into ones basket )!

[chickencam]

We had a different experience.

 

We went there on quite a hot day (it must have been the only one in Aug 07) We were not impressed by the way the birds waiting to be sold were in small cages and were panting and unhappy. They were unhelpful and handled the birds very roughly.

 

We took the children around the pens outside and several of them including one with ducks in it had no water

 

We did buy 2 hens a White Star and a Light Sussex, we still have them both, the Light Sussex has a slightly dodgy tummy but is otherwise healthy and lays well, and the White Star is a laying machine, she has not stopped laying since September 07

 

We asked advice as to what breeds we should get to introduce to our 2 Omlet Pepperpots and they said any breed would be fine. I think that trying to introduce 2 white to 2 brown made introductions harder, and felt that their advice was poor. We had to drive back a couple of days later to get anti-peck rings which I think they should have advised us to buy at the time. We have since bought bumper bits from Wernlas.

[TAJ]

All my current layers came from there and we have been very happy with them. I have seen comments on here about the 'sale cages' beforehand - so let me explain, the place is a big farm type place and the hens for sales pens outside are very large and this is where these hens live.

 

However these hen pens are in the farm park out the back that you pay go visit, so in an annexe to the shop they have metal cages - just like poultry show cages, with water & food. These cages look small, but the hens are in there for a matter of mins to hours at the most before being sold - this is not where they live! These cages are kept refilled as hens are sold in the day with new stock from the outdoor pens.

 

I am a frequent visitor to the shop.

 

Tracy

[ted]

Thanks all for your help. Tracy, would you say there was a best tie of year to get the best choice? I am looking for bantams...

 

Cheers

[sleepymummy]

Personally, i'm not impressed with them. It does have lots of plus points but both times i have been there I have been treated so rudely by one member of staff in particular. She is very unhelpful and implies that whatever i am doing with my hens is breaking the law and i'll get into trouble with all sorts of animal welfare people for doing nothing that i haven't read about on this site. I rely on everyone here. far more friendly!

[TAJ]

Thanks all for your help. Tracy, would you say there was a best tie of year to get the best choice? I am looking for bantams...

 

Cheers

 

 

It is probably best just to ring first and telll them what you are looking for - hybrids all the time and I have always seen some pure breeds and bantams whatever the time of year I have been - I do love their bantam Light Sussex. If you want POL pure breeds it is a bit early in the season I guess - their website (under livestock) gives a list of breeds, but I think they have more than what is actually listed here.

 

Warning - the farm park can get very muddy - wellies are a must on wet days!

 

Tracy

[ted]

Thanks Tracy, helpful info. Will probably pop down there later in Spring...

 

cheers