scoobies5 Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Hi, we are new to the chicken world and proud owners of an eglu cube. We would like to know if anyone can recommend a reliable place to get our first chickens from. We live in the New Forest and have been told of Longdown Dairy Farm but they only have warrens and we would quite like a mixture of breeds (4 hens in total) if possible. Also people say get hybrids as they are easier to look after. Is this true? I would quite like to get a couple of Orpingtons and maybe another pure breed too - are they much harder to look after? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 BHWT...but then again I am a tad bias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 It depends. My plan was to rescue some battery hens and try and give them SOME quality of life, be it limited, but that is just me as I choose to rescue our pets. We live in France and it is not quite as easy to rescue exbatts but given half a chance I would do like a shot as that would give me greater satisfaction than anything. Unfortunately this is not easy here, plus I want to have some experience before I take on exbatts as they can come with problems initially. I hope you manage to rescue some but we all want different things out of our chicken keeping. I have decided to get a mix of breeds but then may get more but just exbatts. Good luck with whatever you choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 It really depends what you want from your chickens,if you want eggs hybirds are the answer and they are very friendly to.if you want broodies to hatch eggs some pure breeds are good you really need to read up on the breeds then decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 As far as I know Orpingtons, and indeed most 'utility' pure breeds are no more difficult to care for than hybrids. Just as Eve says, you'll get a more regular, year round egg supply from hybrids. You'd also get good egg supply from ex commercial hens. My bantams are basically ornamental garden pets with a bonus of eggs! If I had more space, I would have ex commercials too, but most people have to make a choice! Chose whatever you think will suit you best - you can always change later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 I am in your area and there are a couple of good breeders locally but dependent on what breeds you are looking for. There is a Facebook page New Forest Poultry which is really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Pure breeds = Broody Well thats my MHO Love my girls but at this time of yea,r one is always broody sometimes more all at the same time. Where as my hybrid girls lay all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Pure breeds = BroodyWell thats my MHO Love my girls but at this time of yea,r one is always broody sometimes more all at the same time. Where as my hybrid girls lay all the time. Really depends on the breed! I have two pure breeds, but they haven't really been broody. Ginger tried once for a few minutes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
