Single hen

[Patricia W]

I've got a trio of White Crested Polish Bantams and I'm looking to get 2-4 more chickens, when I get my lovely pre-loved red eglu from Taj( next week!)

 

But I'm anxious to chose compatible breeds as I gather Polands are susceptible to being bullied - probably because their eyesight is not so good. I've decided to stick to Bantams or Minis and Daphne who has Polands thinks a min Buff Orpington would be a good choice. I like Light Sussex and I'd like a blue egg layer. Anyone got any suggestions?

 

Tricia

[westleigh]

i would go with the orpingtons if i was you goodluck

[Patricia W]

being greedy, I was hoping to get three - all different. Does that mean all the other bantams/mini's aren't docile?

 

Tricia

[westleigh]

you can never tell how they will turn out but orps are renowed for being dosile

[Patricia W]

I've just discovered a website that has Bantam Black Orpingtons, Bantam Blue orpington and Mottled Orpingtons as well as the Buff. Does anyone have any of these? The website is LPH Poultry.

 

Tricia

[tom123]

araucana bantams are docile and blue eggs, score!

 

Tom

[westleigh]

what area do you live in???

[OwenLdn]

My light sussex is the friendliest out of my Bantams but i cannot be sure it just isnt an individual trait. The Wyandotte is the next friendliest.

 

The Silkie and the Plymouth Rock are more reserved and wont feed form my hand yet.

 

Good luck with making your decision!

[Patricia W]

I live just south of Oxford but have no problems travelling to get the ideal chickens. Tom123, you are always a mine of information. Any idea where I get a bantam Aracauna?

 

Tricia

[Egluntyne]

Pekins are friendly and recommended as pets for children.

[Daphne]

Tricia - LPH is a very good breeder of orps. If you want some I would recommend. Personally, black and blue are my fav colour orps. Mottled is much rarer so a) they may cost more and b) Leon may not have any. There is really no difference, character-wise. I do have to reiterate my note of caution tho, you will have to watch your intros. If it isn't working you may have to rethink and keep them separate as the polands are vulnerable.

[ted]

We have 4 types - the wyandottes and pekins are the friendliest and good fun. Not leghorns if they are anything like ours!! The lakenvelder doesnt like humans very much and spends quite a bit of time on her own...

Good Luck

[The Dogmother]

I've always had bantams and can't really say that a certain breed is more friendly; it's a bit like saying that all Italians are fiery (I'm not).

 

Pekins are real characters and good entertainment, but never easy to catch, wyandottes are really hardy and good layers, but my most friendly hen ever has to be my RIR miniature Roxanne; she follows me around like a dog.

 

The more you handle a hen, the more 'easy' it will be, but as I said, they are all different.

[Patricia W]

Thanks everyone. I'm concerned about their attitude to other bantams i.e. my 3 Polands rather than to people. They are such a happy bunch that I don't want them bullied.

 

Daphne, you seem to be our resident Poland expert - maybe I should just get a couple more Polands - but a different type? Would that be better?

 

Tricia

[The Dogmother]

I have apoland/araucana cross, but wouldn't bother with another poland myself. Lovely birds, but they have such problems caused by their 'hair'

[Daphne]

Hello Tricia,

 

Well I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm an expert, but I do adore my polands and I don't find their wigs a problem. I'm sorry to disagree with Claret but I would recommend more of them because a)You already have them, so you know what it takes to look after them and b)Most importantly your question really boils down to is it safer to get more polands rather than another breed to go with your existing stock - and I think I'd have to say Yes.

 

I do have a mixed 'flock' and it works - but equally I have seen pecking problems elsewhere; maybe I've been lucky. If you want to try different breeds you must choose those known to be docile (accepting individual birds may not have read their breed handbooks!) which is why I recommended orps, but be prepared to separate if necessary - and possibly permanently.

 

As for colours of poland - white crested black is the most common, but you can get w/c blue, silver laced (stunning), gold laced (lovely), and chamois (ie buff laced) fairly easily. There are other colours as well, but they tend to be specialist and/or non-standard. This is a breeder of bantam polands with a good reputation somewhere in Wilts, so quite close to you: www.eden-livestock.co.uk. Another one is www.wylyevalleychickens.co.uk

 

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

Daph

[Patricia W]

Thanks Daphne

 

I'm going to sleep on it. As you say, you get used to the hair and I've had no problems so far ( fingers crossed!) - apart from the fact that when it's muddy, it isn't white anymore!.

 

They do lay quite well as well. Apart from a break of a couple of months, we had an egg a day from Teddie from last October and now they are both laying an egg a day. Plenty for us.

 

My only niggles about them are not big enough to be real problems and are probably more related to my chicken management ! They have a really strong instinct to roost off the ground, so I frequently have to pick them off seats, low branches etc and pop them to bed. They ignore lights in the eglu etc. It's quite sweet though seeing three little white heads in a row!

 

The second is that the girls have now decided they'll lay their eggs in the garden - they have made a lovely little nest -and both lay there. Much nicer than that nest box! My thoughts are that I know where they are so is it worth the hassle of trying to make them lay in the nest box ? I've tried putting a rubber egg in to give them the idea - but they kick it into the run. As they don't lay till the afternoon it doesn't work to keep them in till they've laid.

 

Anyway, any tips about those welcome, but as for my original question, I think it's a bit like a child in a sweet shop SOOOO many attractive chicks out there! But I really don't want to spoil what we've got.

 

Tricia

[Daphne]

my polands are my best layers (not hard with orps as competition!) I find they lay quite late in the year and/or start early and I have to say I think their eggs have a better flavour (richer yolks) than the orps. Yours are a bit more independent than mine, mine have always laid in the box, tho I do have an orp who lays in the run, but even she's started using the box now. The polands did go thru a phase of roosting on the eglu run at night last summer for no apparent reason. Either I had to pick them up or the LF orp would jump up with them.....and then get down after a while hoping they'd follow! But they got out of the habit as oddly as they got into it. If they were still doing it, I'd still be picking them up and putting them into the eglu - for their safety. I agree, not ideal, but it is part of a chicken's nature to roost, so I figure its not too high a price to pay!

 

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide - like you say its a bit like being in a sweetie shop Have fun with whichever birds you decide to get