Omlet cube and run

[nutterly_uts]

Hiya

 

I need help I am too busy doing the "possible chicken dance" to think logically

 

I have struggled to find sensibly priced chickens locally, and had found 2 acceptable options - £10 POL "brown layers" end of September, or £13-16 POL Lowman Browns end of June. Both were longer then I wanted to wait, but I didn't want to pay £25-30 a head for hybrids (purebred was £30-45..!!)

 

I've just had one of the people I contacted but not heard get back to me. They have some pretty hybrids in "stock", POL right now, for £23 a head - with these I have the options for rhode rock, ballerina, calder ranger, sussex ranger, speckledy, commerical brown, pied ranger and beechwood blue.

 

The decision I need to make is go for chickens now (presuming these are hybrids who will suit my set up) which isn't ideal timing as I'm in the middle of moving house!! or wait for the June or September chickens, which might be better timing wise, although aren't as pretty

 

I have an eglu with a standard run currently, and the girls can/could free range all day safely. I will order a run extension end of May, and eventually move onto a Cube (woop ) and I'm looking at 2-3 girlies.

 

I really like the look of the speckledy and beechwood blue - would these sound oki for the set up, or are any of the others better suited?

 

Thank you

[good_egg]

Go for the pretty ones - sound like you fancy them and you'll always wonder if you didn't! That said, you'll fall in love with their cheeky wee personalities whatever you get. I have 4 chickens in cube plus extension, but three are big fatties! Lol.

[nutterly_uts]

I do like the pretty ones, but I don't hate the brown ones either.. The main selling point for the prettier ones is the fact I can tell them apart easily, but then with the brown ones, I'm sure I could tell them apart too with time..

[good_egg]

You can tell from my signature that I like them to look different. Our neighbours have ex batts and you can tell them apart when you get to know them - coloured leg rings help too! If you are worried about moving them they should be ok - assume you aren't moving far? There's plenty of advice on here - think there is even a post from a week or so ago. Good luck with decision and do let us know what you decide and post pics.

[ZoeBunny]

Remember, the pretty girl's agent just pretty.. they are great layers so you can easily off set the extra cost up front with the eggs you'd have to buy if you'd waited.

 

I love it that every one of my 8 girls lays a different coloured egg.. really helps keep an eye on them healthwise, and nice to know who laid what. My three year old regularly shouts "Thankyou Betty" etc as he tucks into his dippy egg

 

My best layer is in fact my White Star, which I suspect is the same hybrid you can get which is labelled a Ballerina. Small pure white bird who lays a great big white egg every day without fail!! Highly recommend that one.

 

Moves can be a pain but the eglus are so easy to move and set up that I really don't see the need for you to wait

[Purplemaniacs]

My best layer is in fact my White Star, which I suspect is the same hybrid you can get which is labelled a Ballerina. Small pure white bird who lays a great big white egg every day without fail!! Highly recommend that one.

I have two Snowbelles, similar to a White Star and they lay lots of lovely big white eggs. They are my smallest hybrids, they are not very friendly but I would have one as their eggs are so lovely.

 

It is nice being able to identify each chook and their eggs

 

Chrissie

[ZoeBunny]

Mine was a bit flighty at first, but she's just over a year old now and runs and crouched in front of me for a tickle every chance she gets