Storms and chickens

[libby22]

Hi. I haven't posted for a very long time and I must say, it is so lovely to be back! By way of background - I started with three beautiful Gingernut Rangers, (Polly, Pickle and Pepper) a cube and run (extended many times over)! Six months later, I rescued two ex-battery hens to add to my flock - steadily introduced them over several weeks and they did really well together and finally integrated well. The one little girl had been very bashed about when I got her (Bonnie) but Maisie (her ex-bat pal) stuck up for her and protected her from my other girls and things settled down nicely. Unfortunately, we came down one morning to find Maisie had died overnight in the cube. From this point things became difficult. My other girls were awful to Bonnie and without Maisie to protect her she was totally lost and was such a tiny little hen. They attacked her as a group and drew blood very quickly, but the worst part was the screams from her. I just dived in and took her out of the pen and put her up temporarily.

 

The next day we bought a wooden walk in run and an Eglu and she never looked back! Her run was attached to the girls' run (separated by chicken wire) so she had company, but they couldn't touch her, but Bonnie wouldn't come out of the Eglu if they were in sight. I ended up putting a shade up between them and she became the happiest little outgoing chicken! She befriended the cat and the dog who used to sit in with her - and we all took turns sitting in the pen with her. She outlived my girls who were approx 3 1/2 when they went - Bonnie was 5 - boy did I love and admire this little girl!!

 

Anyway - waffle over - At this point my dad fell ill and my spare time was needed so my lovely hobby came to an end after Bonnie.

 

I now think it is time to start again. It just feels right. I miss the whole experience so much. I want to leave it until Feb/March of next year to get the garden sorted and designed for the biggest run possible and also building on what I have learned/the set up I had last time, change a few things. Much as I love the Gingernut Rangers and the ex-battery girls, I think I would like to take a different route this time. I am not looking for the eggs - lovely bonus but not my priority. I would like a longer lived breed if possible, (although I know that nothing is guaranteed) and a slightly more docile breed. After much research I have really fallen in love with Faverolles and we have Chooks Farm quite near to us that stock the same - although I have yet to meet one! From what I can find, they seem to have an average lifespan of about five years, are docile, not big egg layers as such and would hopefully be easier to introduce new girls to. I just wondered if anyone could give me advice regarding Faverolles if you have kept the same please? I would be looking to keep just this breed alone if they are as docile as I have read. Any details of your experience of these ladies and their needs would be really welcome or any breed you may be able to suggest along similar lines that I may not have thought of!

 

Thanks so much.

[Daphne]

Welcome back Like you I am without birds at the moment as I travel too much, but one day I will be back as one of the poultry keeping community, and I do like to keep in touch.

 

I don't have personal experience of faverolles, but I know people who have kept them. In many ways they are like orpingtons (and I would imagine you could keep them together) docile, not the biggest producers, goodish life span, and rather beautiful They do have lightly feathered legs though, so you might need to keep an eye on mud, and mud balling on their feet. I would err on the side of making sure they can keep dry as possible because its harder for a loose and well covered feathery breed to dry off properly, than for the tighter feathers you tend to get on a hybrid. This can lead to respiratory problems if there is not sufficient ventilation in the house.

[libby22]

Thanks very much - that has answered one of my questions straight off. I previously had a large plastic roof over the top of the cube and runs to keep them dry and then the covers when it was windy weather. I was debating whether to repeat the roof but sounds like it is a must for Faverolles. Right - off to update the chicken notes

[Millie-Annie]

Your story is lovely and I am so pleased you have decided to start again, but.........I honestly wouldn't go with Favorelles. Not if you intend to love and adore them. They are gorgeous but my friend has had three all died before they were a year old. She had one Chopsey who died after a few months but she loved her so much she bought two more thinking she had just been unlucky. Flopsy and Mopsy were so friendly but both died quickly too. They seem quite a delicate breed and their feet in the winter are awful.

 

Maybe she was just unlucky and I will admit they are lovely birds, so don't take any notice if you have set your heart on them, but I just had to let you know

[libby22]

Hi Millie-Anne - that is good to know. I am aiming in that direction, but if that is the case with them, I will need to have a good think on that point. I had originally set my heart on Orpingtons, but am not sure I want the broodiness and needing to break them of the same. I moved on then to the Faverolles, which although broody, seemed less so. Mmmmm - you have given me something to think about there - thank you.

[Millie-Annie]

I can help again here, for my 50th birthday I decided to move from ex-batts to posh birds and with my birthday money I bought a Welsummer and a crested cream leg bar. I still had two ex-batts but one Mary was a bit off colour so my husband said why don't you buy three as we are likely to lose one soon anyway. The other breed they had were Orpington's, no I said I don't want a broody Orpington. So I was gazing around when the breeder said hold this and into my hands he places the fluffiest ball of black feathers I had ever seen. That was my beautiful Octavia named after the ostrich in Pipkins (if you remember that) She was my overgrown feather duster. She was the loveliest gentlest girl ever with her beautiful feathers and her lovely dark eyes and she never ever went broody. My Welsummer was a nightmare but not Octavia. I then adopted a Brahma, who was also adorable but she did go broody. Sadly my Welsummer and Crested CLB only lived a year or two, but my Orpington was 3 and in rude health until she was killed by that horrible horrible fox, along with my Brahma and two ex-batts (yes I went back to ex-batts)

 

So now I am chickenless but if and its a big if I do ever feel brave enough to start again I will never ever be without an Orp and quite possible a broody brahma too

[libby22]

Oh that is so lovely and heartbreaking at the same time. I am so so sorry that they were taken as they were. You have hit the nail on the head really, when you do lose them it is so hard and it is a big leap to start again.

 

I do remember Octavia - and Pipkins - just my era! If I could have Orpingtons like your Octavia, I would have them tomorrow. She sounds perfect.

 

I first saw Orpingtons at the Malvern Autumn Show and just fell in love with them. Even my other half was bowled over by them. It was only ever the broody side that made me step back a little.

 

I think time to review and re-read up on them - thank you for the lovely post, you have given me lots to think about

[Daphne]

Ah well, I used to keep orps as my main breed and my LF very rarely went broody, whereas the bantams were just waiting for an egg to sit on. It's not infallible as some strains do tend to broodiness, but mine didn't. In fact over 6 years I think I had just 2, and they came from the same strain (somebody who I think has given up) whilst all the rest from 3 different breeders were fine. I would not let it put you off PS and those 2 big girls were easily dissuaded

 

Equally I would not let early deaths put me off faverolles, I think that must have been bad luck. Favs are bred in northern France to be tough dual purpose birds, well suited to our climate. They are not a pernickerty breed, generally.

[libby22]

I am glad I posted on here today - it has really helped me so much .

 

I feel now that I won't rule Orpingtons out - would probably take more research with suppliers - as you have said Daphne to try to find out about the broodiness. I would certainly have the room for them - they are such big beautiful girls - perhaps a rethink is in order

[sweetpea08]

I have a white orpington whom didn't go broody in her first year however her egg laying was very poor she laid 75 in total for the year it could have to do with the lack of summer we had here maybe this year it will be different.

I also have a NZ cochin ours are different to yours they are a created breed as we cant import from overseas she laid 200+ eggs as did my silver pencil wyndotte cochin cross i wouldn't be without her she is such a lovely wee girl who is looking like a porcupine in places at the moment as she goes through her molt.

 

So there is another point of view for you.

[Chickabee]

I love my Brahmas, they do go broody, but only need a few night in a broody cage to break it. All of my bantams are terribly broody little madams. Mind you this year they all seem to be having a go, even the hybrids. I think it was that spell of hot weather. The Brahmas lay quite well and have beautiful fluffy bottoms . I'll be watching this space to see what you get. Btw I do have a 5 year old wellsummer. She's beautiful, never been a great layer, never been broody. My oldest hen is a white Silkie. 6 years old she might lay one or 2 eggs a season, she used to be terribly broody

[libby22]

I am so torn with the breeds! Docile with each other is a high priority - my girls were wonderful and I did enjoy the feisty to a point. One of them managed to give me a black eye when she mistook my eyelashes for something edible and then missed - blood everywhere That gave a lot of people a lot of laughs - and still does

 

The only thing really tripping me up at the moment is the broodiness. I know I am a complete walkover with these girls and they would give me one look at I would say ok - no cage, off you go! I am under no illusions - I have never been and never will be in charge

 

Your little family of chooks sounds beautiful - especially the Brahmas and Silkies.

[Millie-Annie]

Chickabee, my Brahma Clara was 8 and showed no signs of slowing down. I used to stick her in the broody cage for a couple of days and it always worked. Wish she'd been in there the night the fox came calling, at least I'd still have her, although thinking of the trauma she would have gone through maybe not. My Welsummer laid the most gorgeous terracotta eggs, but not for long, she stopped laying when she was very young. My vet said the darker the eggs the shorter time they lay.

 

Docile with each other? You've had ex-batts, surely that cant be high on your list of requirements????? Or is that why? My last lot of ex-batts were horrors. I had 4 and had to rehome 2 due to feather pecking. The other two never did come out of bumpa bits. They stripped my Orpington bare, but funnily enough never touched my Brahma, probably because Octavia was a softer touch. You can take the girl out the battery, but you cant take the battery out of the girl. My borstal babes my friend used to call them

 

Definitely avoid anything with leghorn in it. They are not nasty but very very flighty. I never ever could get near my Tallulah. Although someone will now come along and say how friendly their leghorn is, thats the nice thing about opinions they are all different, bit like chickens

[redsunset]

Favorelles are lovely, have two and they are so nosy and lovely birds! Are right up in your face when outside incase you have any bread/goodies in hand. One did go broody this year briefly but on the whole they are lovely characters and yes docile as low in the pecking order under smaller breeds

[libby22]

Thank you everyone for the lovely responses. I am still hankering over Faverolles or Orpingtons! Need to really think ahead to my set up and what room I can give them - obviously lots if it is Orpingtons

 

If I could have another ex-battery Bonnie who needed her own space and lots of love attention - I would do so in a second but that isn't always the way with chicken keeping I have learned. You choose what you think you want and then the chickens show you want you are going to get

[SeramaSilly]

Ooooo.....you could have a few of both - you know you want to!!

 

xx

[libby22]

Well of course now the suggestion has come up - I think it becomes chicken law and I have to