Currant Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Hi, have space for 3-4 more chickens and can't decide what to go for. Have had just hybrids for nearly 4 years and have 3 lovlies still with a cube and omlet wir run plus spare eglu. What have people moved on to - pure breeds, ex batts, hatching your own? I just can't decide! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I'm planning on getting a couple more at some point and would definitely use egg colour as a deciding factor. I failed to do that with my last lot and can never tell who's laying and who's not . It's so nice having a range of egg colours on your kitchen worktop too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calmbreeze Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 frizzles - just got 2 and are brilliant!!!!!! (the white ones are especially lovely) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I love my Light Sussex. She is chunky and friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I am looking to expand in the spring, currently have 3 hybrids, because of their longevity I would like to mix in a couple of pure breeds, then the following year another couple of hybrids and so on, (although setting myself up for intros each year ) I too fancy a couple who lay different coloured eggs, and I do love the look of the frizzles. Could really do with going to a show and having a good look around, so many to choose from and so little room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Ex batts are lovely, its so rewarding to see them enjoy life for the first time. It depends if you are looking for long term regular layers i guess, having said that my ex batts are still giving me a good supply of eggs! Pekins are lovely, frizzles, the list is endless. I hatched some chicks last year and while i loved doing it i did get a high ratio of cockerels that i had to find homes for! I did find my 2 lavender pekin hens that i hatched to be the tamest of all my hens! Good luck whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I love Sussex's they're my favourite pure breed (I have the hybrid version, which is just as friendly and funny!). It all depends on how close breeders are to you, and how far you will travel. As the previous topics suggest, it would be great to have a blue egg layer, and it makes it a lot easier to know whos laying! I would love to be able to hatch eggs, but there is always a big chance of getting cockerels. You could instead get day old chicks, although there still is a small chance of getting a cockerel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMoo Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I have just added 2 Ex Batts to my others, and I have to say they are so comical and have really big personalities Also they are still laying which is a bonus If you aren't after eggs I would recommend Ex Batts. Its great seeing them enjoy there new surroundings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BizzyMomma Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I'm also wanting to get a few more this year and as the others have said above, egg colour will be guiding me too, just so I'll know who's laid and who hasn't! But will certainly be getting another Rhode Rock and an Amber, time will tell I suppose!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 What have people moved on to - pure breeds, ex batts, hatching your own? I just can't decide! Yes, Yes & Yes. I started with hybrids, then pure breeds (current 16 are 1 hybrid & 15 pure breeds), then I have hatched a few batches of my own (hybird table birds, plus pure breeds, and my own crosses). Then today I got 4 rescue hens. All give something back, I love having a range of hens. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duchess Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Light Sussex are lovely friendly girls. Also welsummers. They lay beautiful terracotta colour eggs! Sure you'll be happy whatever breed you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Currant Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 Ah well, food for thought there, thank you - I want them all! Wish it were spring aleady as shopping choices are limited... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 generally this is a better time of year to buy pure breeds than the spring time, if that's what you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 We have a mix of hybrids & pure breeds and get a mix of egg colours and abundance! An Orpington and/or a Barnevelder would make a nice addition to a flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I have always been swayed by the egg colour factor. These are what mine have laid the last few days They are Marans, Higgledy Harriets, Cream Legbars and Olive Eggers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 What stunning eggs, Darkbrowneggs. Have never seen such a variety all together. Not a single one of mine are laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Thanks for that - the blues and greens are a bit more pronounced in real life rather than on a photo, but I am re-crossing some to get a brighter green egg and also a khaki/olive coloured egg. Trouble is I shan't see the results till this time next year unless I start the inccy up now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Currant Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 Stunning eggs, love them! My 2 fenton blues were supposed to be blue/green layers but ended up cream! Where can you get pure breeds this time of year Laurie, i'm in berkshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Ooooooo I'm after some more ladies but have decided that I will wait until my WIR is built. At least that give me the incentive to get it done...but it still probably won't get finished until late spring!! (finance is the issue as well as time as well as weather!! ) I want to get a spare either classic or go to help with the introductions first as well. I already have a cube. The small holding across the road from us has frizzles which are absolutely gorgeous....I like having eggs...would love some blue ones...decisions decisions decisions!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Oh this is just the kind of post I love - more hens by proxy There are just so many different types out there both pure and hybrid. A starting point might be to have a serious think about what you want in your new chooks. Is it : - more eggs, - differnt coloured eggs - always look stunning on the egg rack . . . but so much so that when I've been given blue eggs by friends (as my chooks all lay cream eggs), I just can't get around to eating them - different coloured chooks e.g. what feather colours would make your team of chooks look complete? do you 'need' a white one or a buff one etc. etc.? - fancy patterned chooks: Wyandottes come in some stunning patterns and my chamois Poland is Oh so pretty. There are just so many fancy feather patterns out there that I'd just love! - something a bit different (Silkies are gentle and sweet, Polands act like parrots and Frizzles - now they are defo my favs!! such cuties!!) Oooo I could start a new collection all over again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 I needed my Sussex Ranger (white with black neck and tail) because I needed a white and a hybrid for winter eggs I needed polands because they are tiny and cute I needed buff orpingtons because they are huge and I have a cockeral who looks after the girls I needed lavendar aracanas for blue eggs and a smoke grey colour I needed Dorkings (they were my first hens) extra toes are interesting but to be honest now they are just my first girls My buff sussex (purebreed) bluebell and Amber star all have their place but I didn't NEED just wanted! What else do I need...well EVERYTHING but to be honest if I was to start over I would keep aracanas and polands from the littles and hybrids for the winter eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 I am going to see lavender arcanas, vanwelders and light Sussex a week on saturday! Very excited, was going to wait until spring but now I have the space just can't help myself! These are the breeds that are at POL, the lady has others too if I can contain myself for a few months. But I only "need" two, it will be hard I think. Don't know much about the van welder, they look lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 A shout for ex battery hens here. I have three ex batts, who are now three years old or thereabouts as we homed them in July 2010. They have been very quiet and sweet natured. I took them to an experienced hen sitter earlier this year for three days and she said they were some of the most chilled hens she had seen (I think it is the way they trained me to satisfy their every whim ). Two are still laying regularly and one from time to time - so 9 eggs during Christmas week. It is nice/sensible to know who lays what and it only took one sunny morning of watching who went in and produced what to find that Leia is responsible for the huge, dark brown eggs, Blossom's are pale beige and Hett's, when she can pluck up the energy, are pale beige with brown freckles. Mrs P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Agree with that shout. Anyone who needs to coddle something just HAS TO HAVE an ex-bat. Alas my OH says no biggies and no scratchers so guess he does not understand this need of mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 my OH says no biggies and no scratchers Just tell him that ex-batts don't know how to scratch because they've lived in a cage... Then you can act all surprised when they learn! By which time he'll have fallen in love with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
