Chicken boarders

[yogiwoods]

Well I have finally persuaded my OH to let me have some hens (taken over 12 months of pestering, but I wore her down eventually!!)

 

Picked up an Orange Eglu & Standard run and now have the eviable task of choosing my girls. This is where you all come in....

 

Torn at the moment between 2 x Hybrids or 3/4 Light Sussex Bantams, as there is a breeder nearby that sells both. The hybrids are gorgeous, but I've kind of fallen in love with the Bantams!!

 

I am aware that Hybrids can handle cats attention ( I have a rescue tabby whose soft as a marshmallow, but the neighbours have big boys). Can bantams?? They would only free range when we are in the house, but is it safe to let them out if there's cats about?

[sadietoo]

Welcome to the Forum..

I'm sure someone with much more experience will be along shortly...

my first two were Banties. (sort of ...one was a Silkie cross of some sort and the other was??) ...I'm not sure, but they were very small.. and gorgeous..Our cat was terrified of them although they were about a third of his size, but we were plagued by other moggies who thought they might try their luck (although fortunately no one ever did)!!!

 

I have to say for a first time Chook keeper they were quite challenging...mostly because they (but particularly the silkie) were broody so often...not that I was bothered about the eggs..I just hated the fact they didn't eat or drink without a lot of encouragement at those times,and they were also very flighty. Sadly I lost them both to the fox whilst a friend was chicken sitting..., an accident with the pin holding the eglu run door closed.

 

So this is a very longwinded way of saying that if you are a complete novice you might be better off starting with hybrids of some sort...they are robust and friendly...(and as you say probably that bit better at sticking up for themselves against the neighbourhood cats) but few chooks survive a fox attack and so if you have a known fox in the area, (or even if you don't), I would only free-range when you are actually in the garden with them... I lost a further hen to a fox in January and they were on their own in the garden for about 10 minutes only !!

Whatever you choose I am sure they will bring you loads and loads of pleasure..

[yogiwoods]

Thanks Sadie, Hybrids it is then!!

[Verity F]

Hello and welcome!

 

I have three Pekin bantams who are dinkier than the light sussex, and they have the neighbour's cat terrified to the point that it won't set paw in the garden ever. Their main hobby is bombing up and down the garden seeing off sparrows, and they'd probably have a go at the local jack russel too, if it dared to come in

 

If you're really worried and you're only going to let them free-range when you're home, you could (at first) keep watch armed with a water pistol, to see off any potential feline attention. A few swift squirts and the cats would lose interest...

 

The light sussex bantams are still a fair size for a bantam at about 780-800g, and are considered to be hardy, rarely broody and good for beginners.

 

Having said that, you're about to discover that every chicken is different and you never know what you're going to get behaviour/personality-wise! And no matter which ones you choose, you will be fretting and fussing over them (like the rest of us!)... and no doubt plotting how to convince the OH that having "just two more" chooks really wouldn't hurt... like the rest of us...

[chickinboy]

On a cat note - I was really worried about my two cats, together with the huge number of regular visitors getting to my girls. My two got pecked on the tail once very early on, and now take the longest and most difficult route to the house in order to avoid the chickens. It's quite amusing to watch. We had a big tom cat that used to visit - he once got a little too close to Big Fat Beryl the Bluebelle....I forced myself to not get up and scare him off, and to let Beryl do it for me (whilst being ready to get stuck in if it didn't go well)...she objected quite violently...he hasn't been back since. To be honest, with my lot, it's more likely to be my neighbours with the vets bill for an injured cat, rather than me!