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[peckingham palace]

Ok, this is a very serious question, have 6 ladies from Omlet, 3 gingernut rangers and 3 Miss Pepperpots. Just looking on Raw Green Cottages website and seen some lovely white stars! Has anyone any experience of these lovely looking chickens and do you think it would be selfish of me to add 2 to my flock of ladies, just to add colour and variety you understand?

 

Oh yes just to let you all know we got our first 4 girls only 2 weeks ago today and by the Saturday of that week we had to have 2 more. We have enough room so what do you all think? Am I a hopeless case or is there a cure. Was looking on t'internet last night at smallholdings to - any cures available I'm sure DH would be happy man.

Edited April 16, 2011 by Guest

[Purplemaniacs]

I have two snowbelles which looking at the description of the white stars, sound very similar.

 

Our two are about a year old, still very flighty, don't like to be held but lay lovely large white eggs most days. They are smaller than my other hybrids but are very quick

 

If you have the room I would go for it

 

Chrissie

[SteveC]

Hi there. We have a White Star who is lovely - she is very pretty and dainty (I saw them described as a dainty 'ballerina' hence her name) particularly as she has just started laying (very good contrast between the white body and red comb/wattles). She is very inquisitive and friendly, but can be quite fast if she doesn't want to be caught and started off a little nervous. She soon settled down though so that my little lad can stroke her even without feeding from the hand. She produces really white eggs too. Of our 4 girls I think she is actually my favourite. Hope that helps!

[Duncan08]

I think I am a little addicted too!We started with 2 and had to get another 2 the next weekend!

We added a White Star and a Bluebell to our Omlet Pepperpot and Gingernut.

 

Our White Star is a beautiful girl, lovely plumage, long slender legs, gorgeous big white eggs.

Personality wise, I think she is a little brighter than the other girls, and she is a little more aloof, she "allows" you to stroke her and pick her up when she feels like it, she is a great addition to the family and it is good to have the variety.

[Duncan08]

P.S. Don't start reading the Duck forum I have just been reading it whilst having my lunch, a couple of ducks would be lovely wouldn''t they

[peckingham palace]

I think I am a little addicted too!We started with 2 and had to get another 2 the next weekend!

We added a White Star and a Bluebell to our Omlet Pepperpot and Gingernut.

 

Our White Star is a beautiful girl, lovely plumage, long slender legs, gorgeous big white eggs.

Personality wise, I think she is a little brighter than the other girls, and she is a little more aloof, she "allows" you to stroke her and pick her up when she feels like it, she is a great addition to the family and it is good to have the variety.

 

 

Thanks for the advice, did your Gingernuts and Pepperpots accept your white star OK, I want everyone to be happy and no-one to be stressed?

 

.....ducks, now there's a thought!!!!! Someone call a paramedic for my husband!

Edited April 15, 2011 by Guest

[Duncan08]

Our White Star was the same age as the Omlet girls, just past point of lay, she was already laying when we picked her up. She was accepted immediately and is still jostling our Gingernut for the top spot. Bluebell is younger, not yet laying and she is the one who has had a hard time, I think she will be bigger than the rest of them soon and will get her own back.

Vanilla, (the White Star) seems to be more self assured than the others, not sure if that is just her personablity or to do with the breed.

 

Maybe if you get a young lady who has just started laying she will integrate a little more easily (Or else get two POL .)

 

I am not brave enough to mention the ducks to hubby yet, but he has taken to the chickens admirably

[Henergy]

Did you all just pop them in & let them get on - or did you go for more slow integration ?

 

I'd love to add soon but would love to just do it quickly & not have to build / buy /borrow extra house etc !

[peckingham palace]

Did you all just pop them in & let them get on - or did you go for more slow integration ?

 

I'd love to add soon but would love to just do it quickly & not have to build / buy /borrow extra house etc !

 

When I got my second 2 ladies, albeit only a couple of days after the first 4, I popped them in the cube, opened the door and let them wander down to meet the others as if they had always been there. Gave them a quick spray with anti peck stuff first just in case. I was thinking of getting 2 POL white stars from Raw Green Cottages - maybe this weekend if can talk husband into it - though he does seem quite keen overall on the chickens - he talks to them in chicken I was hoping as everyone else is only 2 weeks ish in, another 2 would just settle in quite quickly too, what does everyone else think?

[Duncan08]

We picked the new two up one week after getting the first two.

We put them in the dog crate for the day next to the Chicken run, so they could eyeball each other.

At bedtime when our first two went to bed we popped in the new two.

So far so good......

Next day was awful, Vanilla the White Star was fine, settled in immediately, but did nothing to help her old mate bluebell in fact she joined in on the bullying, two of them had her pinned in a corner!.

My dad was on duty with a cane to shoo them away and to make sure she got to eat and drink.

That night we rigged up a separate compartment in the run from some wire netting and garden canes so Bluebell was "in" with the girls but not available for pecking!

At night we put them all in bed together.

Did this for a couple of days, Bluebell was very miserable at being on her own. When I got in from work I put Pepper in with Bluebell, Pepper had only joined in bullying when the others did she never instigated anything.

We did this for 2 days, next day took out all the barracade and let them loose together. Bluebell dressed in a healthy dose of Purple spray and anti peck spray. Grandad on guard with the hose!

It has been 11 days now,since the new girls came, Bluebell is still an "outsider", but is starting to hold her own. She will join in the fight to eat corn and green beans out of your hand, but will go into the house to get out of the way, each day she stays out a little longer.

It has been awful to watch but the forum has been a big help, and reassure you that you are doing the right thing.

 

They say 2 to 3 weeks to settle down, and so far our experience is looking as though that will be the case.

 

I do love chickens though, totally converted, wish I had done it years ago.

[52fish]

If considering buying from Jody at Raw Green, I have to say she's the most helpful breeder we came across. The chickens are well cared for and there's a lovelly choice. We'd definitely recommend Raw Green.

[peckingham palace]

If considering buying from Jody at Raw Green, I have to say she's the most helpful breeder we came across. The chickens are well cared for and there's a lovelly choice. We'd definitely recommend Raw Green.

 

 

I was hoping to go this weekend but dont seem to be able to get hold of her

[peckingham palace]

I have cured the morehens this weekend, bought 2 white stars and 1 white sussex. Bit of mardiness going on and some squawking but hopefully things will settle down. Lots of wing flapping and the odd rearing up but hoping this will settle in a wee while