Chicken Memorials

[MarthaBrown]

Hi everyone! 

I currently have a wonderful little group of three ex-commercial hens and one little cockerel who I love lots. We have a little bit of extra space at the moment (plenty of free ranging but basing this on secure run space as they’re currently in lockdown plus there are times during the summer etc when I’m not home when they have to stay in their run) and although in the long term we will rescue some more ex-commercials when our bigger run is finished I’d love to have a couple of pure breed hens. 

My reasons are a little selfish I guess. I’d love a couple of ladies who are not as prone to health issues but who will fit in well with my rescues present & future. They’d first & foremost be pets, but I must admit we’re missing the eggs as our girls aren’t laying anymore (one has just had a hormone implant as has had a few issues- fingers crossed it works 🤞), so a few eggs would be great but not the most important thing. 

 

Anyway, that was a bit of a long winded back story to my question of- what pure breeds would fit in well with ex-commercials? I spotted faverolles which sound & look amazing but might be susceptible to bullying I think? Orpingtons sound good, but perhaps there are reasons I’m unaware of that mean they wouldn’t be a good match. 

Buying is all fairly new to me as all our pets are rescues, so feel a bit bad but as we’re in the process of sizing up our facilities it won’t be long until another group of ex-commercials can join us. 

thanks in advance!

 

☺️

Just realised in my attempt to get registered on the forum I’ve doubled up my questions, so apologies. Can’t find a way to delete this second post. 

Edited February 15, 2022 by MarthaBrown

[Beantree]

All pure breeds are going to be bullied, particularly Orpingtons. Commercial hens are quite aggressive; they have to be to survive their environment. The next problem is one of virus immunisation. The commercials will have been immunised and the pure breeds usually not. Now that may not be a problem if you add pure to commercial, but if you ever add commercial to pure the newbies will get stressed and shed their viruses which the pure's will catch. That means they will get all the viruses at the same time and may not survive. At the least they will be extremely ill, as we experienced.

You would need to keep two flocks well apart from each other in my opinion.

[Cat tails]

@Beantree definitely has a point. If considering adding different hens, I think you could try (vaccinated) hybrids. There are more feisty hybrids, although I have no experience with them. 

[mullethunter]

As cattails says you can definitely get hybrids who are vaccinated. I’m sure with a careful introduction you could integrate them with your rescues. Not sure you’d really gain anything though as they are also prone to shortened lives due to their breeding for eggs. 

I’m sure some breeders of pure breeds do vaccinate their birds but I don’t know what against. It may be something worth looking into. And see if you can find anyone who has successfully mixed.

 

[Wh hens]

I also agree with cattails I would go for some hybrids they lay lots of eggs and are vaccinated most gave great personalities. I have a hybrid legbar and 2 purebreeds which are vaccinated but I would go for hybrids as they are always vaccinated and lay lots of eggs they don't live as long but that is really the only con

Hope this helps.

Will

Ps if you do go for hybrids choose the columbine legbars or the Sussex as they are the best 😂

[MarthaBrown]

Thanks for the info and advice everyone, that’s really helpful.

On a slightly different note, when I do reach the point of adding new ladies to the flock, do you think having a cockerel might mean it’d be a bit “easier” when they’re ready mix? I’m thinking of tying it in with building a new run, so that’ll help with keeping them separate to begin with. 
 

Thank you!

[Wh hens]

Keeping then separate for a few days (when they can see each other though) is always best introduction us ideal in spring. A rooster is loud and can be aggressive also there is restrictions where you can actually keep them. Hens are best unless you want to breed or have protection. Cockeral does make adding more hens easier but as I have said they have cons.

[Cat tails]

On 2/16/2022 at 10:07 PM, Wh hens said:

Keeping then separate for a few days (when they can see each other though) is always best introduction us ideal in spring. A rooster is loud and can be aggressive also there is restrictions where you can actually keep them. Hens are best unless you want to breed or have protection. Cockeral does make adding more hens easier but as I have said they have cons.

She already has a cockerel.

I would keep them separate for more than just a few days. Ex commercial ladies can be feisty madams and it can turn bloody quickly. Be prepared to take it slow.

[Daphne]

If you do get another cockerel then you are likely to encounter serious problems if/when you amalgamate the flocks.  If you keep the flocks separate then it is best to keep the males out of sight of one another.  You are likely to get more crowing as well as they will compete.

As everyone has said, unless you can get vaccinated PBs then personally I would avoid.  Buying vaccinated hybrids won't totally solve the problem either as they are bred to lay many eggs early in life and often (but not always) have a short life span.  In terms of PBs I absolutely would not get either faverolles or orpingtons as they are very docile and prone to bullying.  However, be aware that not all hybrids are the same either, in my experience bluebelles are pretty docile so I wouldn't have one of them, and legbar crosses can be very flighty.

[MarthaBrown]

As Cat Tails has said I already have a cockerel and wouldn’t risk another as although he’s fabulous with his ladies he’s not a big fan of me. We’re muddling along ok now though, I just need to walk a certain way and always have an eye on him. 😂🤣 
I’ve read so many different accounts of mixed flocks and introductions there’s certainly a lot to think on. We’re in no rush, so I’ll keep researching and chatting to people and see where we end up. 
 

Thanks.