Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[andyjanec]

Hi all, new here.

I will be getting hens for the first time in June/July (really excited)! Have been doing a bit of research about which breeds to get but would appreciate some advice from those that are in the know.

We have small children and would like at least a couple of decent egg layers. Will be getting 3 or 4 to start with, and I love the look of the Orpington but understand that these aren't very good layers.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Mollie333]

Hi.

I reccomend getting Pekin Bantams, or hybrids.

Pekins make very good pets and are very friendly, but they lay small eggs,

gingernut ranger hybrids are very good layers and quite friendly, i find that the pekins are definatly friendlier..

also you could get some ex batt hens which can be good layers, and you will give them a secand chance in life. BUt whatever you decide to choose,

Good luck on your lil guys.

 

Mollie333.

 

Three Pekin Hens, Ethel,Dierdre,Blanche

Two Pekin x Silkie Hens, John & Edward

Two Hybrid Hens, Betty & Rita

Two Female Rabbits, Abbie & Lucy

One Black Turkey Hen, Cheryl

[Redwing]

Pekins and Wyandotte bantams are both nice, docile and friendly

 

Any pure breed will only lay reliably through spring, summer (when not broody) and most of autumn before slowing or stopping for the winter

 

Welsummer, Sussex and Marans (large or bantam) will be quite reliable layers

 

Polands and Faverolles seem to be good-ish winter layers but Polands have certain care needs

 

Hybrids will lay all year round for a couple of years slowing a bit in the second or third winter, they dont live as long though

[andyjanec]

Thanks, I had a sussex on my list. A friend of mine has 3 Pekin bantams and they are really poor layers (but maybe that's just hers)!

Really stupid question, but how long do they live (purebreed and hybrid)?

Also liked the look of Rhode Island Reds, but these might be too big for our needs.

[Redwing]

Hybrids can live p to 4 years or so if you are lucky

 

Pure breeds maybe 7 years or so

 

 

You can get Rhode Island Red and Sussex bantams they still lay an ok size egg

[Falkor]

Ohhhh another Cambs to be chook owner!

 

**waves**

 

All good advice above - although I seem to have had problems deciding which breeds to choose so have one or two of most of the breeds mentioned

[Cooks]

a wave from me too there seems to be a lot of us Cambridgeshire people lately.. woohoo we're taking over!

 

I have a Black Rock (gorgeous tame loving girl, my favourite, HYBRID)

2 orpingtons very large girls

1 skyline

1 bluebelle

and out of all those I would say the orpies and the black rock are the most cuddly but the orps being very large might be hard for youngsters to pick up.

[joza2210]

I Would say pekins

 

They are really friendly and are ok egg layers (I get 5 a week off mine)

It is quite a small egg though

 

Also if you wanted to be a bit more exotic You could go for frizzle pekin (They are just amazing)

 

Good Look

[tom123]

Why not go for a mix?

 

Rhode Island Red bantams are lovely, friendly and fantastic layers. I am getting 10-12 a week from 2 hens.

 

Pekins are very friendly and easy to handle but aren't the best of layers and do go broody in the summer which can be a pain.

 

Wyandotte bantams are a mix between the previous two! Stunning colours, friendly, broody, quite a few eggs & easy to handle.

 

Tom

[Verity F]

I'm a Pekin girl, through and through! They're super-friendly, easy to handle and always up to something.

 

Although my three are probably total freaks of nature - they've been laying their feathery socks off since they first started in December! I'm giving away 6-12 eggs a week because we just can't get through them

[Egluntyne]

I've met Verity's girls. They are delightful.

 

I have three Pekins of my own, and they are real characters. Always busy.

[andyjanec]

Thanks all for your advice. Looking forward to joining your ranks soon

[Janty]

I love pekins too. I've got 11 in various colours and they are real little characters.

 

 

P.S. Yes, I may have acquired 6 more during the past 6 days.

 

[CluckyBucks]

I have a Sussex and shes lovely i also have two silkies and their just plain daft

 

Good luck!

 

xx xx