sandyhas3chucks Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 After 4 years of broken hearted loving and caring I feel it would be nice to have a couple of posh birds as well as a few ex bats. I figure you guys are the most honest guys to ask, with experience.. I really like the idea of bringing up a couple of chicks, but the heartache of a cockerel would not be good. So my question is two fold. I think the term is auto sexing? So what breeds are there that are this AND are not bred to lay lay lay... (and the resulting complications that accompany this) oh dear.... AND are gentle nature and would likely mix well with the ex batties.? that was three fold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 There are two types of ways of instantly sexing chicks Sex linked which is where a genetically gold and a genetically silver pair are cross bred to get hybrid offspring, the modern hybrids are a super-dooper version of this but your average cross from back yard birds tend to produce a nice healthy hybrid there are a few enthusiasts about that do this crossing Autosexing birds are pure breeds in their own rights, they all end in 'bar' with the first part of the name denoting the breed they are trying to replicate and one of the ones used in their make up so: Welbar (Welsummer) Wybar (Wyandotte) Rhodebar (RIR) Cream Legbar (Leghorn but lays blue eggs) Gold Legbar (leghorn and lays white eggs) Barnebar (Barnevelder) Silbar (Silkie) Cream Legbars are probably the most widely available autosexing bird I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 The dilemma of unwanted cockerels remains ... you just get to spot them earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Redwing, are Silbars in every other way just like Silkies i.e. docile, fluffy, etc. ? sandyhas3chucks as Eglutine says if you go for eggs, then you'd still have cockerels even if you could tell they were boys as tinies. You probably need to find someone who has some small, hatched 'bar' chicks rather than eggs. Why not PM Redwing as I think she may be able to recommend a supplier of some little chicks though possibly not at this time of year. She would also be able to tell you what is needed in terms of things like heat lamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 You could get some sexed day old chicks of an auto sexing breed, to avoid the cockerel problem. I only have experience of Cream Legbars, and mine gets on well with my ex batts and lays beautiful blue eggs. She is quite flighty, which I think is characteristic of the breed, but otherwise a perfect little hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 thank you cheeky chook. I will but not yet.. I am on the "planning" researching stage. definitely no hatching for me... yes yes the chick is the way I would like to go. I do have 2 very old ex batties one coming up to 3 year Henniversay 6 Dec the other perhaps but due Feb...(all crossed for them) But had some less than a year, some just over a year, it just seems to be a constant flow of vets and Deaths and heartache this year. A couple of chickadees for my sanity perhaps... But as you say not till spring. Next research docile poor layer required (maybe no such thing) Want to thoroughly research this Thanks everyone I am taking everything in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Is there a section on here on vaccinations too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Chicks are a brilliant idea if you have the right set up for them when they are young, pick a seller that really knows their autosexing is clear as some strains have poor definition of the sexes The queen of docile poor layers has to be the Orpington, the bantam ones are a better size and so lovely CC - yes a Silbar is like a Silkie in every way, I'll post a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 I think I may have discovered my safe expert, I dont think an hour and a half is a long way to go for peace of mind. There is one truly Awful seller close (always gets visits from RSPCA and has been prosecuted and STILL trades... and another I thought was good some omletters had awful trouble with, so am bit scared of getting burnt. Seems you have to be really cluey, my other thought is that the BHWT coordinator that I got my Easter 4 from now has a small holding and I think they show..so maybe hatch too? Off to look up Orpingtons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Oooooooo I'd love to see a silbar, are they your own breed Redwing Sound gorgeous Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I'm just uploading a pic of a Silbar.. Sandy - Surrey Poultry is in the hands of someone proactive and Eglu friendly so maybe worth a visit if you havent been there recently There are a couple of Orp bantam breeders around teh Guildford area, try the Orpington clubs (there are two one for buffs and one for the rest of the colours) they will hold a list of breeders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 cheers, no have not been to Surrey P since they moved from my doorstep to down the road. Dare I go "just to look" in my current state of mind yes ..,cos I need to be fully aware and prepared ... no impulses Still got a lot on my hands with my 2 disabled old gals. God love em!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 A Silbar They were created as I understand it by the Wernlas Collection, I think there are literally a handful of people with these, even as few as two or three people up close you can see the cuckoo feathering in the wings, a cuckoo or barred bird is always in the make up of the Autosexing birds which is I guess where the 'bar' in the name comes from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 No harm at all in "just looking" Sandy but the wise always "just look" with a pet carrier in the car I do like the look of Silbars, Redwing. Now if only someone could breed a Scottish Silkie , one which would thrive in the wind & rain.......a fluffy Dumpie with waterproof feathers, if only.......oh well one can dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Oh Redwing, what a dear little chicken that Silbar is. Thank you for posting the picture - actually not so sure it is 'thank you' as I feel an itch coming on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Just to add a further complication though - orps can be quite hard to sex at a young age. I have found bants to be a bit more full on than LF, still docile but can be a bit more cheeky - although they do usually submit to a bigger bird unlike some other bantams! The jubilee colour LF tends to be smaller than the others so could also mix well with your ex-batts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 omg so much to take in. thanks so much everyone.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
