sparkysmum Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Arghhhhhhhh don't know what to do. Since we have had 4 months without an egg we had decided to go for a couple of egg laying hybrids and had pretty well settled on white leghorns. Pretty looking hens & white eggs would be novel for us. Or maybe Bluebelles Then tonight we received an e-mail from the BHWT to say that there was going to be a rescue next weekend & would we like some more ex batts. Well you can imagine the indecision. We now have to decide ex batts now, white leghorns at some stage or stay as we are..................please help us decide. Alli xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Either would be nice. Exbatts will nee a bit more tlc in cold weather Leghorns are pure breeds so may well stop laying over winter. The hybrid leghorn type bird is known as a White Star, White Daisy etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I had two characterful leghorns, they are quite flighty and could fly high ( they were always escaping) but good layers and fun to watch. Not easy to catch. A hybrid white star is a good idea best of both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I got two Snowbelles last year, white hybrids laying white eggs, Marshmallow has laid all winter just missing the odd days but Daisy has not laid for ages They are both very flighty, I can't get near them unless they are asleep Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Ex batts! So sweet and characterful...and so rewarding. I've had virtually an egg a day from each of mine since getting them. Maybe longer term not the most economical option but I get a free daily good feeling when I see them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Id go Ex-Batt too. Miss mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Ex batts Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 Aww thanks for your replies folks. Our hearts say ex batts too & it feels better. However I do feel it's a tad too cold for them right now - it's still frosty & icy here. So I'll e-mail the co-ordinator to say "yes please but later" Thanks as always, Alli xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I deliberately didn't choose White Leghorns when I went to choose my girls as all of that breed were in another field - they were getting there by flying up onto a high wall and hopping over . Ex-batts it is, then . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandwhite Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Well I've got a white leghorn and a bluebell. Yes the leghorn is crazy but she doesn't try and escape and has laid well even when it was freezing. Also very amusing to watch as never still and is now quite easy to catch and very calm when picked up (initially we did have to chase her). Our bluebell, Phoebe, is lovely and although she stopped laying after moulting for a few weeks started again when it snowed, don't thinks she wanted to be outdone. And they get on really well together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 I would love it if our ladies (not the bantams) flew into the field behind us. We might have a half decent garden again I guess the leghorns can wait meantime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I'd say if you want eggs , go for hybrid leghorns. We have a rescue hen called "Snowy" who has laid every day except for three days since Easter when we adopted her (she was over a year old when we first had her). We now also have another white hybrid leghorn, "Icy" who is 30 weeks old and she has quickly got into full egg production, again an egg every day. They are both quick on their feet, but both are picked up each day and the trick is to train/gentle them with a little cup of wiggly live mealworms. Rattle the cup and they're obedient! They will sell their soul for mealworms. They can easily out-run our ex-bats for mealworms. Neither fly anywhere, they jump on the table in the Walk In Run and jump on the perches 4 foot off the ground, but I wouldn't say they fly at all. Their eggs are large size 70g and have good shells and large yolks. And Snowy always has a splendid conversation to tell me about ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
