Feeding advice for bantams (one broody, one moulting)

[emu]

Hello

Hunting for 2 chooks for eglu homecoming April 2008?

Lancashire area,can anyone recommend anywhere I could go to obtain them?

Much appreciated,

from Emu Chickenmum-to-be

[Richard]

Hi. Not offering anywhere for you to get your hens I'm afraid as I'm the wrong area. But I was going to say that I have three Orps and two Buff sussex.

 

If I was having the hens again I would either have the Orps or the buff sussex but not one of each. (OK, there's actually no competition, I'd just have Orpingtons) (or I might have a North Holland Blue as well 'cos they are lovely too).

 

My sussex are nervy and victimy and, if I was to have them again, I'd have just them, not mix them with other breeds - not that they aren't pretty, but they are just so nervous and jumpy and they seem to be life's victims; mine get picked on by everything else, even my disabled Orp that can't walk very well is above them in the pecking order! My friend has a whole flock of light sussex - and they are similar in temprament.

 

The Orps are just great. they are relatively placid, friendly, chatty, and just lovely girls.

 

I will now sit back and wait for a torrent of postings saying how great light sussex are!

[nicki9]

I'm finding myself in agreement with you everwhere today Richard, our new sussex is definitely bottom of the pecking order, despite being as big as the older girls, she is very cuddly though. I'd also agree with what you said on another thread about all being equal inside the cube. Outside our older girls are still terrorising the new ones, but inside harmony (ish) reigns.

 

Anyway, back to this thread, I don't know anywhere in that area, but good luck in the search. What breeds were you thinking of? I'd recommend findiing a breeder and having a look and a chat before you buy, they generally have a wealth of info about what would be most suitable.

 

good luck.

[nicki9]

"What breeds were you thinking of?"

 

OK that's me and the daft questions over with for today.

[feemcg]

It's strange Richard, my Buff Orp (before she decided to be a boy!) was very friendly but very big and clumsy and I felt she/he just didn't 'fit in' to the flock. My Buff Sussex are lovely birds - big, friendly and very inquisitive, not nervy at all - in fact Eddi currently follows me everywhere, so close to my feet I keep tripping over her . Funny how we see different personalities in the same breeds, isn't it .

 

Sorry emu, that doesn't answer you're question at all, probably just confuses you about their temperaments

[Richard]

Funny how we see different personalities in the same breeds, isn't it .

 

 

Thats what makes life so interesting!

 

, my Buff Orp (before she decided to be a boy!)

Dare I ask what this was all about?

[feemcg]

I hatched 2 Buff Orps and was fairly sure they were girls - sold one and kept one (I think we've discussed big Sandy not sleeping in the eglu or cube in a previous thread). It wasn't until 26 weeks that I noticed her saddle feathers starting to droop and look pointy, her head gear was still small. The other owner called me to say her's had crowed but she was keeping him anyway. I kept watching Sandy - I was sure that she would have crowed or 'shown an interest' in the girlies if she was a boy. Eventually she crowed at 29 weeks - still with very small head gear. The week after she'd 'gone' I saw her brother - he was a cockerel in every sense of the word! - definite boy feathering and huge comb and dangly wattles - nothing like Sandy.

So I reckon Sandy was a very late developer or a sex-changer - some chickens do this......and I'm rubbish at sexing

[Richard]

going back to the original posting - you talk about a white Orpington. Is that the same as my splashed ones (white with black markings) or can you get a white one?

I didn't think you could, but then again I don't know much to be honest!

 

Hi Feemcq; I had heard that hens could change sex, I think there's a bit in 'hen and the art of' about one that did. We did talk about big Sandy not being able to get into the Cube - where does he/she sleep now?

 

My girls manage the Cube, but they do have the extra ramps that I put up especially for Arrietty. They must be about 27 weeks or more now and still haven't laid - so I'm getting no eggs at the moment (Evil Georgie is in the middle of her moult and packed up laying over four weeks ago).

 

Oh well, it all comes to he who waits, so they say.

[Martin B]

White ones do exist!

 

 

Aswell as splashed, buff, mottled, blue, black.

 

There are a few other creative colours that people have invented but I can't remember their names.

[Richard]

White ones do exist!

 

 

Aswell as splashed, buff, mottled, blue, black.

 

There are a few other creative colours that people have invented but I can't remember their names.

 

thanks Martin - shows how little I know!

[feemcg]

I think White Orps are harder to find - emu you might want to post on Practical Poultry forum. I've seen hatching eggs advertised on ebay saying they are very rare.

Richard, big Sandy went for a long sleep I'm afraid .

[Richard]

Richard, big Sandy went for a long sleep I'm afraid .

 

Oh dear - sorry I brought it up.

[emu]

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE FOLKS BUT I THINK I SHALL STICK TO LIGHT SUSSEX AND WHITE ORPINGTON IF I CAN GET HOLD OF THEM!

MIGHT GO FOR TWO SUSSEX VS ONE BOLSHY ORPINGTON- CANT SEE THEM BEING TOO TIMID IN PAIRS!

JUST COLLECTED THE CHOOK MANSION(V HAPPY

NOW NEED THE CHOOKIES AROUND EASTER TIME

[Richard]

MIGHT GO FOR TWO SUSSEX VS ONE BOLSHY ORPINGTON- CANT SEE THEM BEING TOO TIMID IN PAIRS!

JUST COLLECTED THE CHOOK MANSION(V HAPPY

NOW NEED THE CHOOKIES AROUND EASTER TIME

 

Orps aren't bolshy!!! They are lovely. I won't hear a word against them!!!

 

Seriously though, you get what you feel you want - different hens have different personalities (although I think its fair to say that on the whole the bigger girls are more placid) and no matter what the breed you may get a bolshy one or a timid one.

 

Whatever, I'm sure they will be lovely.

but they will be lovelyerer if they are Orpingtons.

[emu]

ALL CHICKENS ARE SUPERB FROM THE RHODDIES TO THE SILKIES- ITS JUST A CONFUSING MINDFIELD OUT THERE BUT MY MIND IS SET TO INCLUDE AN ORP IN THE EGLU.REALLY CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR THE NEWS OF AN ORPIE AND SUSSEX COMING TO ROOST IN THE EGLUHOME.

EMU-SOON TO BE CHICKENMUM

[chickenlass]

EMU-SOON TO BE CHICKENMUM

LOL ..Whatever you choose your going to love it! lovely to meet you today.

[emu]

WELL THANKS TO YOUR GOOD SELF I AM SURE WE'LL BOTH BE HOOKED. AND WE ARE HALFWAY THERE NOW WE HAVE THE ACCOMODATION- PICKED UP FROM THE ONE AND ONLY CHICKENLASS A FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE TO THOSE LOVELY EX BATTS - TALLULAH,ANGELICA AND MARGO-AAH FOR THE GOOD LIFE!