kissinuk Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 We have decided that it is time to get a few more chickens for the garden, our last girl died in December and the purple eglu has stayed empty since. So, run & eglu have been cleaned, a 1 m extension & heavy duty cover have been ordered and now we just need the girls x3. I have decided that due to location we will be going to either Heidis Happy Hens, Mini Meadows Farm or West Lodge to get them, currently we're thinking along the lines of 3 hybrids to be chosen on the day (one is likely to be a White Star). However, I've noticed that Mini Meadows also have Cream Legbar's in stock, would these integrate well with 2 hybrids? Are they known to be harder work than hybrids (noisier, flightier etc)? Skylines are also available at Heidi's so would I be better just getting one of those and hope that shes lays a blue egg? I'm stuck between choosing between those 2, but I do like the look of the Cream Legbar. Any advice welcome, we live in the North Northants area so other breeders would also be considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softyandrosiearmy Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 My hybrid Columbian Blacktails are staying with my aunts hens (for their hols!) and they have Cream Legbars and they have been getting on very well. You can mix them but I just love hybrids because mine are so friendly and have loads of character!!! We nearly got White Stars too but they are quite flightly so we decieded again. Enjoy Henkeeping once more!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Good on you to be going back to hen keeping! How did you manage to wait so long? I bet you are excited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Legbars are great, our is a huge character (and our favourite girl shhh don't tell the others). She is a bit mad but a very friendly hen and she lays lovely blue eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted July 28, 2011 Author Share Posted July 28, 2011 Good on you to be going back to hen keeping! How did you manage to wait so long? I bet you are excited. Well I was planning a WIR a few months back but never got round to it, then we had a holiday coming up so that delayed it again. Very exicited, we are going to be choosing a hen each (me, wife and 5yr old daughter!). 5yr old wants a white one so she can call it Ice Cream mind you our last gingernuts were called Honey & Marmalade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Congratulations on taking the plunge again. White Stars lay beautiful white eggs. Our White Star (actually a White Ranger, same thing, different supplier) was the most wonderful friendly chicken. She wasn't to start with, at the beginning she lived up tot he reputation. We persevered with treats etc, and once she came into lay she became the friendliest chicken ever. Always ready to be picked up. (The fact that we trained them that every time they got picked up they got corn obviously had nothing to do with it). I also have a cream legbar, who is lovely to look at and lays a lovely blue egg. She's not particularly happy to be handled, except when she's broody, but that was down to us not handling her enough. Gorgeous colouring, funky hair do, and wild comb. Definitely worth adding to the flock if you've a mind to. I'm sure the skyline would be just as fab (just not a guarantee of a coloured egg). Have fun choosing, and don't forget to post pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Good to hear you are getting some new hennies! Yes white stars are beautiful, Willow is my baby, she really is a cutie and lily is lovely too - i would recommend them, however they may be white when you first get them but will end up with dusty brown bits where they have been sunbathing, so maybe explain to your 5yr old that on some occassions they may be chocolate ice cream!!!! Post some pics when you can xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Great about girlies again I had a white star who was a beautful little hen with a great personality and top chicken, sadly had to be pts last month. I have a skyline who lays lovely blue eggs but I'm sure she is part roadrunner as she will not be caught I got my last chooks, two cochins from Mini Meadows - they have loads of breeds to choose from. Have fun whatever you decide. Oh and now I have New York Groove going round my head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Legbars and white stars which are based on leghorns can be flighty, but if you get them young and handle them gently they should be fine. We had a very flighty white star, she was an excellent layer of china white eggs but she didn't like to be handled at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 Oh and now I have New York Groove going round my head That was the idea (the KISS version of course)!! I have just got off the phone with Westlodge who are very (very) close to me, they have just got delivery of the following from Meadowsweet:- Speckled Bluebelle Black star Sussex star Rangers I asked about White Stars and although they used to have them they are not advising them for gardens anymore as they can easily fly over a large fence! I know they are flighty but didn't realise it was that bad. With a road the other site of our 6 ft fence (+1 ft covered trellis), I'm not sure it would be such a good idea now?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 That was the idea (the KISS version of course)!! Is there any other version? Still have my blue vinyl copy. When I bought my whitestar home within 10 minutes she had done an 8ft vertical take off in the run and only got stopped by the roof so it was a bit nerve wrecking for a while! But like the other girls she soon got used to the fact that the food was on the ground so there was not much point in looking upwards any more. She still used to jump onto the patio table though. If you are worried then maybe best to choose something a bit lumpier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 Well, I spent this morning adding a run extension and a trip to Heidi's Happy Hens followed and this is what we got: an amber (my wifes & the smallest), light sussex (my daughters and by far the bossiest) & coucou (mine). Will post a write up of Heidi's Happy Hens later, but I definitely recommend them. Still deciding on a name for the coucou... Here's an early pic of them in the newly extended run: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 What beautiful chickens! They look so cosy in their purple set up. I'm no expert but is the cuckoo a reverse Sussex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 (edited) What beautiful chickens! They look so cosy in their purple set up. I'm no expert but is the cuckoo a reverse Sussex? Only just spotted your reply, sorry! No the Coucou is a Speckldy, I think the reverse Sussex is called a Pied (they also had them at Heidi's). They are all doing well btw, the wattle on my Coucou getting big, think she will be first. Amber now eats corn out of my hand, the others aren't so sure and prefer just to take any that she drops! Edited August 20, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Love the amber Soo white! The one in my avatar is now white with mud splattered all over her face, along with some red paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Love the amber Soo white! The one in my avatar is now white with mud splattered all over her face, along with some red paint Thanks, she is by far the tamest,eating from our hands. Sadly she also seems to be at the bottom of the pecking order! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
