kayemerton Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Hi all Well after a fabulous Sunday on a beginners course at Cotswold Chickens I am definitely steaming ahead (in my own slow and very OCD planned way! ) and planning for some chickens. I have hopefully sourced a Eglu and run off a fellow Omleter here which we should collect at the end of the month and then plan for some chickens! I have spoken to a few people on here about wanting Bantams and a type that would be suitable with children and also for a beginner like me (albeit I have a fair bit of experience with farm animals of many types over the years so have a fair understanding of animal science which hopefully should help!) Wyandotte Bantams has been recommended and I wondered if any of you kept some and could tell me a bit more about them? Any advice on breeders or anything really! I am based in Essex but we drove to Oxfordshire on Sunday without any problems so am prepared to travel to collect suitable hens. Just would be nice to hear about your experiences with the breed-thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 recommended? only in as much as they are the best yes! But I'm biased - my avatar is one of my cockerels They are calm, not bolshy as a rule, happy little birds with a 'proper' farmhouse shape They come in a huge array of colours too I know of a breeder on another foum who is based in Essex who has a few different colours of dotte bantams Let me know if you want the details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I love them they are very pretty birds and have lovely personalities. Their eggs are small but tasty, some of them can be persistent broodies, but do make very good mums. Collectable because of the beautiful range of colour - they are hardy birds and I love em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Very gorgeous, i have a silver laced girl, she's hyper, but gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Love my two, mad as babies but great now. Very hormonal when broody but only one has been broody so far, she's a scream. The other is my little darling. They are lovely to look at as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I knew that Redwing would be able to help with a contact K I love my 'dottes; lovely natures, pretty hardy, decent layers, not usually inclined to broodiness. Great for beginners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayemerton Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hi All Thanks so far for the advice-looks like the Wyandottes may be the way forward! I will PM you Redwing as definitely would be interested in contacting a breeder and going to have a good look. My only concern has always been the broodiness thing as like many people on here I have a job, a toddler to look after singlehandedly most of the time (OH works away), a dog and guineapigs on my list of To dos so dont want to be worrying about trying to get a chicken out of a trance! I also read somewhere that they can be quite flighty and not that friendly? Or is that total nonsense?! Goodness so many chooks to choose from have no idea where to start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm going for 3/4 hens which look completely different and lay different coloured eggs so I can tell who's done what Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hi AllThanks so far for the advice-looks like the Wyandottes may be the way forward! I will PM you Redwing as definitely would be interested in contacting a breeder and going to have a good look. My only concern has always been the broodiness thing as like many people on here I have a job, a toddler to look after singlehandedly most of the time (OH works away), a dog and guineapigs on my list of To dos so dont want to be worrying about trying to get a chicken out of a trance! I also read somewhere that they can be quite flighty and not that friendly? Or is that total nonsense?! Goodness so many chooks to choose from have no idea where to start! None of my 'dottes are flighty - the araucanas maybe but not the 'dottes. They are really easy to look after K; I manage on my own too and so long as you have a routine, it's realisable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 oooh I love a routine - what's yours? and what's 'flighty' for aracaunas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 They are calm, not bolshy as a rule, happy little birds with a 'proper' farmhouse shape They come in a huge array of colours too I looked after a pair for a friend for a while and I totally agree with Redwing. If I was starting again (I started this time last year) I'd go for Dottes due to their 'proper farmhouse shape'. There is something really satisfying about it and if, like I was, you are after 'real' chickens but need something small then Dottes would be just perfect. Now you just need to choose between all the different colours and feather patterns. There are lots and all so pretty so you would easily be able to get ones you can tell apart and name. (Don't ask me how I ended up with Silkies and Frizzles instead ...it is a long story hinging around convincing OH that I was not really getting chickens ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayemerton Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Ha ha thanks everyone, yes I agree Claret that routine is essential just want to make sure I am not taking on too much as dont want the hens to get neglected so want to plan as much as I can! Next plan is to post a pic of the garden and see what people advise regarding size, location etc! Was going to do it today but it hasnt stopped raining! I think that Wyandottes may well be the ones then! Plus they are utterly goregous looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Dottes are lovely, quiet nice natured girls I lost a gold laced girl this year but have a silver pencilled, choc, barred and choc barred... Fabulous birds, all bantams, but chunky bantams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 crikey -do you EVER have a non-broody moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Only one of my large quantity of dottes has been broody this year and it only lasted a day or so (although she was vile and madly hormonal during that day ) I think some colours are more prone to broodiness than others, buff and partridge seem to come out on top for broodiness with barred being probably the most unlikely to go broody To be honest Pekins are far worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Both my Wyandottes, one partridge bantam and one LF Blue laced, are prone to broodiness. The BL has been broody for over a month now, and I can't get her to snap out it even with the broody cage. They are gorgeous girls though, lovely natures and very beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I always think that the amount of fluff they have is a good indication of tendency to brood; pekins, silkies and orps are all good brooders and will sit on a bean if you put one in the nest none of my araucanas has ever gone broody, they are far too daft and I wouldn't trust them with a dead leaf, let alone to bring up chicks oooh I love a routine - what's yours? and what's 'flighty' for aracaunas? Araucanas are a bit like white stars; very scatty and not inclined to be at all cuddly, they'd rather eat their own toenails than be picked up and boy don't they let you know it! I just have a routine that fits into my day which is full of working full time, bringing up my daughter and caring for all the animals. I top up their feed and give fresh water every morning, let them out to free range, pop them back in the run later in the day, collect eggs etc. Once a week i clean them out and every 6 weeks or so the run gets a good fettling too; as with everything else, once you have a routine established it doesn't take much time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I have only had my new bantam wyandottes for a couple of weeks but they are super. They scurry about and are very fast, but one of them did escape today - mind you I think it was more fluke than skill and hope it doesn't happen again. They are very pretty and are getting friendlier each day - if I had to choose again I would choose wyandotte bantams. They lay the sweetest little eggs too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayemerton Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 Well I have contacted two breeders so am arranging to go and have a look and speak to them about Wyandottes, get a feel for them etc. Then we shall see! Am currently at the point where I am not sure whether we should just go for a walk in run or whether we should wait...so much to think about!! Wish our garden was perhaps just that little bigger-only the odd acre or two, not much to ask is it?! Then I could get my pony again too..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Have you tried Kerry Wilson in Markyate? She's not massively far away from you and has prize winning wyandottes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayemerton Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 Yes she is one of the ladies I am visiting! The other is Cathy at C&C bantams in Great Dunmow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Good, i had some birds from Kerry a few years back, they were lovely things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
