Bee_Jay Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Hello All I'm new to the forum but have been keeping chickens for two years. I have two hybrids (Amber Lee and Black Star) in a Cube. They're in a 10 ft x 6 ft run and free range my garden for about 4 hours each day. I've certainly been bitten by the 'chicken bug' and as my girls are now a couple of years old, I've decided it's time to get a couple more chickens. I'd be interested in hearing other chicken-addicts views on the merits of hybrids v pure breeds. I'm thinking that pure breeds would be a good idea as I'm happy to have less eggs, if the birds lay over a longer period. My hybrids lay an egg a day with the occasional day off but I'd be happy to have hens that lay less but over a longer period. May be the happy medium is a couple of hybrids and a couple of pure breeds? I'm considering getting a couple of Orpingtons, as I love the look of them but also want them to be friendly... I know they can be broody but that's OK. Looking forward to hearing your views on this. Primrose (Amber Lee) Myrtle (Black Star) and Toby the Cocker Spaniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I would add pure breeds yes but thats just my opinion as I prefer them (most of my flocks bullying, agression and feather pecking problems have come from hybrids but thats just my experience and its put me off!) Orps are big softies so introductions would need to be done slowly to avoid any bullying issues, your run is big enough to split though for the intro perod which is ideal There are so many breeds to choose from, a good place to start reading is the Wernlas collection website as it has quite a bit of info. Chicken shows are a good place to go and see the breeds up close, you dont say where you are but there are plenty of shows going on at the moment around the country (weather permitting!) Welcome to the forum too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Hello and welcome to the forum I think my girls are purebreeds, never had a hybrid before, so i wouldnt really be able to tell you the difference, but ive heard that pure breeds live longer then hybrids? All the best xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I have a mix of pure breeds and hybrids and can recommend and see the advantages of both. Hybrids are certainly "cheekier" and do lay their socks off, whereas Pure Breeds do lay slightly less and can go broody (I have 3 pure breed girls which have broody tendencies). I would like to think that I will always have room in my flock for both Sorry I have realised that this is probably no help at all Welcome to the Forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I've got both and I think I'll probaly keep a mix. I'd recommend any of the 5 types I've got. pure breeds take longer to come in to lay and I've found that some take longer to decide to become friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Depends what you want from them. I find that pure breeds are hardier and gentler natured, but they don't lay over winter. Some are particularly beautiful too. Hybrids in my experience are more prone to egg laying problems such as egg binding and peritonitis, because they have been bred to churn eggs out on a daily basis. I have found this particularly to be the case with the Warren type hybrid. You will get eggs through the winter though, less so in their second and subsequent ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee_Jay Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 Thanks for the welcomes and advice everyone - it's been a great help and makes me think that I'll go with my plan of getting a couple of pure breeds to go with my two hybrid girls. Hybrids in my experience are more prone to egg laying problems such as egg binding and peritonitis, because they have been bred to churn eggs out on a daily basis. I know what you mean on this Egluntyne, my Amber Lee became egg bound last year and it took some time to sort her out. I persevered with warm water baths, massage and anti-biotics and she pulled through and is now back to her old self and laying well but there were times when I didn't think she'd pull through. I'll let you know how things go with the newbies when I get them. Thanks again all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee_Jay Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 Well I've now made my decision... I spoke to Sue at the Wernlas Collection today (thank you for the tip Redwing) and she was really helpful and gave me some great advice on the merits of pure breeds v hybrids. She was also able to help with which breed to go for so I'm decided on 1 Light Sussex and 1 Buff Sussex. Once the weather has improved we're going up to Shropshire to collect them. Watch this space... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Well done, lovely choices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Nice chickens Look forward to hearing about the collection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 They are great at Wernlas, my 4 girls from there are beautiful, and I wouldn't hesitate to get more girls from there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 I've recently introduced a Cream Legbar and a Marans (from Wernlas) to my 2 hybrids. The hybrids were pretty agressive towards the newbies, and I did have to separate them for a few weeks. They are all together now. The legbar has laid her first 4 eggs in the past week, so is a star in my eyes (as well as being very pretty). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
