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

[Jaffa]

Trying to choose between the various breeds and looking around if anyone

has a selection I can visit and hopefully make my mind up for when Im

ready to buy in the next week or so.

Any suggestions, is it the wrong time of year, as quite a few are out of

stock.

What has everyone else done to help make their minds up?

Is it best to buy 3 then perhaps get a few more next year? or all

five together.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'd go for 5 straight off . Introducing new girls later on can be quite a bit of work.

 

My local breeder doesn't stock many breeds so I didn't have much choice. I'm very happy with my girls though .

[Redwing]

Lots of retailers are out of stock of various birds but individual breeders are winding down now and trying to reduce their stock for the winter

 

If you dont mind getting younger hens you still should have quite a choice - Practical Poultry magazine has lists of breeders in the back of it

 

If you get five all in one go you will get to a point where few of them are laying when they get old/older but introducing more is a bit of a pain so there is merit for both options

 

Hybrids will lay their socks off for a few years then the eggs will tail off, pure breeds will lay for more years but often stop over winter

[cluckingmad]

I would definately go for 5 - intros are almost more stressful for us as for the birds!

 

We've got 2 ex-batts, 2 gingernut rangers, 2 Miss Pepperpots, 1 light sussex, 1 buff sussex, 1 speckled sussex and a partridge cochin (aka my baby)... if you're not fussed about getting pure breeds and fancy doing a good deed I can strongly recommend the ex-batts. You get so much love back from them its just not true, although hybrids can be a more pecky-bolsy than the pure breeds.

 

Shame you're too far from Stoke or you could come and visit our little herd

 

Carolyn

[Jaffa]

Thanks, shame sometimes west yorkshire feels to be miles away from anyway useful or interesting!...

[cluckingmad]

Ah, well - its not all that far My brother, sister-in-law and baby niece live in Pontefract currently so I know the stoke-yorkshire route pretty well

 

I only have experience of Wernlas rather than other breeders, but it is a beautiful part of the country, a week-end stay down there might be rather pleasant... and of course, if yuo're THAT close then, you know, a quick chicken visit could be a possibility

Edited September 29, 2009 by Guest

[Valkyrie]

We visited different places at first to see how they looked after their birds. You certainly get a feel for the way they treat their animals and soon learn to discard the not nice ones. I can't recommend any in your area because you are so far away from us and I haven't looked up there, but I'm sure there will be plenty of recommendations from fellow Omleteers. The furthest northwards that we went was the Domestic Fowl Trust - and I would never go there again until hell freezes over (gives you a rough idea). Unless they have improved their practice in the last couple of years.

Good luck