fujcube Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Hi all, Now that we have our graden and coup ready for our first chickens, we are now faced with the difficulty of sourcing the actual chooks (in Scotland)!! What we are after: 3 Silkies, 1 Blue, 1 Black & 1 White 1 Blue/Lavender Araucana 1 Buff/White Orpington I have spent many hours, trawling the net, sending e-mails etc etc, but so far, have had absolutely no luck. However, I have found 1 website that I can buy the Silkie and Araucana eggs from and have a go at hatching them myself. Would it be possible, to buy some eggs, and hatch them under a heat lamp? Am also open to suggestions and would be willing to travel to collect live birds if anyone knows where I could get them. Regards fujcube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 You need an incubator to hatch the eggs and then a brooding lamp to rear them under till they are around 6 weeks, then they have to be gradually acclimatised to coming off heat and then getting used to the outdoors. TBH it is rather late in the year to be doing this as the weather will be harsh at the time when they are old enough to be spending time outdoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Egluntyne is right about the hatching Also bear in mind you will get some cockerels from any hatch Have you considered contacting the Wernlas collection? they send birds by courier, their chooks are lovely and well bred too Its also worth posting in the chicken section about breeders as there are quite a few on the forum in North England and Scotland and they may know of somewhere Check out the sales and shows section of the Practical Poultry Forum; there have been some good graded sales recently, one in Stirling (not sure where that is in relation to you) its worth waiting for really good birds to come up and graded sales are held less often but are less of a minefield than standard auctions Araucanas and Silkies are both quite hard to sex so do ensure that a breeder is reputable one and is willing to exchange the birds if they turn out to be boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 If it were me I'd buy 'ready made' chickens so you are sure of the sex, if you are haivng problems finding hens, you'll have even bigger problems finding homes for all the cockerels you could hatch Tasha's suggestion of buying from Wernlas is a good idea It would also be easier to look after the hens as a new keeper, rather than going to the expense of buying all the equipment for hatching and raising chicks. You will need to make or buy and incubator as you'll need to turn the eggs, regulate the temperature and provide humidity which would be almost impossible to do under an open heat lamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Wernlas have no silkies now - until another 5 months time. I rang them the other day. I'm desperate for 2 silkie girls. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Why not have a look in the **Omlet Marketplace** too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujcube Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice. I think I will try the Wernlas Collection later on today. They stock all the breeds we are after, shame there are no Silkies but I'm sure we could wait another 5 months. Does anyone have an e-mail address for Wernlas? I think I will give the incubator idea a miss, for now. Maybe try a batch of eggs under one of my chooks, once they are happily installed in my garden. Regards fujcube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I'm not sure that there is an email address. **Wernlas Collection** You will have to wait till one of your hens goes broody before you can hatch under her, and she and the chicks will need separate accommodation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujcube Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 Thanks. Have had a good look on the net and can't find their e-mail address anywhere. Will give them a phone on Tuesday, gives me more time to add to my list. As there are no more Silkies for 5 months, will just have to get something to replace them, then get the Silkies, one of each colour! Have almost finished working on the accomodation, there won't be a problem when I get a broody with some chicks, we've already got the nursery built and not a chook to our name!!! Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 have a look here you might be able to find somewere local http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/poultry-suppliers/poultry-suppliers-scotland.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
