Chicken bald back

[liz.dudley]

Hi there,

 

We're hoping to move house to somewhere that has a big enough garden to have chickens. What are ideal 'first' time breeds to have? After doing some reading I'm currently thinking along the lines of; white sussex, gingernut rangers and Barnevelder?

 

How do chickens from different sources get along? We're hoping to buy a cube and my son (nearly 5) has decided we need a green one!

 

We currently live Hampshire/Dorset border and would love to be able to go somewhere to see different breeds of chickens so we can get an idea of what they are like in the flesh!

 

Thanks

Liz

[daxigirl]

Hi,

 

Have a look on the cubes/eglus to visit page that way you'll see one in the flesh so to speak and can ask away .

 

Chicken wise go for what you like the look of whether it's just for quantity of eggs, egg colours or pretty chickens. They'll always be a bit of pecking order trouble whilst they settle down. I will say it's best to buy them all at the same time rather than dribs and drabs. I have all sorts but my mum has 3 lohman browns and is smitten by them and wouldn't change them.

 

Salisbury has a poultry auction once a month, it's worth a going for a look round purely to see all sorts of breeds under one roof. I don't recommend you buy anything as a first timer, it's best to go somewhere that offers back up.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome . Getting chickens from different suppliers isn't a problem if you get them all at the same time (or even a day or so apart). Similar sized ones are probably a good idea too to minimise bullying.

 

Have fun choosing! I always go for different egg colours so you can tell who's laying what.

[liz.dudley]

Thanks so much for the replies, will google the poultry sale and hopefully be able to fit a trip in to that!

[Valkyrie]

Having got a cube and a metre run, I added another metre later. But in hindsight a walk in run would save on the Quasimodo look while cleaning out.

I have had bantams, middle sized birds and big birds all happy alongside each other. I was worried when I only had one bantam left but she is happily paired up with a bigger girl. And I've just introduced 2 new girls which have chased her but the big ones have put the newbies in their place and harmony is once again restored (apart from my formerly bottom of the pecking order girl reminding the newbies that they are now at the bottom).

Your 3 different girls sound fine for starters. I went for big orpingtons - again in hindsight a smaller bird would have been better to learn how to hold. But when we did have smaller girls they were a doddle to handle! So this was my list of birds - orpingtons, buff sussex, cuckoo maran, pekins and a silkie (the silkie was definitely bottom of the order with the cuckoo so they often went round together, but both are/were mainly loners and went around the garden separately most of the time. Er, mine also free range all day long.

Hope you enjoy having chickens. I don't think I'd ever want to be without them now.

[Chortle Chook]

Welcome to chicken keeping. It's a lovely hobby and you can't look at a chicken without smiling so very cheering

 

The three breeds you are thinking of 'sussex, gingernut rangers and Barnevelder' sound a very pretty mix of good egg layers Getting different colours will be good if you intend to name them. The Sussex is a pure breed as is the Barnvelder. The Gingernug Ranger is a hybrid (think 'mixed breed to ensure lots of eggs') and so may not live quite as long as they can lay themselves to exhaustion, though there are plenty of exceptions.

 

Going somewhere where you can see the different breeds up close and personal is a brill idea but don't go buying at an auction unless you have some support from an experienced chicken keeper going along with you. This is because the auctions can be used to pass off birds that are not well or are not female .

[LunaKiw1]

We live in the New Forest. you might like to check out this supplier, which also does Omlet products and chicken boarding: http://www.rarebreedchicken.co.uk/page/hybrid_chickens_for_sale which is at Ower, just off the M27 so not too far from you potentially. I plan to go there when we next need some new chooks. Hybrids are great and easy going enough for your son to get really involved with them. We started with an Eglu Classic and 2 hens direct from Omlet but wish we'd got 3. With a Cube you can get more. We have since progressed to getting an Omlet WIR as well which is great. forget about any lawn though if you let them free-range!

[JellyBean2605]

Hi, I started chicken keeping in October after waiting since 2008 to have a garden big enough, I started off with an Eglu Go and two hybrids in case I found it too difficult. I absolutely love it and am getting a WIR assembled this weekend for my girls. I won't be getting any more though as I know my limit but they are amazing pets.

[liz.dudley]

Thanks for the recommendations. A student of mine recommended blackwater, so will look at heading there next weekend if we can to check things out. Just need to sell our house now!

[Chortle Chook]

Did you go? Did you get anyone? I've taken a quick look - shouldn't have 'coz they have Fresians and they are just so pretty and almost as rare as, well, hens' teeth