Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[memphisto]

Hello again,

 

I have some good news, my OH and I have decided to give things another go

 

Reluctantly, I've decided to get rid of my 20 bird coop but keep my 5 bird coop. Many reasons for this but mainly because by my own admission, I expanded my flock far too quickly by far too many birds, a mistake I don't want to repeat, especially after our suspect case of Mareks.

 

OH has said I can have, come spring, a maximum of 4 hens, which is lovely of him because he knows how important my hens are to me.

 

I am debating types with him, he likes Polands, Pekins, Barb'uccle (apologies for the spelling!) which I also like but I like Sussex's, Wyandottes & am tempted by cream legbars for the egg colour!!

 

How do you choose, obviously we could not have breeds like Polands and hybrids together.

 

I do like getting eggs from my hens, so in essence, hybrids would be great, I don't know much about the egg laying abilities of the smaller breeds, so any advice on the front would be appreciated.

 

We also don't have a garden in our new house yet, the landlord is fine with chickens though, garden is being done next month and into March, so I'm not rushing to get hens as we have nowhere to house them yet.

 

Predominantly I want to be sure of what hens I want and then just be on the look out from March onwards and if the right hens come up, then great.

 

Also, I am concerned about Mareks, I know with pure breeds the people I've bought from don't vaccinate their pure breeds, is this normal? Is there a theory of natural resistance with pure breeds?

 

X

[lindafw]

I have a poland girl and boy living in a cube with 3 hybrids, huge buff orps, dorkings,a buff sussex and aracana's. They all free range round the garden and the littles tend to stay clear of the bigs...

 

I chose my hybrids for laying capacity over the winter...and if I started again I would have them and my aracanas with the polish mixed in

[Space Chick]

If I can only have 4 hens and no more, and eggs were important, I'd have hybrids personally but have a variety.... Maybe a warren, a white star, a columbine and a Speckledy to get different egg colours

[jackian]

So pleased you are giving it another go! I have been following your threads and

 

I do not have that much experience with different breeds but have hybreds. I love the eggs and colour does not matter as they are all sooo delicious

[Duncan08]

I started with a mixture of hybrids, miss pepper pot, gingenut, bluebell, white star. My White star died very suddenly and we didn't replace her.

My long term plan is to try and keep around 6 girls, bearing in mind I only want to add in pairs.

Also bearing in mind the lifespan and the egg requirement, I have just added 2 purebreeds. A vorwerk and a lavender araucuna. Making 5.

Next year, I will review and if I am lucky enough to have all my girls in good health will add another couple of girls, a hybrid, and another purebreed depending on what the breeder has. Which will take me up to 7, then after that will look to replace as I lose.

Long term plans are great until you go to the breeders and see all those lovely pekins and frizzles and polands and silkies

But I don't want too many, I agree with you. Too many can become a chore rather than a pleasure, particularly in the winter and when you work full time, I would love to not have to work, I think I would have a lot more, but then I suppose I would need a new garden

[scubababe]

((hugs)) memphisto & welcome back. I am soooooooooooo happy for you As I have said previously..been there, done that, wore the t-shirt!! I have thought about you alot. If you want to chat please PM me.

 

I think the first thing you need to decide is what you want from your ladies? Do you want personality? Prettyness or eggs?

 

What space/environment will you have? With 2 hungry toddlers I need eggs but that doesn't stop be looking at the types of Hybrids available. If I remember rightly..you will need eggs too!!

 

I love Frizzles & get my 'fix' in the freehold across the road

 

YOU need to decide what you want from them .... just my opinion Hope I'm not outta order

[pips_pekins]

Hi. Welcome back! I agree with what others have said. I went for looks over eggs and have 4 bantams. I am getting 2 or 3 eggs a day but they are very small. I have a bantam Wyandotte who lays slightly bigger eggs but if I wanted a regular supply of eggs I would go for big girls. A friend who got her chickens at the same time as me has 4 beautiful hybrids who lay huge eggs.

[fantasticjudyann]

I have got four hybrids- a gingernut, a speckled star, a white star and a bluebelle. They all lay large different coloured eggs except for the specledy whose eggs are small and shiny speckled brown. So each time I collect the eggs I can tell who has laid what.

[coco]

Glad things are working out for you.

I have some of the breeds you have mentioned above and I'm not too far fron you so if it is any help you are more than welcome to come and meet my girls and boy.