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

[Electricbarbarella]

I finally have the ex batts in with the big girls, although a little tense things are going ok, so now to fill the eglu, I want some bantams, not sure which breed. Am currently between silkies, gold seabrights and pekins.

A combination of the 3 would be good but I am planning to hatch so can only really get the eggs of one breed I think.

I ideally want 3, would 3 bantams be Ok full time in an eglu with standard run, i was thinking of hatching 6 eggs on the assumption that 50% will be boys if they all hatch, obviously if we end up with 6 girls (very unlikely) I would extend the eglu runs, would 6 bantams be Ok in the eglu with however many extansions are neccasary.

Also do you think I would then have too many chickens for a small terrace back garden?

This is obviously a very long term plan but I enjoy the planning bit as much as the rest so humour me.

Which bantams are your favourites, any pictures would obviously help your case.

[The Dogmother]

I have banties and can recommend them, but it sound slike you might be up to capacity already.

 

It's never easy to mix them with full sized chooks either; I've heard too many tales of woe.

[Electricbarbarella]

they wouldnt be mixed, the big girls are all in the cube now (with many extensions), the eglu would be just for the banties, I think the ex batts looked a bit cooped up in there in the end so thought it would be better or bantams. I get as many egg as I need so it is really for the cute pet side of it.

[The Dogmother]

It's totally up to you, but with the size of garden that you suggest, it may be overcrowded. I wouldn't get any more it is was me.

[Patricia W]

I've got 3 bantams in an eglu but they free range all day. I wouldn't want any more than 3 in there. I've decided not to get any LF but stick to bantams, for reasons of potential problems with the size difference ( and mine are Polish which is another complication).

 

We have a very big garden and I have another eglu but I'm not getting any more than another 3 max so they all have enough space and to make sure the neighbours stay happy!

 

Could you share your hatchings with someone?

 

Tricia

[Electricbarbarella]

it is only in the thinking process at the moment, would more than lkely be next spring if I did go ahead.

trying to remember the actual dimensions of the garden, they would have to free range at seperate times to the big girls but either me or dh is home all day so that wouldnt be too much of a problem.

[jennybrom]

hiya,

 

in terms of capacity I've got two pekins and two pepperpots in my eglu with no problems and plenty of room to spare. I've got a convertor and extension on my run so have plenty of space but if you're just getting 3 pekins you'd probably be ok with the standard run - some of the breeders I visited had runs that were much smaller than the eglu run. It just comes down to what you think is appropriate at the end of the day and how well you can control the chicken cravings!

 

My buff and black pekins are gorgeous - my buff is quite pale but I've seen much darker ones that are lovely, and the black has a lovely green sheen. I'm hankering after a lavender and a partridge as well though - there are so many lovely colours to choose and they really are puffballs - I search the image bit on google when I feel like a drool!

 

jen

[Indie]

I would highly recommend Barbu D'Uccles. I have a mille fleur one called Dottie and she is one of the sweetest, funniest, cutest, friendliest chooks I have ever had the pleasure to meet/own. They are absolutely tiny little things, but so much personality! She loves to have her little cheek tufts rubbed and she will tilt her head round so you get the right spot! I have another Barbu D'Uccle now (a porcelaine, different colour) but she's still living in the house at the mo as she's so young.

 

I don't have a picture of Dottie to hand but a quick search on Google images will bring up many pictures. They are just beautiful! Feathery legs/feet and gorgeous tufty/bearded faces!

 

Dottie lives with 3 pekins and a silkie and they get on great. They get on really well with my big girls too, but I keep the banties in a walk in run for their own safety (from local cats!), whereas my big girls free range all day.