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Post by MamIDdau on Jul 14, 2008 12:22:05 GMT
I've ground my OH down on the chicken issue. He's said "next year" now so when next year comes I'll start badgering again... However, I'm not letting him forget that I still want them and I know someone who can supply them ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2008 13:40:36 GMT
Ooh, I'm loving silkies! They look like Big Bird from 'Sesame Street'! ;D I'd quite like one of those....I'm also thinking of Pekin bantams. My research suggests that they are friendly, good with children and can't fly. Anyone?  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2008 20:24:46 GMT
Hi, chicken lovers! ;D As you might have read, we briefly had a kitten  . As we couldn't keep her  , DH is coming around to the idea of chickens! I phoned the local council to ask if we were allowed to keep two as pets, but no one seemed to know  So, I figure that if I'm only having a couple, it shouldn't be a problem Any advice on breeds for a novice chicken keeper? Never say never with the allergies, though as the chickens will not be staying in your house, it should be ok even if he has an allergy. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2008 20:33:57 GMT
Try your local library for a poultry husbandry book to cut costs, or (i have some internet links on my work lappy I can look out for you if you'd like?)
You can look & find the breed that catches your eye & then search for a breeder in your area. Or your local auction mart may have a poultry sale of birds and or equipment. If you buy second hand equipment be careful to disinfect thoroughly before use.
I suggest 2 hens & 1 cockerel (if you want one) to start with. Please remember they are livestock & not pets. I suggest registering with the DEFRA GB Poultry Register for updated info & for reasons of biosecurity.
Do remember that at peak lay & peak lighting condition the girls will lay nearly an egg a day each, so don't overdo it to start with.
Good Luck! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2008 14:01:46 GMT
Hi genie  I am planning on a couple of bantam hens, and possibly a silkie, but no cockeral. I was actually planning to have them as pets  Is there a reason that I shouldn't? |
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Post by nightowl on Jul 16, 2008 7:51:14 GMT
I think you are right not to have a cockerel RM Apart from the fact that he might attack you, you'll avoid noise issues with the neighbours Also, personally I wouldn't fancy the idea of eating fertilised eggs! The knowledge that I was scoffing a potential 'ickle baby chick would put me right off!!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2008 18:33:29 GMT
No keeping them as pets is not a problem, however in my job I see a lot of people buying considerable numbers of hens & they do not appreciate the work they require or number of eggs they produce. They then often have to market them via retail premises & need to be registered with us & environmental health. Many did not realise what they were getting in to. If you are in a built up area avoid a cockerel. The small number you are thinking of sounds fine though. I have a definte soft spot for silkies myself, and have a few producers with some beauties. |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jul 16, 2008 18:39:21 GMT
NO, if you'd seen my cockerel you'd have wanted to hug him! There's no way he would have attacked someone - such a love. The ladies kept him in check rather than the other way round. He'd strut around like he was the business though! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2008 10:19:35 GMT
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Post by Missredhead on Jul 17, 2008 13:30:21 GMT
Wow.........that looks good RM
I'm sure the chickens will be very comfy in there.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2008 19:19:48 GMT
RM
An excellent choice of shed, not too much room inside so that they's be cold on winter nights, nice door for human access & outside egg collection boxes, with a run as well, they will be very lucky girls when they arrive.
What litter material were you thinking off for the nest boxes or floor area? Sand is good, wood shavings are good too, though they can get damp & clumpy quickly in bad weather (any local yards may give you some for free. Be careful with straw, sometimes mites in the straw can be past on to the hens.
can't wait to see photos of the girls when they arrive! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2008 20:13:27 GMT
Aw, thanks genie  I'm a complete novice, but keen to learn Expect to be harassed for advice! ;D |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jul 18, 2008 6:34:11 GMT
That looks like a great coop RM and a really good price too. Cant wait to see pics of the girls |
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Post by nightowl on Jul 18, 2008 11:43:53 GMT
NO, if you'd seen my cockerel you'd have wanted to hug him! There's no way he would have attacked someone - such a love. The ladies kept him in check rather than the other way round. He'd strut around like he was the business though! ;D What sort was he Shrub? I think it's the banty cocks (the ones that look like fighting cocks!) that tend to have a go, isn't it? A friend of mine had a HUGE Cuckoo Maran cockerel that was soft like yours! |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jul 18, 2008 18:45:42 GMT
He was a Wyandotte NO - gorgeous ginger brown, green and gold colours. Such a character but so under the thumb! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2008 19:34:53 GMT
Can I just ask all of you chicken owners where you managed to get your girls from? I'm in the midlands and am struggling to find a breeder for silkies. I've tracked down somewhere for the pekins Any advice much appreciated! ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2008 20:42:16 GMT
www.bestofbreeds.com/countrybreeds/poultry/poultry.htmI see my local site is right at the top of this, sorry but my Englandshire geography is terrible. This however will not guarantee the quality of hens provided. As a new comer to hens try to ensure that any you are going to buy are of the right weight & age you think you are buying, means eggs quicker & stronger better quality birds.
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Post by carolann on Jul 22, 2008 7:50:31 GMT
Rosemother, get the Farmer Guardian which comes out on Fridays, there is a poultry section in there and there may be someone in your area. Also check you home deeds to see if you can keep chickens, we had 2 policemen around at the weekend and one of them was interested in getting just a few chickens and it was listed on his home deeds along with cats & dog etc. Never knew about that. I use Straw for the nest boxes which gets changed every 2 weeks and the nest boxes are sprayed for Red Mite as well as the perches and the drop tray. I use Sawdust on the floor. As for Cockerels mine hates me with a passion, he hates it when all his girls come running to me and he has tried to get me on a number of occasions so now I carry a stick with me, he has had a few clouts with it I can tell you, you don't need one but the hens can be a bit of a pest when they run up to you and crouch down to be treaded, you end up falling over the darn things, but if you only have 3 that is enough for a family of 4 people. Make sure you buy POL (Point of Lay) birds as these are ready within a few weeks to start laying for you. Also I would read as much as you can about the different breeds and how big they grow. Good luck and if you need any help you know there are lots of us on here who have them.
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 22, 2008 10:00:33 GMT
I'm afraid it's a case of trawling through sites like Genie posted or searching via Google or as Carolann suggested get the Farmer Guardian. I was lucky enough to find a farm only a few miles away that sold POL chickens ready vacinated, they don't do Silkies though ;( Good Luck |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jul 22, 2008 17:30:31 GMT
Might be a slightly unorthodox approach this, but we asked a woman on our local market who sold fresh, free range eggs where she had got hers from. She invited us up to have a look at her hens and was willing to let us have two 'Blues' on POL. She explained how to care for them and what common pests etc to look out for. Plus we got to see the conditions they'd been reared in (very good!) and how they behaved. |
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Post by carolann on Jul 22, 2008 19:39:48 GMT
At 5pm tonight my daughter was feeding her horse which is up the yard from the house, she heard a rustling about 10ft away but thought it was the cat jumping on a mouse then she heard a loud clucking and looked round to see a fox taking one of our chickens, she shouted at it and it dropped it and ran towards the fence then just stood there, she shouted for her dad who ran out then ran back for the gun. Bang and it was dead, I went and picked up the chicken which was clucking and throwing its head about but the poor love died in my arms, not a single drop of blood was on it but it had puncture wounds on its back, but I know that bugger wont be back to take anymore chickens.
At the top of the page is an advert for chicken breeds I just clicked on it and it came up with chickens in your local area, hope you get the same adverts at the top RM.
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Post by MamIDdau on Jul 24, 2008 12:52:45 GMT
Poor chicken I believe foxes tend to stay away where there are homes with dogs so we might be alright seeing as Eric hasn't got 1 particular spot where he likes to go and prefers to water the whole garden at some point or another... |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2008 20:41:11 GMT
At our last allotment committe meeting a member brought up the question about chickens and that she had some at home and would like to bring them down if she could.
They will be looking into the rules to see if we are allowed if we are im going to get some too other members are also interested.
If we can i will be asking for advice.
Karen x
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Post by Missredhead on Jul 24, 2008 21:28:28 GMT
I went to a large GC today and they had chickens for sale....there were some pekins and some other type (can't remember what they were called.....all only £22 each.....I thought that they were more expensive than that...The coops that they were in didn't look big enough IMO.
But what do I know?
They did have bigger ones for sale though.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2008 19:44:52 GMT
Well, here are my girls! ;D  Maude  Mabel  Maude and Mabel |
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Post by Missredhead on Jul 31, 2008 20:31:07 GMT
Awww...bless them, they are cute and I love their names
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2008 23:18:57 GMT
They look happy thats the main thing and i bet you get great eggs.
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Post by Chuckles on Aug 1, 2008 20:31:37 GMT
They look lovely girls RM. Are you all set up now.
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Post by carolann on Aug 2, 2008 8:20:23 GMT
They are 2 beauties RM, how old are they? Just wait till you get your first egg, and the squabble of who is going to have it ;D
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2008 18:29:31 GMT
Lovely girls! There will be eggs soon, small pullets eggs to start with or maybe even some double yolkers. ;D
Remember the girls will lay according to daylight length so in Winter they may lay virtually no eggs unless you put artificial light in their houses. Or you can leave them to be more natural & allow a recovery period throughout the darker nights.
To save on feed costs although you can buy layers pellets or mash, some whole grain, bread kitchen scraps can also be fed to supplement this.
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. As we couldn't keep her 
, DH is coming around to the idea of chickens! I phoned the local council to ask if we were allowed to keep two as pets, but no one seemed to know 
So, I figure that if I'm only having a couple, it shouldn't be a problem 
I am planning on a couple of bantam hens, and possibly a silkie, but no cockeral. I was actually planning to have them as pets 
Is there a reason that I shouldn't? 
