PoachedPlease Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I have a hatched white star pol, and she is being picked on so am going to buy a single pol to keep her company this weekend. She is a quiet sweetie. Should I get a columbine (coloured eggs of course)? But I hear they are tricky, and I need the two pols to mix in with my very stroppy hens. Or...a Colombian blacktail, boring eggs but apparently easy to introduce ( and I really want a ginger too? ) Thoughts very much appreciated. Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We've got 2 columbines, one is very flighty, the other less so, however we love them both to bits so I guess it depends on the individual hen. Mine haven't been the best layers either, but everyone loves the blue eggs! Sorry, I know that doesn't help, but I reckon go for it if you fancy one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 My columbine is really flighty and has gone through an early henopause so no beautiful eggs either. She looks lovely though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We had a Columbine who was initially flighty but once she started laying she settled down ( she also treated the two bantams as her chicks). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Am I right in thinking that Columbines are the same as Skylines? If so we have just bought two POL Skylines and a POL Light Sussex hybrid. We have only had them just over a week and they are all still a bit jumpy when we approach the Eglu and when the cats go by, but they were pretty chilled when we had a group of window fitters knocking out our old windows fairly close by n Monday. The Light Sussex is the most jumpy of the group and have found that Sussexes seem to be big girls blouses. My pure breed shouts about a pin dropping and she seems to have teamed up with our Silver Sussex hybrid who joins in any drama. The new Sussex is the same but the Skylines seem quite relaxed and yesterday I had my first blue egg the other one has laid a pinky egg with lilac speckles and the Sussex who is a big girl has laid two eggs so far both over 60g not bad for a beginner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 My Skyline is currently top chook although her sidekick (a sussex hybrid and also big girls blouse) is moulting at the moment so she's not getting the usual support from her. When I got them Skye was quite flighty and once ended up on top of the fence but she settled down once she started laying. Ohcarolina mine stopped laying for some time but came back into lay again, so maybe yours is just taking a long break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 They're based on the Cream Legbar which is quite a flighty breed, though as they get older and start laying they calm down and get fatter so become less flighty. Saying that, you already have a White Star which (in my experience) is one of the flightiest birds going! My 2 would often jump straight on top of the 8ft high Walk In Run. I'd go for the Blue eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoachedPlease Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Thank you for all your thoughts. I just bought a lovely ginger columbine and put her in the eglu. But I have just done something I'm sure you shouldn't...and popped the poor picked on white star chick straight in with her. I did it because she looked so excited on seeing the new bird she didn't go in the big run but hung around outside the eglu even as it got dark (and extremely wet tonight) They have both gone to bed together no probs . Guess I ought to check tomorrow morning verrrry early. Feeling very hopeful.. Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helenfmb Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 One of my girls is a Colombine Blacktail and to be honest, she's off her head!! She's so friendly and funny, but I'm convinced she's got a screw loose! She's only young so I'm hoping she'll settle down when she starts laying. She's my hubby's favourite though and absolutely gorgeous. But then I love gingers - my daughter is ginger and exactly like my hen! Think it's a teenage thing lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoachedPlease Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 ok I finally understand what flighty means...it means flies very high up on the roof of the WIR, and easily over the eglu netting. I am worried she will fly away once I start introducing her to the mean old ladies. I am never going to get her back since she runs away from me and I haven't picked her up yet. Curie (as in madam!) is still in the eglu with my white star. Any ideas when I can risk a free range with the other hens. She is really keen to meet them, but she must speak a different chiken language because its very obvious to me that top girl is going to go for her pretty ginger feathers Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 You need to clip her wing straight away. I had to do my two new girls. Agree with the comments re White Stars, mine was completely loopy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
