Storms and chickens

[CassieD]

We are currently lucky enough to have 3 very friendly hybrids but when we move we are hoping to get a few more, possibly pure breeds.

 

Our girls are part of a small flock (10) - rest belong to a friend - and are about middle in the pecking order - they don't get picked on but equally aren't the bossy ones. My friend introduced a few new ones recently and they settled in well with them.

 

We're moving soon and will be taking our three. Our new garden will be plenty big enough for several more but we're thinking of just getting 3 more to make a nice little flock. I quite like the idea of getting a few pure breds so interested in thoughts on different breeds

 

Want: good layers of course! Something that will get on with our ladies and something that is quite a tame breed - we have a little boy who adores the chickens, he's not allowed to handle them but don't want anything too flitty (my friend has a leghorn who is Bonkers and I know they can be pain for escaping into the neighbours...). They will be in a large run (following intro period) but will also be allowed in the garden to fully free range daily when supervised

 

I've thought of the following so interested in experience of those but also open to suggestions!

 

Orpingtons - although bit worried about broodiness

Sussex - we have a Sussex x who is lovely

Araucana - don't know a lot about them apart from Blue eggs!

 

I don't like fluffy feet but that's the only aesthetic thing.

 

Our girls are about 18 months old. Having done a lot of research into ex battery we don't feel we're ready for them yet but it is something that we will consider in the future.

[Cat tails]

Any pure breed isn't going to be laying in the same quantity as your hybrids. On the breed front, I don't have to much advice. I only have bantams. I think Mullethunter on here as a few auracana's.

 

On introductions though: if you hold out bringing your own chickens to your house untill you got your new three and add them all together in the run at the exact same time, introductions might be very swift and painless. As all chickens will be on new turf and there is no set territory yet.

[BridieLou]

How exciting! What breeds are the three you currently have? Pure breeds won't lay as many, but some are beautiful!

 

We've just added a Speckled Maran and an Amber Star. They are both very handsome, should be very good layers and so far seem friendly. Though, they have been added to a lone hen so are currently being mercilessly bullied...

[CassieD]

That's what we were thinking cat tails, it seemed good time to do it! We could split the pen still though to be on safe side if we have to. Also thought getting even number would keep fights down?

 

We're not all about the eggs so don't mind it won't be as many. A steady trickle is nice but a good character is best

 

We have a Sussex x, a blue Plymouth rock x and a Plymouth rock x I think with a rhode island - but she's v laidback with the others so Def doesn't take after the rhode island side.

 

I've read that Marans are generally good natured. Another friend has some but they are quite nervous - could be because rescue birds though - so interesting to have experiences

[AndyRoo]

The only breed I wouldn't recommend getting are Cream Legbars - but that is based purely on my own personal experience; I know a lot of others have them and they are friendly.

 

With out girls, friendly isn't a term I'd use: they're quite flighty, but they have also turned into complete b****es! They're picking on the other girls and they have just stripped one of the girls feathers to such extent that she is now bare-bottomed.

 

I've just ordered some bumpa-bits and violet peck-spray the situation has become that bad!

[Charlottechicken]

Sounds an ideal time to expand your flock!

 

I had a marans, a huge lolloping French copper black and she was a lovely bird, partial to a cup of tea and happy to let the banties snuggle under her feathers!

 

I still have an Araucana but she's a bantam, although you wouldn't believe that by the level of noise that she produces!

 

I have stuck with bantams now but think if I were to have LF again I would get more marans.

[BridieLou]

AndyRoo - we went to an amazing farm on Sunday to collect some new girls. They were split into age groups (30 hens at 20 weeks, 30 at 24 weeks etc), and without fail the flightiest were the white leghorns!

 

It's a shame because they're such beautiful birds. One for the farm, I think!

[Hippie Chick]

I can vouch for the Sussex, I have a Speckled Sussex and she's the most intelligent of my lot, very calm and steady, people friendly and enjoys being petted. Eventually I think I'll have a few more types of Sussex when the time comes to get more. I prize her eggs over the others, she lays about 3 a week on average and they are large sized with a large yolk to white ratio - her eggs are also the tastiest. She's never been broody although I'm led to believe that the Speckled variety is the most likely Sussex to be so. All the other chickens seem to noticeably respect her even though she's second-in-command of the flock.

 

I can also sort-of vouch for Araucanas, I have a Lavender Aracauna who loves to be carried about and is a real character (or slightly deranged and a bit loopy lol). They're small chickens but hold their own in the flock. They are supposed to be one of the least broody pure breeds but I drew the short straw with her and she goes broody every 5 weeks or so. Don't let it put you off the breed, she is unusual being so broody and even when she's broody she's soft and cuddly still unlike other breeds that get a bit narky! She lays eggs that vary from sky blue through to turquoise blue (the shell is blue all the way through rather than white on the inside as well!) and they are small eggs but flavourful. She'll lay about 4 per week.

 

I think I'd see my fantasy future flocks as being made up of Sussex and Araucanas of various colours, they are such great birds Have a good time choosing and let us know what you get!

[Daphne]

I think you will have fun whatever you get I think your ideas are all good, and I might be tempted by a Marans if it was me. I used to breed orps and Sussex and my observations are that certain strains of orp might tend to broodiness but mine from several different strains over the years didn't so I wouldn't let that put me off. However, despite their size orps are very docile. Your existing girls sound fine, but orps can be bullied by hybrids sometimes. Sussex will stand up for themselves more and tend to have a longer laying season as the orp girls spend a lot of time after the moult growing back their feathers, they don't usually come into lay that quickly in the spring. How lovely, having that choosing problem, but my advice is to go with your heart, you will be the one looking at them and looking after them

[mullethunter]

Hi CassieD. Cattails is right, I do have an araucana (did have two but sadly lost one) but a bantam. She's quite quiet and has been an absolute egg laying machine this year (she's just about 1 now), but she's certainly not friendly - really doesn't like being touched. The araucana bantam I lost was an absolute sweetheart, and although not initially keen on being handled, once she was with me would go to sleep on me clucking quietly. The rest of the time though she was completely mad and I have a suspicion that the reason she died was because she flew into the roof of the run.

 

I only have the bantam version, and in their bantam version they're definitely a mixed bag (mine are ok but I know luvachicken had a really bad experience and even mine took a while to settle), but LF Wyandottes are often said to be good friendly birds and decent layers, and they're stunning in silver, gold or blue laced.

[SeramaSilly]

My marans bantam was a real bully and would also peck me but my araucana cross (although she hated being held) was a very sweet and gentle little soul.

[AndyRoo]

AndyRoo - we went to an amazing farm on Sunday to collect some new girls. They were split into age groups (30 hens at 20 weeks, 30 at 24 weeks etc), and without fail the flightiest were the white leghorns!

 

It's a shame because they're such beautiful birds. One for the farm, I think!

 

Ours has tamed up a little... but she only allows you to hold her reluctantly. By far the worst are the Legbars who raise merry hell if you go to pick them up - they flap, shriek, attempt to scratch, peck; they're just an absolute nightmare! I'm genuinely apprehensive about trying to fit bumpa-bits to them!

 

I believe Partridge Leghorns also lay white eggs like the White Star, and allegedly they have better temperaments and tend to tame up slightly more!

[Cat tails]

My white Dutch bantam is the most flighty, scaredy cat bird of my lot too. She is the hardest to catch by far. But she lays the prettiest eggs too. Not white but more a light creme and they are surprisingly shiny. The others lay dull eggs like all normal chickens eggs, but hers really have a shine!

[Mars]

I have a few white leghorns, mixed corn tends to tame most hens, but I don't catch or pet them, they don't fly and they are very good layers, they are very "peaceful" birds.