Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[kissinuk]

We have decided to buy a Purple Eglu with 2 hens. We are in the delivery area so were going to get the chickens from Omlet too... but then we seen some of the other varieties available at Cotswold Chickens. What a choice!

 

I have a few questions.....

 

- Does anyone have experience of Cotswold Chickens? Do they have a good reputation?

 

-We live in Northants, so Banbury isn't too far to go, but does anyone know any breeders nearer to us in the Corby/Kettering/Peterborough area?

 

- We are looking between the Bovan Goldline, Sussex Star and Speckled Star, do they sound like good hens for beginners? Ideally we want birds that can be tamed fairly easily and that are docile in nature.

 

Thanks for any help, we are really looking forward to getting started with chickens. We are both veggie, so the chooks are guaranteed a nice life with only our 1 year old daughter and rabbit to boss them about!

[Rabbieboy]

We bought 2 Omlet girls,a Miss Pepperpot and a Gingernut Ranger, both of these hybrids are available from Cotswold Chickens but have a different name. Our 2 are really friendly and may lay an egg sometime this year if we are lucky. We introducd 2 young pure breed girls a few weeks ago and they have settled in nicely, after the pecking order was decided. Whatever breed you get they are really friendly if you have lots of contact with them and learn to speak chicken to them.

[Snowy]

Hi - great choice of eglu colour!

No personal experience of Cotswald Chickens, but I know people on the forum have used them with no problems. However, if you want a chicken with character and easy to tame, look no further than the Gingernut Ranger! Bags of personality; extremely friendly; tolerant of dogs and children and fab layers to boot. I've not got much experience of the Pepperpots, but my one specimen is also lovely and a big character. Have fun choosing!

[Chickpea]

I've bought from Cotswold Chickens twice before (including today actually! ) and they're really nice people, the hens are lovely! I got two gingernuts from omlet in Nov then two white star from cc in March, then a speckledy and black rock (aka Miss Pepperpot) today!

 

I'll also second great choice in eglu colour!

[sam42]

You could also try Warwickshire Rare Breeds in Church Lawford, Rugby. I got my Mendlesham Blue and Suffolk Noir from there.

[nicki9]

We got our two gingernut rangers from omlet 3 weeks ago. I really appreciated having someone to set up the eglu and run in the garden (much quicker than I would have managed) and showing me how to handle, clip wings etc in my own garden away from distractions. We've been handling the girls every day since, and now they are super tame, full of character and come charging over to see me when I walk outside. Balti is even trying to see what I'm typing at the mo.

 

I'm sure wherever you get your chickens from you will love them. They are the best pets ever, however I just wanted to recommend the excellent service from Omlet.

 

Good Luck

[welsh sarah]

hi

i have only had chickens for about a month and i have 2 goldline

they are very docile get on with the cat

i was worried that they may be noisey and bother the neighbours but i doubt they even know they are there, they only make a fuss sometimes when they have laid

mine are also very good layers i have 2 eggs everyday and now and again i have an extra one, dont know what that is all about

i am sure you will enjoy your chickens whatever variety you have

 

p.s. mine both free range for most of the day and are well behaved

sarah