Northern Irish Hen Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 I'm new to the chicken keeping game and have just taken delivery of a lovely new . Being in NI, we couldn't take advantage of the chickens coming with it so now I'm trying to find some... Thought this wouldn't be a problem being in a great farming nation but all I can find so far are brown pullets - not really as pretty as some of the lovely girls on here. If anyone out there can help, please let me know. Many thanks K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 We do have a couple of Northern Ireland Omleteers . Unfortunately, the members list doesn't let you search by location any more but perhaps someone will remember who they are. I'll have a think too . (Did you see Christian's suggestion to email barbara@omlet.co.uk ?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Irish Hen Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Any help would be appreciated. I've just noticed a couple of Northern Irish numbers in the breeders guide delivered with my eglu ( really should have read this more closely!!). Wondering if it's too late to phone tonight... So looking forward to getting at least one pretty girl - thinking I'm quite sad just watching the eglu in the garden! Thanks K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Irish Hen Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 Contacted the breeders listed and have been offered a Light Sussex (1 year old and currently used for breeding) for £35 - does this seem expensive or is it a case of supply and demand? K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Contacted the breeders listed and have been offered a Light Sussex (1 year old and currently used for breeding) for £35 - does this seem expensive or is it a case of supply and demand? K. Expensive - we used to sell them in the "pick your own" shed at the farm for £5! (It was basically 80% cockerels with a few hens which we didn't know for certain were hens and the buyer had to sex them. We always got a few eggs - butch hens ) I paid £14 for my POL's and that is a year old hen too and you'll ideally need 3. Could you buy an incubator, or is that not really an option as you'd get cockerels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Irish Hen Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 Decisions, decisions, decisions.... Starting to think this whole adventure is going the wrong way I'm not sure what we would do with cockerels, can't really have too much noise. I have concerns about raising chicks as I work and have a young son - how much time/specialist care is needed - thinking I'm a little green to be entrusted with such young babies. We're hoping to get 4 hens altogether but this is looking unlikely unless we go for brown hens but would really like some variety - so jealous of the lovely collections on here. K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Arran Chooks Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 jenimac is in northern ireland... maybe she can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiblick Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Hello there I'm your friendly neighboorhood Irish Member stalker! I have to get into work where I keep all my chicken info (busy place work!) so I'll PM you from there. Aoife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 My girls cost £15 each (at POL) so £35 does seem a lot . I know certain breeds do cost more though (wouldn't have thought a Light Sussex would ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Arran Chooks Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 ANH what breeds are your at £15? I got my Black Rocks and Isa Browns for £8 each, is that good??? Or is it just because they are "run of the mill" type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I think that's good, Angie . Don't know why mine were that price, tbh . (Look at my signature for their breeds .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Arran Chooks Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Duh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Irish Hen Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 I've now got a short list of numbers for NI but no-one here answers their phones I've left messages so hopefully someone, somewhere will sell me a hen - hubby and I are even considering making a day trip to Scotland but don't think the hens would survive all the travelling. Staying positive! K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 ANH what breeds are your at £15? I got my Black Rocks and Isa Browns for £8 each, is that good??? Or is it just because they are "run of the mill" type. My Black Rocks were £14 I've been looking at Cream Legbar POL's for £35!!!!! I think £1 for a hatching egg is a better deal. Means I'll have to put up with cute chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Hope you get some good luck soon in finding your dream chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenimac Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Sorry Northern Irish hen. I have just received a private message from angus arran chocks re buying of hens in Northern Ireland. I know the difficulty you are having as I was also going to travel across the water to get some. There are breeders in Northern Ireland but they are hard to find. I bought two brahma pol hens and one brown hen outside Lisburn. Is that anywhere near you? They cost £15 each and the brown hen was £7. If you get Practical Poultry magazine, there is a list of people all over Northern Ireland that breed and sell pol hens ( Lisburn, Ballymoney, Cookstown and Omagh to name a few). Hope this helps. Good luck. Its worth it when the hens arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Irish Hen Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 thank you, thank you, thank you for all the information and support. Bought Practical Poutry and we're going tomorrow night to look at some hens in Ballymoney (we're just outside Ballymena so not too far, Jenimac) . Hopefully we will come home with some girls for our but if we don't, we know that there are other breeders out there (next stop lisburn)! So excited now... thanks again K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenimac Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Hope all goes well tomorrow and you finally get your chickens. I remember thinking that I had a very expensive green garden ornament instead of a cool eglu full of lovely chickens. Let us all know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Good luck . I hope you manage to get some lovely girls for your lonely . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Hope it all goes well, it's a lovely magazine to read as well isn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenimac Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Northern Irish Hen, did you have any luck with your chickens? Have been wondering how you are getting on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubySlippers Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hi NIHen! I've just seent his thred and I was about to reply when I saw you'd gone to hopefully get some. How did that go? I, too, have a which I got in about March(!), and had great difficulty sourcing anything in "our great farming nation" However, I now have three lovely Sussex Star pullets Couldn't be happier. I know how frustrating it is to be all set up and lacking the last vital component...but don't worry you'll probably egt chickies a helluva lot faster than I managed and it will be totally worth the wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Irish Hen Posted June 14, 2009 Author Share Posted June 14, 2009 Apologies for taking so long to get back to all the kind posters. After numerous phone calls, visits and promises that didn't amount to anything, I've finally got 2 hens trough a chance conversation my husband had with an electrician A very kind gentleman, just half a mile away from our house gave us 2 lovely girls - no idea what breed they are but one is white and the other is brown (typically girly thing to say ). My son has called them Rhubarb and Custard and both are laying an egg everyday so I'm very happy. Rhubarb is curious and just loves attention, Custard is slightly more reserved. As you can tell, I am besotted and spend many an hour just watching them scratch. On their 2nd day of free-ranging, I found both in my newly sown veg patch, Custard treating herself to a dust bath and Rhubarb eating the seeds. Next purchase - some electric fencing!! Thanks again to everyone to gave advice and support, it was so appreciated ( and sorry again for neglecting you all but I had to spend time watching my girls ) K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenimac Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 Glad to hear that you finally got your girls. I thought that was why you weren't on the forum. It is so annoying when you can't source any chickens and everyone keeps asking you have you got them yet. Enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 You could try 'Paul Tighe Poultry' Strokestown, Roscommon. He delivers all around the north of southern Ireland... . You may have to pop over the border, phone him on 087 2504432, can't find a land line for him. He sells lots of different breeds. Our pol, Warrens cost €7.60 = £6.46 each. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
