4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[chuckmum6]

Has anybody been to The Domestic Fowl Trust at Honeybourne? Is it worth a visit, I'm having a day out tomorrow and wondered what is there?

[percy049]

you could request a brochure off the website. I think it is really good there, and I would love to go!

[Redwing]

A short answer... Not it's not.

[Purplemaniacs]

A short answer... Not it's not.

That was a short answer

 

May we ask why not?

 

Chrissie

[chuckmum6]

A short answer... Not it's not.

Why?

[scarlettohara]

From what I've heard their chickens are pants and they don't approve of eglus

[101fc]

I went yesterday with the kids and loved it. They have loads of different pens of poutlry as well as goats, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs. COuldn't drag the kids away from the soft play area and chicks.

 

Just because the don't approve of eglus doesn't mean its a bad place to visit

[The Dogmother]

I agree with Tasha, last time I went, the chickens were standing in about a foot of filth and there were rats everywhere

[goodinparts]

Glad to say I think it's rather better than that now, Claret & Redwing. We went in the autumn, and things looked pretty well OK (though I didn't, obviously, get a chance to look inside the chicken houses, the runs were clean and no sign of rodents about the place)...More grass to enjoy than my girls get, that's for sure....though, paying heed to your warnings, I wouldn't buy from there (which is a pain, as they are probably my closest supplier of a wider range of birds)

But we enjoyed our day - let's hope they are working to make things better.

[Jools]

They have had some very bad press but I've never been so I can't comment. Here's hoping they've learned that it's bad business and have been cleaning up their act.

[..lay a little egg for me]

We got our wooden coop and first 4 chickens from them in 2008 and had no problems at all. The coop is very well made and well thought out and the chickens have been fine. One is still laying, two have died of old age and one is in retirement. However we got our next chickens from Newland Poultry which is nearer us (and did not exist in 2008) and have a better range of birds. I would recommend Newland Poultry to anyone. Perhaps not the cheapest but really nice people. Plus they have loads of eglus which they use to board chickens while people are on holiday so they are definitely eglu-friendly!!

[The Dogmother]

I hope that they manage to get it sorted as they usually have a lovely range of chooks to look at.

 

Lewis and I often bump into the lady at shows and she's always very chatty... provided that you don't mention eglus

[chuckmum6]

Thanks everyone, I went to Wales instead - no chickens to see but still a lovely day!

[Martin B]

I would not not not not not go to this place it is disgusting.

 

Like previously said the chickens are sloshing around in absolute filth. You will need a protective mask for the sale room due to all the dust.

 

I did work experience there when I did my GCSE's and they only collect the eggs from the hens once a week. In one of the coops there was a carcass, not a fresh one. Literally just the bones with no flesh on. There are rats and mites galour.

 

Much better places to visit than this!!

[Leicester_H]

Hi

 

I have been twice - and been pleased - I simply don't recognise these bad descriptions of the place - were the bad visits all a long time ago ?

 

In winter the out side was a bit muddy - but not a problem, certainly no rats !!

When dry, its GREAT to walk around.

 

I don't recall the shop being dusty ?

 

H

[Plum]

I believe the owner was sick for a time a year or two ago

[Chortle Chook]

I'm glad I saw this as, although the Domestic Fowl Trust is quite far from me, I was planning on persuading OH to go with me on a day off. Newland Poultry is about as far away, I think, and is where I get my Garvo food from so think I'll be going there instead. However if people have gone to the DFT recently and agree with Hazel then do post here as it seems that their reputation needs saving urgently.

[goodinparts]

As I'd said further up the thread, when we visited in October we had a lovely day, all the girls looked fine, no mud and, though we didn't peer inside the houses, the runs looked well maintained and we didn't see a single rat....I really enjoyed myself there and was very sad when I posted on here and was advised not to buy hens from there. I think they may WELL have done a turn around

[Redwing]

There is a review on Tripadvisor that says someone bought a chicken from them in March this year and it was riddled with lice

[Space Chick]

I wouldn't go there also I have found the staff to be arrogant at shows (speaking as I find) although I was wearing an Omlet fleece so that may have had something to do with it

 

Newland Poultry is a fab place to go to, as is Wernlas

[Lesley]

We go regularly as the shop is good. I agree that a year or so ago it had a deserved bad reputation but this year it certainly seems a lot better. We went through to the back to see the chicks and all the outside pens looked a lot cleaner.

 

I was going to have some chicks but during my chat with a young lad (the owner was away at a show) I found out that they had lost their Welsummers to a fox and were buying more in. I bought some of the new Welsummers two weeks ago and have kept them isolated - they seem very healthy and are doing well. I wouldn't normally buy POL hens from them as I don't like to see them in the cages.

[Lewis]

Lewis and I often bump into the lady at shows and she's always very chatty... provided that you don't mention eglus

We met the lady at The National last year (2009) and she was really rude but have seen her a few times again since then she's been friendly and I think the whole place seems to have changed. They have a few little bits that other places don't seem to have... as said before their catalogue is a good nose

She's also on twitter and seems nice enough on there too.

 

Saw Lesleys Welsummers last weekend and they looked good to me.

 

Seems opinions have changed for the better recently so hopefully they realised what was wrong and have made changes

[The Dogmother]

Yes, hopefully - that place has potential. I shan't bother making the journey again though.

[Clash City Rocker]

I bought my Light Sussex "Pogo" from the Domestic Fowl Trust in February 2008. She is still laying today.

 

If your in the Worcestershire area there is a place called Goulds Poultry at Pinvin, less than 10 miles from the Domestic Fowl Trust. I've visited them a few times and they're really good.

 

http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/poultry-suppliers/breeder.php?no=170

[101fc]

I went to Gould LIfe and found the lady very rude and unhelpful.

 

I think people need to make decisions based on their own experiences rather than what they read on the forum or internet. IMO people generally only write about bad experiences never good.

 

I had a fantastic time when I visited and will definitely be going again and again