Burtie14 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Hi folks We're down to our last two hens after Ginger and Dusty popped off last year, and with spring on the way we want to give our remaining girls a bit of company and liven things up. We're going to bring in 3 more, and we were thinking of getting pure breeds rather than hybrids, as they'll (hopefully) live a bit longer. Egg production isn't all that important for us. Main thing for us will be that they're quite docile and fairly hardy. Does anyone have any advice/words of caution about buying pure breeds? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 a lot of pure breeds are more likely to go broody which may or may not be a problem for you and feathered legged breeds can get muddy legs in wet weather but on the whole keeping pure breeds over hybrids doesn't cause any extra looking after really. I've only got pure breeds and crosses other than the fact one or two of them can be a bit Violet Elizabeth at times I have no problems with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I'm sure lots of knowledgeable folk will be along soon to advise. My only experience is with pekin bantams (and a couple of gorgeous owlbeard bantams). I'd definitely recommend them if you want delightful feisty characters which are also docile - my grandchildren love them. They also come in a large array of beautiful colours. I've been told by one breeder that the partridge varieties, which are v pretty, tend to be hardier because they are commoner (less inbred?). They're v entertaining to watch and I love watching them zip across the garden at great speed in their 'bloomers' when they've spotted something to investigate. They do tend to go broody at the drop of a hat, but that might not be a disadvantage if you'd like chicks - they make lovely mothers. The owlbeard is an unusual and pretty little bird with an 'owl' face - very tame and a pretty good egg layer. Let us know what you end up choosing! Happy hunting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Pure breeds are absolutely a good choice, I get far far less problems with up to a couple of hundred pure breeds (at peak hatching time) than I did with four hybrids! Take a look at the Poultry Club of Great Britain site, there is a breed section on there that will help As a general rule heavy breeds are more docile and easy to handle and light breeds are a little more active and flighty but can be better layers and less broody (though this is not a hard and fast rule its a good general guide) Its worth bearing in mind that in some breeds bantams are easier to get hold of and are actually not much smaller in the body than hybrids. Some large fowl are very big so try to see some up close before settling on a breed. Poultry shows are very good for seeing lots of breeds up close and talking to keepers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 Thanks for the quick replies all. I've always thought Orpingtons look lovely and will try and persuade my other half to my point of view... On that note though - would it matter that even a young Orpington would probably be as big as our existing hens? As long as they had good introductions and plenty space, would it matter than the Orp would tower over Betty and Jim like a feathery Godzilla after a few months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 In general, hybrids are feistier than orps so the size shouldn't make a difference. In fact as I note you have a 'psychotic hen' I'd think twice about mixing her with an orp. They are very docile and despite their size can be picked on, particularly if they are younger. However if your girl is OK, then I would get some orps, they are beautiful (biased !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I think that you already have pure breeds. A French Maran and a Rhode Island Red are pure breeds. I'd be inclined to stick that way. How about a Barnvelder? They are nice girls. Orps are lovely too and though undboubtedly huge (unless you get a banty orp when their size would probably be much the same as your Marans) they are very gentle girls. This being the case they would probably benefit from friends of their own kind. In other words if you want orps, go for at least two. Alternatively an Orp might mix very nicely with a Faverolle - also gentle and pretty with it. And then there are the Cochins if you are going for big girls. Ooo can feel a bout of morehens coming on. Better have a lie down now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 think about the coop space when considering large birds. Brahmas, Orpingtons and Cochins are all very large birds, I have looked after all of these breeds temporarily and had no coops big enough, the Orps ended up in a giant cardboard box coop (it was summer) The brahmas slept outside in a secure run (again summer) and the Cochins lived in a stable popholes, perch size and roof height all need to be taken in to account Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Another vote here for orpingtons. My three are whacking great girls (most people say "my god! Look at the size of those hens!") but they are friendly and very laid back. Apart from when they are chasing my poor cats around the garden They do take up a lot of room though!! When they're laying (they took a break from november to march this year!) they lay well, most days i get at least two eggs, sometimes three. I do have to qualify all this by confessing that I have only ever had LF croad langshans (enormous!) and these great big hoofers, so I am a bit biased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Hi, I have a variety of big birds and bantams, the largest being a brown leghorn and the smallest being a millefleur sablepoot. They all get on well. The oldest 4 are over 4yrs old. Between them all, they lay about 2 to 5 eggs daily, between the months of feb and october/november. They are all extremely hardy and have never had a days illness between them. Depending on how many you want I would opt for birds which give interesting coloured eggs and are docile and friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 Thanks very much everyone. Betty is no longer as psychotic as she used to be(!) She's definitely mellowed with age and although she's still a bit deranged at times, she now rules by authority rather than violence. I'm optimistic that she wouldn't torment any newcomers, though one can never really tell. Actually, it's a good point about what breed they are. Jim is definitely a Speckledy, no doubt about that, and Dusty was a Blue Belle. But I was a bit non-specific about the other two - I might check up. Thanks again all, I'll let you know how I get on and no doubt share photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Hi I was just wondering what you decided? I was about to start a thread about exactly the same thing as you. Having lost my lovely girl earlier today at 3 years old, my chicken vet suggested pure breeds next time simply because they live longer. I didn't realise Marigold was a hybrid, I thought a Suffolk Noir was a breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
