Parsley Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I have just spent a wonderful couple of hours in the middle of a very muddy and cold field with a very nice man and his small flock of Sulmtalers. These are a relatively unknown breed in this country but are absolutely gorgeous. He has a cockeral called Jasper and about 6 hens who have not had a great deal of human contact over the winter months but are completely hand tame, even to a stranger like me, and very curious. The cockeral is laid back, and very, very handsome. The breed has a bit of Dorking in them from the past so his tail is magnificent. The girls are a cream and wheat colour with a little cream tuft on their heads. As you can probably tell I am smitten and have reserved a couple of his chicks, just hatched yesterday - aaahh! (I may well increase this number and wonder if I could get away with a son of Jasper ) The website is www.horstedhens.com although I don't think the pictures on it do the birds justice. I have taken loads of photos, some hopefully will be in focus as I had trouble with the hens peering down the lens up close. Once I work out how to post them I'll put them on if anyone is interested? I also met his Silkies, Welsummer and Araucana as well as some huge large fowl Orpingtons and a beautifully marked Silver Grey Dorking. I am not in any way connected to these people having never met until today but would urge anyone to consider this breed. The couple James and Katherine are very helpful and will give you all the details about the breeding lines etc which went straight over my head as I had a handful of dried mealworms and a charming audience of ladies. Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 What amazing looking chickens. How old will they be before you can take them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Hi Plum I will be getting mine at 8 to 10 weeks as it is still quite early in the year and they will have to go straight outside. However, James reckons they can sex at about 3 weeks so if you had facilities to bring on the chicks, you could have them earlier. The week old chicks were very active and even the day olds kept rushing out from under their heat lamp to have a look and then rushing back under again. I have bored my OH rigid tonight and am very excited to have my ladies reserved Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 These will definitly be the next Omlet must have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 oooohh they are soooooo pretty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Now they are gorgeous.............just about 500 miles too far tho' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Can't wait to see yours and here how you get on with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Oh beautiful, well found!! They're so elegant..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Ooh, I'm thinking of getting a Sulmtaler too... the breeder I got my Auracana's from in Devon has them & I've fallen for their tufty little hairdo's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I'd been thinking about getting Sulmtaler hatching eggs but I think they only have the bantam version and not the LF. They look a very lovely breed. Hope you get on well with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Pretty little chooks! Does anyone have access to a Flash editor by any chance? I love the font that they've used for their main text (thebit that styarts with "We are hobby breeders..." on their home page, and i'd like to know what it is. The page source info tells me what the header ("Welcome to Horsted Hens") and "contact" text fonts are, but they are not the same as the main text on that page (the "W" from the "We" is very distinctive). Hazel EDITED TO ADD - Found a free trial of a Flash decompiler, so I've now got the info I needed/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
