CatsCube Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I went to my chosen breeder today to make my final selection before collecting the girls next weekend. And I rather liked the Acucanas they had, on account of htme having blue eggs. However because Im having 6 chooks, I really didnt want to sacrifice having any of the others I had planned. But they said they were taking delivery this week of some hybrids that were blue egg layers, but not alwasy reliably so and this was only the second time they were getting them. Now the hybrids I get are interchangable, Im not that fussed, so I was wondering about going for one, but Im struggling to find out anything about them and I dont know what they are called. So Im wondering if anyone here has or has had a blue egg laying hybrid and what they were like temperement wise etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 At my local poultry centre they currently have some blue egg layers, they call them Columbines but I have also seen on the web very similar (or the same!) hybrids called Jasmine. They one of the options when I got my hens last week and I couldn't find a lot of info on them online. The man there said they had been bred in Suffolk so possibly your's will come from the same source? Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I think several breeeders are now experimenting with blue laying hybrids. I have 3! They are from different breeders, but all obviously have the araucana gene in there somewhere. Ruby and Rosie are strongly araucana, I think Bambi is more Cream Legbar. They are lovely hens but a bit more nervous than the other hybrids. Although that could be because none of them have started laying yet. I used to have an araucana who was nervous, but once she started laying became very friendly! But they are notoriously late layers! My araucana was over 30 weeks before she laid, and Ruby and Rosie are now 27 weeks and no eggs! This is Bambi. I was told she has an 80% chance of laying a blue egg. Ruby and Rosie. Rosie (brown) should lay green eggs and Ruby (grey) turquoise eggs. I think they are very decorative anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 Whats their egg laying rate like compared to other hybrids? Are they an egg a day type thing, or are you still sacrificing regular good sized eggs for them being blue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Still waiting to see about these girls, but they should be more consistent than a pure breed. My pure araucana laid 55g eggs approximately every other day. Unfortunately she died in July after only coming into lay in February so I don't know if she would have continued like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I have a Columbine (Cream Legbar hybrid according to the farmer) but she's only 24 weeks so isn't laying yet. I'm hoping for blue eggs .... or any eggs to be honest . She's lovely - really friendly and tame. http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=17757 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 (edited) Hi - we too have just got a columbine - apparently she will start to lay at about 25 weeks plus, and should yield about 250 eggs a year. Temprament wise - they said she'd need a lot of work to become tame - 36 hours into having her she's really happy to have a cuddle - and closes her eyes when you stroke her. She is "bottom" chicken in the pecking order - but definitely likes humans. They had loads of different colours from light grey to browny ones - we chose Midget as she had cool hair! Edited October 29, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 A couple of blue laying hybrids are on my shopping list, but I can't find anywhere around here with any. So,if anyone hears of any in the south east, please let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I have the same breed as Snowy. Henrietta is laying beautiful greeny blue eggs every two days or so and they are quite small at the moment. She is a very cuddly chicken but is definately the most timid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 A couple of blue laying hybrids are on my shopping list, but I can't find anywhere around here with any. So,if anyone hears of any in the south east, please let me know How far are you prepared to travel? The place Im getting mine from is in Eye near Diss in Suffolk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jazz Girls Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 We got our hens from him, and we have been delighted with them. We have a pure-breed Araucana, who lays the most beautiful pale turquoise eggs. Although she isn't as prolific as our other two, she's still managing two or three a week even at this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Here are some more gratuitous pics of Ruby and Rosie - just because they are so pretty! Taken this morning so bang up to date! Still not laying though (nor is Bambi despite being the same age as Helly's Henrietta) But I'm sure R & R will lay any day. Ruby has been sitting in the nest box today and Rosie is hogging the cube steps and keeps popping in and out. Beautiful Ruby with her green ears: Pretty Rosie with her beard, crest and ear muffs! (and green feet ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 they are sooo gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Very fancy hairstyles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 Oh The Jazz Girls, is that 'The Hen House' in Thorndon? If you got your Acacanas from him, what sort of temperment are yours, as they will likley be much the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 A couple of blue laying hybrids are on my shopping list, but I can't find anywhere around here with any. So,if anyone hears of any in the south east, please let me know Sarah, have you tried Cotswold Chickens near us? Jude may have some in, best to call first. My Dolly is an araucana/poland cross and a reliable layer of the most beautiful turquiose eggs - they always make me smile. Unfortunately she is moulting at the moment, so no eggs at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I have Clare, she is out until next Spring. She has put me on to Legbars of Broadway though, so fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jazz Girls Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 We have one Araucana who is very placid and seems to encourage the other two to be the same. The only thing she objects to is being picked up, although our hen friend managed to and she started to purr when she was stroked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 A couple of blue laying hybrids are on my shopping list, but I can't find anywhere around here with any. So,if anyone hears of any in the south east, please let me know Thornes near Letchworth (North Herts) have a load of 16 week old Columbines (I believe that is where Boris70 has just got her's) About 25 miles from the nearest junction of the M25 Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Sounds good. Anyone have a nuber or contact details for him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Sounds good.Anyone have a nuber or contact details for him? Thorne's Garden Nursery and Poultry Centre Stotfold Road Letchworth Garden City Herts SGT6 4JR 01462 675767 Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adeandsu Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Hi there We've got a Skyline, which I was told has a 50% chance of laying a blue egg (although I see online that various percentages are quoted - up to 80%). No eggs yet, at 25 weeks, so I don't know. We bought Cinderella from Martins Wood Chickens in East Sussex: http://www.martinswoodchickens.co.uk although, I see the Skylines aren't listed on the site. Good luck - and I'll let everyone know what happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkleeeeee Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 oh.......... i have just noticed there are two more people from NORWICH i am soooooooooooo excited. i have three cream legbars. i lost count of weeks at 33 and still no eggs but i cant wait for my first blue one. they are really calm and love a cuddle and i have been told they take longer to mature so they lay later (but i think the weather hasnt helped). i know of a lovely breeder in melton constable who i got five of my lovely chooks from, the norfolk greys and cream legbars pm me if you want her phone number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I have Clare, she is out until next Spring. She has put me on to Legbars of Broadway though, so fingers crossed Ooo, let me know if you're going on a trip and I'll tag along, I love Broadway My Araucana cross doesn't much like being picked up - probably because she was already mature when I got her and hadn't been handled much. She's not the most meoldious of birds - she karks and grates and makes horrid noises! I do love her though - she's as daft as a brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 We bought our two columbines from Glencroft poultry in North Yorkshire. He has farms and contacts all over the south of England too. Definately worth a ring, he delivers to local farms/breeders. You can contact them through their website www.glencroftpoultry.co.uk 24 weeks old and still waiting for those promised blue/green eggs!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...