happy_monday1984 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Hello! This is my first post on this forum and my first foray into chicken-keeping! I have a (fried) eglu and run on the way and am contemplating which lovely breeds to stock it with. I've wanted to keep hens for years so this is all a bit over-exciting!! I'm fairly set on keeping 3 pure breeds, and am considering the following: silkies, wyandottes, faverolles, marans and light Sussex. Are any of these not suitable for eglu-life? Would any of them not get along together? They will have access to a classic eglu,4 meter run (although only constrained to this ~2 days per week when neither myself or OH are home) and free range over most of the garden when we are around to keep an eye on them. Also, does anyone have any reccommendations for breeders in the S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire area? Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I haven't heard of a breed the eglu isn't suited to. Over the years I have housed in my Eglu Classic (not all at the same time though): X-batts Silkies Legbars Pekins Japanese Bantam Orpington Barbu d'Anvers Poland Araucana Sultan Frizzle No recommendations for breeders in your area, sorry. I've got a Fried Egglu arriving in a few days too :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Welcome to the forum. I have only had hybrids and ex batts so far but I think most breeds are ok in an eglu unless they are very large girls. The size of the run tends to be the issue. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Your list of breeds is fine the only birds really not suited to Eglu living are very large such as large fowl orpingtons or brahmas and very tall breeds like malays Silkies and faverolles are more prone to being bullied because their restricted vision makes them easy targets but that is not a reason not to get them you just need to be vigilant and keep an eye on things An eglu with 4m run is fine for four chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I have silkies and hybrids in eglus and a cube - the hybrids can all go in together when they're the same age - but I wouldn't put my silkies in with them as they bigger chooks do tend to pick on them and lunch on their feathers so they have their own eglu and run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Congrats on the eglu coming Not to confuse matters but have you considered pekins? I love my little ones they are such great characters and you could have more than 4 in your set up as they are small. Having said that maybe you could go for a mixture. As others have said though look out for bullying if they are different sizes or ages. I have 3 huge cochin in with bantams and they get on fine but i think this was because the bantams were an established flock before I added the cochins. Oh and I would probably avoid cochins in the eglu too, although 2 may be ok I guess. Looking forward to pics of whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Hello and welcome to the forum. I have 4 different bantams and am quite new to chicken keeping. When I was first deciding, I had a huge list of breeds. I read as much as I could on each breed to decide which would be best for me and then went to see some as well to be sure. I find this forum is brilliant for all sorts of help and advice. Practical Poultry lists breeders by area so if you can get a copy of that it may be worth a look. Also, you could try the breed club for the breed(s) you like. Be warned though, you may find that you set out to get one breed and come back with a totally different one because they caught your eye! That is how I ended up with a Serama which wasn't on my list. She is my favourite though Once you get your chickens, don't forget to post pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_monday1984 Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 Thanks everyone for your advice! It's really great to have all of this friendly expertise on hand I'll update with pictures of my ladies (*almost* decided on salmon faverolle, gold laced Wyandotte and either a light Sussex or silkie, agh, decisions decisions...) when they're all home and settled in! Can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Lovely choice of breeds Why not have all of them in bantam? 6 bantams would probably be fine in a 4m run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 A selection of different breeds would be fun. The only thing to take care of, is which breeds get on with which. For instance Silkies are often best kept on their own or with other gentle breeds. So they would probably be fine with Faverolles and even Wyandottes but I'm not sure they would go with Sussex and I'd not put them with Marans. As pips-pekins says, you can't do better than to go somewhere you can actually see different breeds, before making up your mind as the books don't always give a good idea of how big some breeds can be. I was amazed when I saw my first Orpington. I had no idea they could be so huge Also there will be some colours that you suddenly really love and others that leave you cold. Whatever the case, if you are at all like most of us on this forum, you will soon increase your collection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_monday1984 Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 Yes, I am almost 100% sure I will change my mind as soon as I get to the breeder's- and thanks for info r.e. Silkies, I'll be sure to bear that in mind. Zakjon-98 As tempting as the idea of 6 bantams is, I'm not sure my OH would be as keen! It is tempting though, isn't it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilybetbee Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I bought my hybrids(Black rocks) here http://www.storrspoultry.co.uk/index.php about 5 years ago, but they also have pure breeds. There are a couple of places at Wessington, near Crich, it depends whereabouts you are in Derbys/Yorks. I'm west of the Pennines so have used suppliers in Cheshire too. Breeders listed by county here. http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/poultry-suppliers/poultry-suppliers-england.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I have a few diferent girls ranging from tiny =peeking to large=cochin i have 2 silkies mop and fransis and they are both top choks they are both great with me and the kids but do rule who dose what in the garden . My peekings jelly and bean are great little girls they are bottom of the P,O but so friendley and cute , I do keep the floor of the run filed with straw as lots of my girls have feet feathers and this keeps them less muddy if i can keep them in the walk in run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Hi i am a newbie and dont have my chooks yet,just making some finishing touches to my walk in run..my question is how many chickens would you say would be ok to keep in hear..its 12foot by 10foot...dont know if you can see in the pic clearly its an old pond area that i thought would be a great idea so it does have an empty pond there,i was thinking of using it as a digging area ? can any1 tell me what would i use ? i was just thinking sand and dirt but like i said im very new to all this ? the muddy areas in there (if you can see) im growing grass in them,dont know if that will last though going on what some people say on hear lol im really looking forward to keeping chickens and i hope my idea of the run is a good 1...look forward to any help and advice what so ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Photo didnt come up...how do i get a pic on please ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Hello Tracey, I think you need to have put a few posts before you can add pictures but the mods will know more. Without having seen the picture, an empty pond with lots of dried earth will be a chickens' delight I'm not certain how many chickens you can get in the space available, but I would certainly recommend not filling to capacity at the start as you are bound to want more chickens later on of different breends / colours. It seems that Morehens disease strikes us all sooner or later Why not just start with 2 or 3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Thank you ckeaky chook..haha just see your name ..i was thinking 3 or 4 cos ive got 3 kids and they are all saying they want to name 1 ive added more things to the run now ive put wooden poles in the tree trunk and also and old tree branch cemented into 1 of the pots thats in there oooohhhh i wish i could put a pic on lol the run is 6ft high aswell..i cant wait to get them ...so shall i just use dirt or with a bit of sand in it ? i dont know why im thinking this is any better lol and its all concrete so what do you suggest i use on the floor ? thanks for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 If I worked it out right, you've got about 10sq m, so you could fit about 10 hens in there at a push... saying that I'd do as cheaky chook says and start with around 3/4 hens. I'd just fill the pond with mud/dirt... I put sand in the dust bath and they avoid it and just use soil in the garden instead! In the run I use hard wood chips (can get it from b+q or local tree surgeon) Best to avoid bark chips. I think you can post photos now, have a read of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Hi sorry thank you for trying to help but thats sooooo cunfusing lol ive got the pics on facebook is there a way i can get them from there ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 haha, you could set the privacy of the album to public (so non friends can see it) and post the link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 haha, you could set the privacy of the album to public (so non friends can see it) and post the link Brilliant thank you i will try that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150300225769525&set=a.441986839524.219278.611724524&type=1&theater hope this is right lol DONT THINK ITS WORKED lol Edited August 30, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 hmm nope can't see it, not sure if you copied the link right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 hmm nope can't see it, not sure if you copied the link right caaant do iiiiiiit lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheaky Chick Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
