Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Sageandonion]

Just wondering if anyone has bought chooks from Chalkhill Farm Poultry, on the border of Hampshire/Wiltshire, and if so would they recommend them? Just seen their website and they have a variety of pure breeds/ hybrids.

 

Many thanks.

[karlotta]

I have bought lots of chooks and eggs there and all have been totally fine! They have some lovely birds!

[Sageandonion]

Thanks Karlotta - they are a little way from me, but sounds like it would be worth the trip

[Patricia W]

I ordered two silver laced Polands from them last year - and they let me down in the end. So I've not bothered with them since. Not far from them is Wyle Valley Chickens - where I had superb service.

[Sageandonion]

Thanks for your reply Patricia - will have a look at them too

[miller30]

Hi i went there for buff orpingtons i was told they were 98% at sexing their birds so bought 2x 6 week old pullets that both ended up being cockerals i rehomed then to a farm when they were 5 months old i was gutted as i was very attached to them i then rang up and had a moan at alex and nick who own chalkhill and got 2 replacments for free which my partner went and collected couldnt believe it when i opened the box to find 1 cockeral and 1 pullet you gotta laugh phoned again and told them they had given me another cockeral they asked if i was sure and i said by now i am an expert with buff boys and i was 200% sure told them it was over an hours drive which i was not willing to do again so nick came and collected the cockeral from my house a week later on his way to hayling island and switched for a rather old but lovely hen who was named grandma as she looked a bit of a mess as she was moulting i know people will think im mad but apart from all the hassel of the sexing i would go back as there is nothing wrong with his birds he just cant sex orpingtons not sure about other pure breeds but you should be safe with hybrids leanne.

[Sageandonion]

Aww that's a shame as I'd really like a buff orpington - I may just have to borrow you Leanne, if i go there, to ensure I come home with a pullet

[Valkyrie]

We went there, but much preferred Wylye Valley. Our first lot came from there and then we had eggs for our broody. Fleur is very Omlet friendly, very enthusiastic and her birds are well cared for. Her breeding birds have saddles for protection and it's all very clean.

 

http://www.wylyevalleychickens.co.uk/index.htm

 

It's not too far from Chalk hill. To be fair he'd only just bought the place but the birds were kept in small pens and the poor girlies had very sore backs. The little piggies running round were cute - I think he breeds Tamworths.

[miller30]

His birds are still in small pens and the girls backs are bold i wouldnt by adult birds from him but would growers he told me from september to febuary he puts all the cockerals together and all the girls seperate and they run free on his land to recover from breeding leanne.

[breeder 1]

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[Mollie333]

I always ask if any ones been to certain poultry's on here, since i have other birds, and don't want to travel miles and miles to find birds in not so good condition, so i understand why shes asking. And like she said it is far from her, so you can't just 'look for yourself'.

[breeder 1]

post removed by the moderating team.

[Plum]

Don't think she was moaning just telling the story and said she'd go back.

[jackie45]

I cannot make any comments about Chalkhill Farm but it does point up the problems of finding reliable and good stockists. My first 3 hens were delivered to me ("Ooops, word censored!"ody in for the appointed time at farm) but it was only later that day we realized that one hen had a deformed foot. Because of the distance we never went back. The hen, by the way is great . The next 2 hens we got from Durham Hens having seen the name on the omlet site.This was totally different, most of the hens were free-range so we could pick what we wanted.Very good atmosphere and very helpful people.