Storms and chickens

[NicolaW77]

Hi

 

I'm new to this forum, although I have nosied round for a long time, reading up on all of your vast amounts of knowledge and experience (Thanks . This is my first post I'm sure people have probably posted about this numerous times before, so I apologise if that is the case. I've just upgraded from my eglu go , to a cube. Now I have additional room (good excuse!) and can use my go as an interim home while they become introduced, I am looking to get a couple more chickens. I currently only have 3 hybrids, RIR x LS and they are adorable. Robust, friendly and complete characters. If I get anymore (only thinking of 2) I would quite like to add a bit of a different look to my little garden flock. I was thinking originally of staying safe and getting a bluebell and a Rhode Rock. My ideal would be a Partridge Pekin Bantam and a Blue or chocolate Orpington Bantam, but I have read that they go broody a lot and can be very noisy. I live with neighbours either side and although they are lovely, I wouldn't want to disturb then with a lot of noise. My girls currently are very quiet, only ever make a bit of a racket if a cat comes in the garden, but otherwise make lovely quiet noises which are in no way offensive. Perfect. I also don't have any experience with broody hens and I don't want to really have to deal with them going broody if it happens regularly?

 

Anyone with these breeds or anyone with a breed suggestion, I would be really grateful for any advice. Friendliness is my main concern as 1st an for most they are pets, eggs are a lovely bonus.

 

Also (sorry for the long post) we bought our current girls as day old chicks, so they are super tame and friendly. Does it make a difference if you buy POL? as in can you still tame them to the same extent over time, or once they reach that age it is too late?

 

Thanks

[mullethunter]

I have pekins.

 

They are lovely and have superb characters and are pretty friendly - they follow me around chatting to me and Bernadette always jumps up on my back for a bit (I got them at 10 weeks). But they are noisy. They moan very loudly if something isn't to their liking - often because someone else won't let them into the nest box when they need to lay an egg. Mine aren't particularly broody. They're 3 years old now, and his year Bernadette hasn't been broody at all, and Shelley was 'walking broody' (she wanted to be broody but he others wouldn't let her sit so she mooches about for a week making broody noises and being generally cross - it was hilarious!) - I think for Pekins they're probably quite unusual in that though.

 

Mine went on holiday to my mums for a few weeks last year, and when they escaped out of their section and in with my mums full sized hybrids, the hybrids took no notice of them.

 

They probably won't be as friendly bought at POL as day olds, but lots of people do manage to get them super tame.

 

I think bantam orp's are pretty similar to Pekins.

[Cat tails]

I thought most here agreed that Bluebells might be the noisiest of all breeds? Could be confusing them with another hybrid though.

[mullethunter]

I think that has been said CT - to be honest I think it's more to do with individuals than breeds.

[Cat tails]

I think that has been said CT - to be honest I think it's more to do with individuals than breeds.

 

Think you are right. But after four Dutch bantams I'm allowing myself to say that they tend to screech... not the most attractive noise. Currently Pickwick is screeching her bedtime story to the others.

[NicolaW77]

Thanks so much for your replies. Thats reassuring about Bantam Pekins. I had heard Bluebells could be noisy. Its so hard deciding isn't it?! everyday I think I've decided and then I read something that makes me reconsider. I do tend to research to the extreme though so perhaps I am going round in circles, and of course as you rightly pointed out, sometimes it's bird specific rather than breed specific.

[AndyRoo]

I thought most here agreed that Bluebells might be the noisiest of all breeds? Could be confusing them with another hybrid though.

 

My Bluebelle is no more or less noisy than any of the others; they're all generally quite quiet - although if I go out to the garden without a treat they will all sometimes squawk for 5 minutes until they understand they're not getting any treats.

[AndyRoo]

Out of all of our girls by far the quietest and most docile is our little red 'ranger' hen. She's both very quiet and very friendly - she'll happily let us pick her up and if she gets out of the run she follows us all around the garden.

 

My mother-in-law has a White Sussex and Buff Orpington both of whom have very similar temperaments to our ranger - although the Orpington doesn't like being handled much.

 

When the time comes to replace hens I've decided that I won't be getting any more Cream Legbars (if you've seen any of my other posts on the subject you'll know ours have turned into mean girls!); however I think I'm going to get a Sussex an Orpington and a Cou Cou Maran / Maran.

[BridieLou]

We've just got a new Amber Star and a Cou Cou Marans (or Speckled Marans).

 

The Amber Star is very docile, but gets picked on by teh others so has become a little jumpy. She's inquisitive but doesn't really like to be held. She's only new though, so she may change.

 

Our fave is Audrey the Cou Cou Marans. She's an absolute delight. Makes glorious gentle clucking noises, and is so docile it's unreal. Very happy to be cuddled from day one. I would definitely recommend this breed. AndyRoo - do it!

[Saja]

This is now my third summer of having a RIR, a Brahma and a Pekin. Two years ago the Pekin went broody very early but didn't want to stay in the coop (because she is at the bottom of the pecking order?) so she used to scream for hours, literally throwing herself at the soft fencing to escape into the rest of the garden. In the end I let them all go completely free range (a mistake I won't repeat if I ever get more chickens). The Pekin laid about three eggs last year before going broody for the whole season(in the coop this time) and this year she laid well for about three months before going broody in some dense undergrowth. I searched everywhere and couldn't find her for days. I had to wait until she came for food and a bath, then followed her back and took the eggs away. Now she's in the coop sitting on the other girl's eggs whenever she gets the chance! Although she is extremely cute (the reason I bought her in the first place, I just couldn't resist her!), I would steer clear of Pekins in the future.

 

The RIR is the boss and is extremely noisy, annoyingly so. The Brahma is very sweet and makes a quiet honking sound. The noisiest she gets is after laying her egg and it's not too bad. Her eggs have a lovely large yolk.

 

I think it depends on the pecking order as to how they behave. None of them lay eggs throughout winter. Good luck with your quest.

[NicolaW77]

Thanks so much for your replies one and all x