Little Clucker Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Today our Tikka has gone broody! (First time my OH has experienced the evil pancake chook of dooooom ) We want to hatch some babies for her as poorly Lemon may be on the way out soon and we need at least half a dozen worm-magnets We were just hoping for some advice on the best breeds to hatch at home as this will be the first hatch and my OH's first experience of the technical side of where they come from! Any boys will be reared and will end up on the table now I've done my course so we have no worries there, so I suppose a dual purpose would be best ... Any thoughts would be appreciated! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Sussex win hands down for me. The girls are productive layers (and broodies for more babies!!) and the boys make a good table bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Its quite late to hatch large fowl - they need a good three months of warm weather to give them a good start but if you have a sheltered area for them once the weather turns cooler then you should be ok, the boys will make meat weight next spring so you will get some crowing before they are ready Some dual purpose breeds: Faverolles Sussex Dorking Indian Game Welsh Black Marans Ixworths I quite fancy some Ixworths myself, they are supposed to be an excellent dual purpose bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 Hmm thanks for the suggestions... of course now OH has seen some Lemon Sablepoots he thinks look amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I treated myself to some Ixworth hatching eggs a week ago but sadly the broody I spent a week chucking out got the message the day the eggs arrived. Oh well, there's always next year and it is too late to be hatching and it was just a whim after reading the P P article, but you know how it goes. Indian Game make a great meat bird, but they're not the greatest layers. Although I love my Cuckoo Marans hens, the boys weren't as good eating as the Sussex. I've heard good things about Leghorn's Welsh Blacks, so I may well give them a go some time too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Hmm thanks for the suggestions... of course now OH has seen some Lemon Sablepoots he thinks look amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Not much meat on one of them but they are very nice little things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 Its just as well my OH is a skinny fella or sunday luch would be a little unfulfilling! Hmm just had another thought, Tikka, Dipper and Nugget always do everything together...pers iould get away with 3 lots.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Although I love my Cuckoo Marans hens, the boys weren't as good eating as the Sussex. I've found the opposite true, there was more meat on my cuckoo Marans boys than there is on any of the Sussex I've eaten. I might Ixworths and Indian Game next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted July 17, 2010 Author Share Posted July 17, 2010 Well the Sablepoot eggs arrived, very cute but so tiny! Dipper (not Tikka after all) is happily ensconced on her clutch and has that blissed out broody look So hopefully we should have some babies soon! Well...next month but still OH is very excited *fingers crossed for at least one girl!* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 OH is very excited I just hope he isn't hungry!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Sussex make the best dual purpose birds aparently. I've just hatched 4 yellow fluffy chicks. there lovely, but i know the fate of the boys.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted July 18, 2010 Author Share Posted July 18, 2010 I just hope he isn't hungry!! Seeing OH weighs 9 stone soaking wet I think I'd get away with it Although he's said he doesn't want to give the boys names until he's ok with them being destined for the freezer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 Well today we bought 6 day olds as the Sablepoot eggs haven't hatched So now Dipper is the proud mummy of 3 silver spangled hambergs and 3 black pekins we had tried candling the 'poot eggs and they seemed ok, did a post mortem on one and there was an almost full term chick inside, just not strong enough to make it all the way, OH was very upset and even Momma Dip singing chicken lullabyes to get her babies to sleep couldn't cheer him up Will try and post some pictures soon to play the "will I be a girl or boy?" game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
