Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[luggage16]

Hi

Im new to the forum, and to chicken keeping. We have just ordered the Eglu Go which is due to arrive on tuesday. We were planning on getting our chickens from Thornes as we'd heard such good things about them but it turns out they arent doing any bantams this year. We were hoping to get a speckledy and then 2 bantams, probably pekins. Does anyone know of any other places with a good reputation to get chickens from in herts or not too far (we are in stevenage)? Any other recommendations of nice happy friendly chicken breeds that would be good with kids? I dont want to get too big breeds as I cant help feeling they will look a bit cramped in the go and we really want 3 rather than 2. Any other suggestions?

 

Thanks

Sam

[Jools]

If you get yourself a copy of Practical Poultry magazine, you'll find a massive list of breeders at the back, sorted geographically to make it easy (and extremely tempting) to use. Alternatively, you can place "wanted" ads on the Practical Poultry forum as there are plenty of Pekin breeders there.

 

Enjoy your new obsession ...... urrrrrrrrm I mean hobby.

[luggage16]

lol! definately an obsession already! I've already warned my husband I want to upgrade to the cube in a year or 2 and my eglu go hasn't even arrived yet!

[The Dogmother]

Kerry Wilson out at Markyate has some lovely banties. She's a shower and judge and her details are usually in the back of Practical Poultry mag.

[Redwing]

I would get three bantams - one odd hybrid wouldn't be a good mx with two pekins

 

Perhaps a bantam that is patterned instead of a speckled hen? A cuckoo marans, a barred Wyandotte, silver Sussex or millefleur pekin maybe?

 

There are two pekin breeders near to you, I will pm what details I have

 

Kerry breeds Wyandottes and has the most beautiful silver laced ones amongst a few other colours - Wyandottes are super calm birds and mix with pekins fine

 

Other nice bantams are silkies, Frizzles and sussex

 

The only trouble with pure breed bantams is that they don't lay through the winter, also they do go broody but if the main motivation is to have them as pets you will be fine

[luggage16]

Yes our main aim is for them to be pets, though eggs will be a nice bonus! Will lok up those breeds - if you could pm me details of the breeders that would be fab! I love the silkies too - would they be ok in a garden? Are they more difficult than other breeds to keep?

Thanks

[Redwing]

Silkies are fine if you can keep them dry - clear shower curtain or some clear corrugated plastic over the run in the wetter colder months wouldbe good

 

As a newbie I'd avoid Polands as they get bullied by other breeds, plenty of people have no problems at all but it's not worth the risk if it's your first chook keeping experience

 

Another good place for bantams is The Birdhaus in Brackley, it's a bit of a drive but worth ringing Luci to see whatshe has

[Jools]

I'd recommend a Cuckoo Marans or Rhode Island Red bantam to go along with your Pekins as they're not prone to broodiness - at least that way you'll have one regular layer while the other two sit for their country! You know what, go for a Cuckoo Marans AND Rhode Island Red ....

 

The other "in praise of bantams" thing I'd say is that mine are much longer and more prolific layers than my Big Gals. For their first couple of winters they take a much shorter break, some as little as 6-8 weeks, whereas my BG's stopped last September and only restarted a couple of weeks ago.

[scarlettohara]

Alma on practical poultry has pekin chicks but these won't be ready until end April.

[luggage16]

ok one more question

if i got the extension for the run would the eglu go house 4 hens? if so could i do 2 bantams and 2 hybrids or would that be too much? I really want them to have enough space! They will be in the run unless we are in the garden and then they will have a small patch around the run that they can free range in. Just wondering about buying 2 now and 2 in a month or so? How awkward are introductions? I wouldnt be able to keep them seperate.

 

Im definately liking the idea of bantams of some sort

[Redwing]

I have kept four in a space that size, its do-able but really not ideal and I wouldnt do it again

 

Three hybrids or four bantams would be ok.

 

Get them all at once, introductions in a space that size would be a nightmare, you'd need a separate coop and run

 

Getting them on the same day but from different sources is ok

[luggage16]

thanks thats useful to know - i really dont want them too cramped so will stick with 3, even if all bantams.