Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[Janey4]

Hi All!

Its been almost 4 years since I posted anything on here......my Mum had just rescued some ex batts from the lorry crash on the M62 (I don’t know if anyone remembers that?!) and they lived out their days in her beautiful cottage garden.

I had intended on getting some hens of my own, but decided to postpone it as I was pregnant with my now 3 year old, but the itch to get my own hens is now well overdue being scratched! My coop and aviary pannels are FINALLY going to be used (once I find a joiner to build my run🙄) but I’m already getting excited about the more fun stuff of actually picking my girls....! 

Ive decided to go for Bantams as think they best suit my requirements. They will primarily be pets for me and my daughter, although I can’t say I’m not excited about super fresh eggs again!

The breeds I am interested in are Orpingtons, Perkins and Wyandottes.....could anyone suggest the most suitable out of those three or would it be feasible to have one of each? On paper Perkins sound like my best bet, but I’m slightly cautious about the upkeep of their feathered feet.....!

Also can anyone recommend a breeder that has these birds in the Cheshire area. I don’t mind travelling a bit.

We are goin on holiday in mid June, so will be waiting until after that to get them, so I’m using this time to do my research. 

Look forward to talking chooks with you all!

Jane x

[Cat tails]

Although Sue would be honoured, I’m pretty sure they are called Pekins and not Perkins. 

Luvachicken on here has Pekins, Mullethunter has both Pekins and Wyandottes. Not sure any one has bantam Orpingtons. I myself have a New Hampshire bantam (very reliable chicken and four years on still laying eggs) and Dutch bantams. Both very nice breeds as well. 

[Janey4]

1 hour ago, Cat tails said:

Although Sue would be honoured, I’m pretty sure they are called Pekins and not Perkins. 

Hahaha!! Cant believe I did that not once but twice....!! Doh! ......and I am a bit fan of Ms Perkin, but yes its Pekins I an thinking about.....lol!!

 

[mullethunter]

As Cattails says, I have pekins (well actually only one at the moment) and wyandotte bantams (and an araucana bantam). I found integrating them difficult for a few months but I think that was more due to the fact that the Wyandottes were 18 months old and the pekins only 10 weeks rather than anything else. 

They have now been living happily in a mixed flock for 4 years. I think Wyandottes are supposed to be better egg layers than pekins, but I’ve found hem to be roughly the same. The best of mine lay roughly every other day from March to Sept / Oct while others only a couple of times a week and one of my Wyandottes not at all! The Wyandotte bantam eggs aren’t much smaller than a shop bought medium egg, but the pekin ones are tiny. 

I love both breeds. Ive never done anything special for the pekins foot feathers, but I’m lucky that mine don’t have any mud so at worst are just ever wet and a bit dirty.

No experience of Orpington bantams (would love s gold laced or jubilee one though) but as far as I understand they’re pretty much just pekins with no foot feathers.

Dont think you’d regret choosing any of your options 

 

[Lewis]

I've kept all the breeds mentioned and they will all integrate well in a flock as long as they are the same age when you get them and ideally from the same breeder so they can all be brought home together.

The Wyandottes will be the best layers of the breeds mentioned and they come in lots of colours. Other good laying bantams are Sussex and Plymouth Rock.

I can highly recommend Bev's Rare Breed Poultry (tell her I sent you!) who are based in Cheshire though not sure what breeds she will have available at this time of year. They also do chicken sitting should you need them looking after while you are on holiday  

[Janey4]

Thank you for all your replies!

Are Orphington bantams a similar size to Wyandottes? And Pekins smaller than both of those? I also have looked into Barnevlders -does anyone have any experience with those, although I know that the character of each hen is down to the individual bird?

Phase one of the run is finally complete and now just waiting for the joiner to come back and do the roof.

Also Pear Tree Poultry has the breeds I am interested in....does anyone had any experience of getting chickens from them ?

 

Thank you! 

 

[Cat tails]

Barnevelders are medium large fowl, or are you considering Barnevelder bantams? Haven’t kept them myself but it is a Dutch breed and apparently quite dependable layers.

I still have one New Hampshire bantam and still really like the breed. Hardly ever goes broody and after 4+ years still laying eggs.

Edited June 6, 2018 by Cat tails

[Janey4]

Yes Cat tails it was Barnevelder bantams I was interested in.

Ironically although I haven an egg for breakfast every morning, I'm not massively fussed about reliable egg production, more that they are of a friendly disposition and cute to look at! 

I've been trying to sort some branches today from my Mums house to put in their walk in run and she had a huge pile of rhododendron branches that have been cut down for quite a while....I know that rhododendrons are toxic to chickens, but does anyone know if that includes dead wood from them?

[Janey4]

I've just Googled New Hampshire bantams and they are lovely! 

I think they have some at a little cafe near where I live and have admired them a few times. 

[Cat tails]

They are really pretty chickens and more relaxed and gentle than my Dutch bantams, who are more feisty and much more prone to broodyness. The eggs of Ginger the New Hampshire are a tat smaller than medium shop eggs.

And of course I’ve said the b-word and Ginger is currently trying it out...