Discussion
I am looking for some info on chickens. The new house I am finally moving too at the end of this week is in a rural location with a good size garden. I am hoping to get a few chickens to supply me and my family eggs and fun for my little boy.
What is a good starter chicken which lay decent size eggs. I'm looking for a chicken which are easy to look after which won't wake me and the few neighbours at first light. My father in law keeps bantam chickens which seems a good breed to start with. The problem is there eggs are small.
So any suggestions on breeds and general hints and tips on keeping chickens.
Thanks
What is a good starter chicken which lay decent size eggs. I'm looking for a chicken which are easy to look after which won't wake me and the few neighbours at first light. My father in law keeps bantam chickens which seems a good breed to start with. The problem is there eggs are small.
So any suggestions on breeds and general hints and tips on keeping chickens.
Thanks
don't have too many tips as it's really my mother in laws domain... but start saving your egg boxes now if hers are anything to go by! Also, you'll never throw food waste in the bin again. Chickens eat pretty nearly everything, including egg shells! Have fun and post some pics when you get some!
Aren't you meant to rescue them from the Hens Trust or some such thing?
My OH keeps asking me, most people we know who've had them have given them away as they couldn't be bothered with them which puts me off.
Whatever you do, make their home fox proof so you don't have to come back whining that the fox did what foxes do!!
My OH keeps asking me, most people we know who've had them have given them away as they couldn't be bothered with them which puts me off.
Whatever you do, make their home fox proof so you don't have to come back whining that the fox did what foxes do!!
When I was a little 'un my parents kept chickens (about 16) and they were Rhode Island Red cross White Sussex, so similar to above. Having just been to the Malvern Autumn Show, where there were chickens (and ducks) being exhibited, I asked one of the judges what would be a good egg laying hen and was advised the following breeds:
Black Rock
Sussex Star
Speckaldy
Blue Ranger
Pied Ranger
These (when of egg laying age and not too old) should all give an egg a day or so (or 300-330 eggs per year) on average.
Black Rock
Sussex Star
Speckaldy
Blue Ranger
Pied Ranger
These (when of egg laying age and not too old) should all give an egg a day or so (or 300-330 eggs per year) on average.
We had them for almost three years. Two separate lots of ex-battery hens.
I loved having them, and you can get surprisingly attached to them (they are very personable) but don't underestimate the bad points too.
I'm not sure if I'd have them again unless I was retired TBH.
In answer to the point above they love the sun (they spread their wings and sunbathe). Not fair to keep them in a dark spot, though they do need a bit of shade to retire to if it's too hot.
I loved having them, and you can get surprisingly attached to them (they are very personable) but don't underestimate the bad points too.
- They will wreck whatever piece of ground you put them on (and you will have to move them periodically due to the amount of crap they produce).
- Unless you have an automatic door opener you need to let them out very early, and be there at dusk to put them away. Otherwise the local fox will be licking it's lips.
- You need to clear crap out of the nestbox daily, and clean it out totally every week or two
- They can suffer from various mites which you need to keep an eye on. Red mite was the worst we suffered. It was horrible and I had to fumigate the entire coop (they can kill the chicken eventually)
- Three of ours died from being egg bound (unable to lay the egg). Not nice watching your pets suffer and have to be put down.
I'm not sure if I'd have them again unless I was retired TBH.
In answer to the point above they love the sun (they spread their wings and sunbathe). Not fair to keep them in a dark spot, though they do need a bit of shade to retire to if it's too hot.
Edited by BigMon on Monday 24th October 12:00
BigMon said:
We had them for almost three years. Two separate lots of ex-battery hens.
I loved having them, and you can get surprisingly attached to them (they are very personable) but don't underestimate the bad points too.
I'm not sure if I'd have them again unless I was retired TBH.
In answer to the point above they love the sun (they spread their wings and sunbathe). Not fair to keep them in a dark spot, though they do need a bit of shade to retire to if it's too hot.
Thanks for the info, not quite the easy bed of roses I was hoping for. We are away a lot and was hoping it would be a case of neighbours/friends feeding and watering them and collecting lovely eggs as payment but it's a bit much to ask them to daily muck out etc. I loved having them, and you can get surprisingly attached to them (they are very personable) but don't underestimate the bad points too.
- They will wreck whatever piece of ground you put them on (and you will have to move them periodically due to the amount of crap they produce).
- Unless you have an automatic door opener you need to let them out very early, and be there at dusk to put them away. Otherwise the local fox will be licking it's lips.
- You need to clear crap out of the nestbox daily, and clean it out totally every week or two
- They can suffer from various mites which you need to keep an eye on. Red mite was the worst we suffered. It was horrible and I had to fumigate the entire coop (they can kill the chicken eventually)
- Three of ours died from being egg bound (unable to lay the egg). Not nice watching your pets suffer and have to be put down.
I'm not sure if I'd have them again unless I was retired TBH.
In answer to the point above they love the sun (they spread their wings and sunbathe). Not fair to keep them in a dark spot, though they do need a bit of shade to retire to if it's too hot.
Edited by BigMon on Monday 24th October 12:00
foxsasha said:
BigMon said:
We had them for almost three years. Two separate lots of ex-battery hens.
I loved having them, and you can get surprisingly attached to them (they are very personable) but don't underestimate the bad points too.
I'm not sure if I'd have them again unless I was retired TBH.
In answer to the point above they love the sun (they spread their wings and sunbathe). Not fair to keep them in a dark spot, though they do need a bit of shade to retire to if it's too hot.
Thanks for the info, not quite the easy bed of roses I was hoping for. We are away a lot and was hoping it would be a case of neighbours/friends feeding and watering them and collecting lovely eggs as payment but it's a bit much to ask them to daily muck out etc. I loved having them, and you can get surprisingly attached to them (they are very personable) but don't underestimate the bad points too.
- They will wreck whatever piece of ground you put them on (and you will have to move them periodically due to the amount of crap they produce).
- Unless you have an automatic door opener you need to let them out very early, and be there at dusk to put them away. Otherwise the local fox will be licking it's lips.
- You need to clear crap out of the nestbox daily, and clean it out totally every week or two
- They can suffer from various mites which you need to keep an eye on. Red mite was the worst we suffered. It was horrible and I had to fumigate the entire coop (they can kill the chicken eventually)
- Three of ours died from being egg bound (unable to lay the egg). Not nice watching your pets suffer and have to be put down.
I'm not sure if I'd have them again unless I was retired TBH.
In answer to the point above they love the sun (they spread their wings and sunbathe). Not fair to keep them in a dark spot, though they do need a bit of shade to retire to if it's too hot.
Edited by BigMon on Monday 24th October 12:00
I only muck mine out weekly, daily jobs don't amount to more than 10 minutes or so, with half an hour or so once a week.
The number of eggs varies substantially from breed to breed, the list above are hybrids & will be good layers year round, black rocks have been the best I've had, some pure breeds will be just about as good, leghorns for example, others much less so.
If you're not going to be able to let them roam totally free make sure you give them as large a run as possible, they'll be much happier than in one of the houses with tiny attached runs that are available.
The number of eggs varies substantially from breed to breed, the list above are hybrids & will be good layers year round, black rocks have been the best I've had, some pure breeds will be just about as good, leghorns for example, others much less so.
If you're not going to be able to let them roam totally free make sure you give them as large a run as possible, they'll be much happier than in one of the houses with tiny attached runs that are available.
I've been keeping Chickens, Ducks and now Sebastopol Geese for around eight years.
If you want your lad to have friendly birds go for the reds/brown egg layers. Light/white birds are often flighty - avoid these. Also keep in mind that they do go off lay. When moulting or in the darker, colder months. Force laying involved lighting and shortens the bird's life (as in cage and barn kept birds).
Rescuing from The British Hen Welfare can be rewarding. It's exciting on collection day - they take a number of birds to a set location, you take a box at an allocated time and it's almost like a drive-thru. Then the fun of watching them get their colour and feathers back, their happiness and confidence gain and then the egg laying begin. One of my rescues laid an egg on the way home! And one is the friendliest bird I've ever had.
It's the most rewarding pet ownership I've ever had.
If you want your lad to have friendly birds go for the reds/brown egg layers. Light/white birds are often flighty - avoid these. Also keep in mind that they do go off lay. When moulting or in the darker, colder months. Force laying involved lighting and shortens the bird's life (as in cage and barn kept birds).
Rescuing from The British Hen Welfare can be rewarding. It's exciting on collection day - they take a number of birds to a set location, you take a box at an allocated time and it's almost like a drive-thru. Then the fun of watching them get their colour and feathers back, their happiness and confidence gain and then the egg laying begin. One of my rescues laid an egg on the way home! And one is the friendliest bird I've ever had.
It's the most rewarding pet ownership I've ever had.
Gretchen said:
I've been keeping Chickens, Ducks and now Sebastopol Geese for around eight years.
If you want your lad to have friendly birds go for the reds/brown egg layers. Light/white birds are often flighty - avoid these. Also keep in mind that they do go off lay. When moulting or in the darker, colder months. Force laying involved lighting and shortens the bird's life (as in cage and barn kept birds).
Rescuing from The British Hen Welfare can be rewarding. It's exciting on collection day - they take a number of birds to a set location, you take a box at an allocated time and it's almost like a drive-thru. Then the fun of watching them get their colour and feathers back, their happiness and confidence gain and then the egg laying begin. One of my rescues laid an egg on the way home! And one is the friendliest bird I've ever had.
It's the most rewarding pet ownership I've ever had.
We got our hens from the Welfare trust HQ in North Devon too.If you want your lad to have friendly birds go for the reds/brown egg layers. Light/white birds are often flighty - avoid these. Also keep in mind that they do go off lay. When moulting or in the darker, colder months. Force laying involved lighting and shortens the bird's life (as in cage and barn kept birds).
Rescuing from The British Hen Welfare can be rewarding. It's exciting on collection day - they take a number of birds to a set location, you take a box at an allocated time and it's almost like a drive-thru. Then the fun of watching them get their colour and feathers back, their happiness and confidence gain and then the egg laying begin. One of my rescues laid an egg on the way home! And one is the friendliest bird I've ever had.
It's the most rewarding pet ownership I've ever had.
Firstly we had Warrens (which are a dark brown) then Amber Lees (which are pale).
I didn't know about reds/browns being friendlier but that's very interesting. The Warrens were much friendlier and personable than the Amber Lees.
BigMon said:
We got our hens from the Welfare trust HQ in North Devon too.
Firstly we had Warrens (which are a dark brown) then Amber Lees (which are pale).
I didn't know about reds/browns being friendlier but that's very interesting. The Warrens were much friendlier and personable than the Amber Lees.
The bigger the bird the more docile, these tend to be the brown egg layers and ginger/red/brown birds. I've also got some Speckledy's who are really friendly. The white birds I've had are really flighty and light weight. Firstly we had Warrens (which are a dark brown) then Amber Lees (which are pale).
I didn't know about reds/browns being friendlier but that's very interesting. The Warrens were much friendlier and personable than the Amber Lees.
I've always wanted Buff Orpington's but not got round to it. Yet.
Mine have their own little paddock. A large section. Of garden fenced off with now eight foot fencing. Some still manage to 'fly' over in to the bigger garden. Despite wing clipping. I made an old shed for mine out of pallets and some nesting boxes, perches, cladding, metal roofing and a gate I was given. Didn't cost me anything except my own time. It's more than solid and secure too.
There are so many coops and runs on the market it's hard to suggest. But keep in mind it's addictive. Go big or you will regret it in twelve months.
If you're local/near to Gloucester I can sell you some point-of-lay Black tails (hybrid cross between the Rhode Isle Red and Light Sussex) in Janurary ...or anyone for that matter. My next flock will be ready in Janurary. Best layers in the World- you'll get 300 eggs per year minimum if you treat them right.
I'm a free range chicken farmer. Got 25,000 of them .
I'm a free range chicken farmer. Got 25,000 of them .
Edited by Prohibiting on Thursday 27th October 13:40
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