Diamond egg gal Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Hello, I haven't had chickens for about 18 months after a big fox attack who took out my 4 girls. After the shock of that I decided to leave getting new chocks for a while and then we had some an extension built so I thought it would be best to wait until that was finished. I'm now at the stage of moving my WIR and eglu classic house and thinking about what type of girls to get. I've had hybrids, bathams and a grump White Sussex. Could anyone make any suggestions please? I would like good layers if possible and is there any such breed that is known for being extra friendly. I did like the idea of a Buff Orpington or maybe a Lavender Araucana. Also can anyone recommend some good chicken suppliers in Essex please? Thank you and sorry for all the questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 I think Orpingtons are known for being friendly but not amazing layers. Typically araucanas can be a bit flighty but lay beautiful blue eggs (I have a bantam and she’s no different in temperament to my Wyandotte bantams, but her sister was a flyer so it’s all down to the individual). Hybrids are often the best combination of friendliness and good egg layers - or rescue hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Orpingtons are good and there are utility strains which lay a good number of eggs. There's nothing stopping you getting several breeds and mixing them. We have a mixed flock of Pekins for their character, Cream Legbar for blue eggs and hybrids for year-round eggs I've heard good things about Essex Orpingtons who are near Maldon, Essex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 (edited) Have you got a cube or eglu classic? The eglu is very small for big birds and the cube ladder a problem for some. Orpington’s are very big so you couldn’t have many. Aracaunas are quite large too. And mine haven’t been very friendly. I’ve got Polish Bantams mainly. They seem very long lived. Mine are 10 and 9 and still going strong, but I don’t have eggs. The friendliest are the Pekingese Bantams. You need to think which features matter most to you Edited May 30, 2018 by Patricia W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 It depends what you're after. For eggs: White and partridge leghorns just lay and lay, but they can be quite flightly. My white star does not like to be held, but she will come and eat from my hand. I've been told the partridge type are slightly friendlier, but I've no experience of it. My ranger hens are easily the most friendly, followed by the Bluebelle and the Bovan Nera. The BV is yet to start laying, but I'm told she will lay a lot. The bb lays a lot, however, she is very prone to thin shells which often crack, or she lays softies which are already broken in the cube before we get to them. I've read that this can be an issue with this breed (depending on the 'strain'). As a friendly hen, she's lovely - but I don't recommend them as layers myself. The next friendliest is probably the Light Sussex, who lays well, but her eggs are very small. After that it's the Speckeldy who like the BV is yet to lay. The rangers, the BV and the bluebelle will happily accept being picked up and petted, the others aren't so keen. By far the worst are the two Cream Legbars who lay reasonably well, but I don't even bother trying to hold them: they flap, they scream, they scratch and peck. They absolutely hate it, yet like the Leghorn they will come and eat out of my hand. The MiL had a couple of orpingtons and the blue orpington was so friendly that she'd follow people round the garden and hop up on tables or chairs near them and wait to be petted like a cat or dog. I never saw her do it but MiL insists she would even come and sit on her lap. They're not the best layers, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond egg gal Posted June 9, 2018 Author Share Posted June 9, 2018 Thanks everyone for your replies. Sorry not to post again sooner. (My hubby has been in hospital for the past week) Can anyone recommend a good chicken stockist in Essex at all - maybe near Southend/Rayleigh area. I'm struggling to find a good one. I have used one in Rayleigh before but the choice hasn't always been good. Thanks again. I'm very excited and I have moved my WIR to a new spot in the garden, levelling the area was fun! I need to prep the new base today, sort a new cover as the old one knackered and make a dust bath ready for my new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 I asked a few people in the area who recommended Blackwater Alpacas in Bradwell near Braintree Our Garden Hens in Braintree Smilers Farm near Basildon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond egg gal Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 Thank you Lewis, that's really kind of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
