Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Lucia]

Anyone used them? Going to look at some chooks there on the weekend. (He has Cotswold Legbars and Burfords).

 

A friend of mine has a Cotswold and she's a real character and of course lays very pretty eggs so I kind of decided I 'needed' one (or two ) to add to my collection. (Might see if I can smuggle in a Burford while I'm there too).

 

Well I need to console myself as my beautiful baby Bernadette is a Bernard so has to go and live with my friend on her farm.

[Patricia W]

Don't they supply Waitrose ? With eggs I mean? I seem to think I've heard good things about them but not been myself. Let us hear how you get on.

 

Tricia

[NatalieC]

I'd be interested to hear how you get on - I had two Legbars reserved since about August time and was expecting to pick them up at the end of October. I didn't hear anything and when I chased up was told they'd moved farms from Broadway to Swindon (but that he could meet me in Broadway) and that the Legbars weren't ready as there weren't enough quality birds in the batch. I could have waited until the end of November but wanted to get the new girls settled before the really bad weather. In the end I cancelled and went to Annie Hall Poultry in Bristol (she was Fab!). As it is I now have a lovely Light Sussex and a Bluebell Maran who I'm thrilled with!

[Jane and Martin]

We had two Legbars from there about 4 years ago - Beatrice and Miranda (I was going through a Shakespeare phase!). The set up there was fantastic the hens had loads of space and were protected by electric fencing. Our two were lovely - sadly we only have Beatrice now. She is still very aloof and I can only handle her if she is broody or is roosting. I was able to catch the omlet hens easily and I now have 3 bluebells which are very friendly and easy to pick up so compared to the other hens in my experience the Legbars are more flighty.

The owner was also vey helpful at the time of purchase and again afterwards when one was poorly.

[Lucia]

Well over the last week or so I have swapped a few emails with them and they asked me to wait until next weekend as the Cotswolds weren't ready to go in with bigger hens yet as they were still quite small, he asked me if I would prefer Burford Browns as they were bigger and ready to go. Told him I was happy to wait and go over this coming weekend (21/22Nov).

 

Soooo called them today to check that it was still ok to go along this coming weekend. Chap was very nice but asked again if I wouldn't prefer the Burfords as they were bigger and ready now. Told him I had my heart set on a Cotswold due to the high probability of pastel coloured eggs but would possibly be interested in a Burford too, explained size of the chooks wasn't an issue as they'd be kept seperately initially anyway.

 

He said he'd call me towards the end of the week to see if the Cotswolds were big/good enough.

 

I know its daft but I have my heart set on a couple of cotswolds, no where else fairly local has any, really hoping they are ready this weekend.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Surely if you are keeping them apart from the rest of your girls then size is not an issue

 

To give him the benefit of the doubt he could be worried for the welfare of the "babies" which is unheard of in some breeders from some of the messages on here

 

Sounds like he may have a surplus of BBs which need to be shipped out, I could be wrong of course..don't BBs lay lovely dark brown eggs , a pastel layer and dark layer... or 2.... or 3 Gorgeous!

 

Sha x

[Lucia]

Did tell him I might 'accidentally' get a Burford too and he seemed very nice - guess will just have to wait and see what he says come Thursday when he promised to contact me.

[Sara-W]

Hi, I reserved 6 Burford Brown growers for collection in early May this year, I contacted Legbars of Broadway at the beginning of May only to be told that they'd had a "bad batch" and I'd have to wait until the beginning of June for my growers.

I collected my 6 8 week old Burford Browns on 1st of June, they were in a crate ready for me to collect so I didn't get to look around at any other birds or see where they had come from.

3 developed well and thrived but the other 3 stayed very small and have since passed away after all treatment from the vet failed (at 20 weeks old they were about the size of a 10 week old). The vet suggested a post mortem on the last one which showed that the bowels were not functioning properly and the vet said that he thought it was a genetic disorder that all 3 had.

My 3 surviving Burford Browns have no health problems whatsoever and are fit and well. They are beautiful, have excellent characters and are good layers of lovely chocolate brown eggs. Sorry for the long post just thought I'd share my experiences

[Lucia]

Oh dear thats a bit of a worry, I wonder if they have been interbred too much?

 

I will want to look around before I agree to anything but I'm nosey like that anyway!!

[Lucia]

Well he didn't call me or email me back. Probably just as well as I have flu so couldn't have gone this weekend anyway. Still very disappointed though.

 

Will wait till I'm feeling better to decide whether to call him again.

 

Just had my heart set on some costwolds. Oh well.

[TAJ]

In reality is legbars are no more than a hybrid - with a high chance of a pastel coloured egg (cream, blue, green) - they are no different the the 70-80% plue egg hybrids available many other places at a fraction of the cost.

 

He has had great commercial success with his eggs & Waitrose, but if I was him I would keep the best stock for myself! I have looked at his birds a few times but then not been tempted in the end.

 

Tracy

[Lucia]

Its only because a firend of mine has one that is a total character that I had set my heart on one really and I did like the idea of pastel eggs plus I was led to believe that the hybrids were a little less flighty than their pure bred counterparts?

Anyway am now researching araucana, cream legbars and some other types of blue egg laying hybrid (skyline?)and will see what comes my way fairly locally.

 

Any other suggestions folks? (I'm in Glos).

[tom123]

check out these Lucia

 

http://www.trade-it.co.uk/category/chickens-poultry-breeders/region/w-uk-bristol-south-west-wiltshire-malmesbury/GorgeousCreamLegbarPOLhens-6212626.html

 

http://www.trade-it.co.uk/category/farming-and-livestock-chickens/region/w-uk-bristol-south-west-avon-bristol/LavanderAraucanashensandcockerels-6748419.html?impression=normal_impression

 

Will ask my friend if she has some as well for you

 

Hope that helps and good luck with the search, I must admit Cream Legbars are lovely and the eggs are the best, my 2 are such characters

[TAJ]

Its only because a firend of mine has one that is a total character that I had set my heart on one really and I did like the idea of pastel eggs plus I was led to believe that the hybrids were a little less flighty than their pure bred counterparts?

Anyway am now researching araucana, cream legbars and some other types of blue egg laying hybrid (skyline?)and will see what comes my way fairly locally.

 

Any other suggestions folks? (I'm in Glos).

 

Not sure what part of Gloucestershire you are in - my cream legbar came from Wernlas - I rang and ordered and drove up their when the hens were alreay sexed (other breeds I had at the same time needed sexing later - cream legbars are autosexing). www.wernlas.co.uk many people on here have used them.

 

Tracy

[Lucia]

Thanks both!!

 

(Tom123 - glad to see I'm not the only horsey person here. You have two more than me though!)

 

I'm located between Bristol and Glos ish.

 

Hmmmm so cream legbars or araucanas....presumabably both will be ok with regular hybrids (pepperpots and a ranger?) if properly introduced (have facilities to keep them seperate intitially).

Edited November 21, 2009 by Guest

[tom123]

Yep they would be fine.

 

Where exactly are you Lucia? I live in Winterbourne!

 

Thanks

Tom

[Lucia]

I'm in Dursley (J14 off the M5).

 

Do I spot arabs?

[tom123]

Oh yep, I know it. I used to ride in Nailsworth.

 

Yep 6 of them. Yes I know I'm mad Do you have horses?

[Lucia]

Beautiful horses, but needing an owner who can work with them not just tell them what to do! friend of mine works for a lady with some nice stallions (crabbet lines). Do you do endurance?

I have an Andalusian (PRE), an ageing cob (supposedly for my husband), a Welsh Sec A (naughty), and a 2yo New Forest I accidentally (cough) 'acquired'. Did have a ISH eventer but she sadly broke her leg a couple of years ago.

[TAJ]

Thanks both!!

 

(Tom123 - glad to see I'm not the only horsey person here. You have two more than me though!)

 

I'm located between Bristol and Glos ish.

 

Hmmmm so cream legbars or araucanas....presumabably both will be ok with regular hybrids (pepperpots and a ranger?) if properly introduced (have facilities to keep them seperate intitially).

 

My Cream Legbar is in with hybrids and other pure breeds and doing just fine - and still laying blue eggs in mid-November - but she was from eggs laid in Jan, so from pure breed stock that laid in the winter, so hopefully it will carry on - all my pure breeds still laying - it just the hybrids that are slowing down for winter!

 

Tracy

[tom123]

3 of mine are crabbet lines and the others polish. Lovely horses you have