Omlet cube and run

[Chantelle]

Hi im sooooo new to chooks but sooooooo excited i might even have to do a little dance dont think i was this excited when i was told i was having twins!!!! Lol so i havnt got my chickens yet im doing lots and lots of research first. And getting set up correctly i want everything in place before i go ahead.

 

I have got everything down to the littlest things gri t meal worms, layers mash bedding storage bin had the garden completely redone for these babys got sprays cleaners apple cider vinigar you name it lol no expense spared and weve even sat with a book of names its like waiting for a new baby! Ive yet to order my eglu but have decided on an eglu cube in green ( we have been waiting for the garden to be finished .......).

 

So theres just one thing i CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE!!! And that... Ive looked into breeds nd as we have children would like some gingernut rangers x2 a miss pepperpot, and possibly a speckldy ( absaloutly gutted omlet doesnt deliver to north wales) breeders up here are hard to find! Dont want hatchlings but have been told to get them about 8 weeks old as there better to tame... Is this true? And if so with us wanting to mix breeds if there introduced at 8 weeks from different breeders will they take to one another ok or will they fight as i have readits hard work introducing new members to a coop onece a pecking order is established! And as its our first time lol that sound funny... Id rather not make thing too complicated but love so many of the breeds lol help please xxx

Chantelle

[Redwing]

With hybrids you will struggle to get 8 week old birds

 

Yes 8 weeks is a good age (12 weeks would be ideal) as youngsters rarely squabble and will be well established as a group by the time they reach maturity

 

Most suppliers buy in their hybrids though and these arrive at 16 weeks (ish) old so buyers rarely have a choice in the ages of hybrids that they buy

 

Buying at the POL age means you'll have more bickering as they establish a pecking order but usually they do sort it out pretty quickly so dont let it put you off

 

You can normally find pure breeds available at any age but hybrids are hatched and reared on an industrial scale usually by more than one 'owner' and sellers want these ready to sell as POL rather than have the costs of keeping them until their most sellable age

 

Hope that makes sense, I'm tired and rambling

[Redwing]

One thing also worth mentioning in case you arent aware

 

Hybrids are usually sold under 'brand names' or company prefixes but are usually the same birds sourced from the same rearing companies

 

So a Gingernut Ranger is also known as a Lohman Brown, ISA brown, Warren etc....

 

I'm wondering if you are having trouble sourcing for that reason, Hybrid suppliers are usually pretty easy to find all over the country

[Chantelle]

Id worked out what a warren was lol but thats brill thankyou i have forund a couple of breeders locally but am not in a rush to buy so will defo shop around

[coco]

Hi Chantelle

Whereabouts in North Wales are you. I'm in North Wales as well so if its any help I could recommend some good suppliers that I have had hens from in the past. There are a few not so good ones around as well.

[Chantelle]

Hi Chantelle

Whereabouts in North Wales are you. I'm in North Wales as well so if its any help I could recommend some good suppliers that I have had hens from in the past. There are a few not so good ones around as well.

 

Hi yes im awareof a couple that i havnt heard good things from and want to be careful that would be fabulous if you can point me in the right direction im in old colwyn in conwy. Thanx coco this is brilliant xx

[merlina]

Just to put a slightly different perspective, if you get them at 16 weeks +, they will have been fully vaccinated if you get them from a reputable supplier - less than that and they won't.

I haven't had any problems with taming my 2 batches of POL hens (but equally I have no experience of getting them any younger). Both times I've got a new group of girls, I've been very pleased with how they've settled down

Personally, if I'd got hens from 2 or more suppliers, I'd feel I'd need to quarantine them in case one group had any problems, which might not be something you want to do with your first flock?

Again,personally, one of the things I've enjoyed about getting girls was going to a supplier and picking the ones that 'spoke' to me - which weren't necessarily the ones I intended to come home with at all!

[Chortle Chook]

Hello Chantelle. I can just feel your excitement and can't help but smile from ear to ear I'd do as Merlina recommends and would just go to a coco recommended local supplier and pick the ones that 'speak' to you. Then all you'll have to watch out for is that you don't get carried away

When I first started I did loads of breed research and decided on Pekins. I then found a Pekin supplier and sticking to my plans bought 3 . . . . that all looked identical, not so good when as, like you, I also planned to name them all different names

[Chantelle]

That sounds amazing they actually do talk dont they ha ha ..... Thats a very good point but as i havnt actually been to see any breeders yet im not so clued up on how their reared as they sell hens in the local garden centre ( which i will not be buying them from there ) but there all kept seperate as to their breed and not mixed and they look rather old so are the breeds kept seperate or all togeather when you go to pick as id like to get a couple of different ones and put them togeather. Can i do this when their about 16weeks without them s"Ooops, word censored!"ping? Xxx thanx for your replys and patience i just want to know everything before i do this try and get it right for the little lovelys x

[coco]

Hi Chantelle

The breeder I was going to recommend is in Ruabon just outside Wrexham, it may be a bit far for you. Its called Cinders Fancy Chicks and is a family run business, they are very friendly and helpful, I have got 7 of my hens from them. They have hybrids as well as pure breeds so have a good choice. If you want to come and meet my girls you are more than welcome.