| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
poultry breed suggestionsSince we've worked out that hybrids aren't especially long lived we'd like to mix our flock up a bit by adding a couple of pure breeds. Suggestions..The applicants need to be nice natured and friendly We get a reasonable number of big aircraft over so nervous and flighty types need not apply, non broody as there's no cockerel, and reasonable layers but flexible on the last bit We were wondering about Welsumers? Chez what have you got at the mo? |
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| TAVASCAROW |
I keep welsummers & buff sussex.
I like the welsummers, they seem to have more instinct & my neighbors like the teracotta eggs but the buffs are better layers & the cock birds make a decent meal which you can't say about Welsummers. 
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| Calli |
Large orpingtons are lovely to look at and come in pretty colours! Their biggest asset is their placid nature - they are brilliant with children - placidly accepting of childrens handling of them and not much fligh so can be kept in a pen.
Orpingtons scroll down for pictures 
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| RichardW |
Re: poultry breed suggestions
I guess that depends on which hybreds you buy. We have some 4 year old Blackrocks that are still laying enough eggs to cover their costs. Others like warrens become less viable after 2 years. Richard |
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| Jonnyboy |
You'll get as many different opinions as there are posts in this thread
Personally I'm sold on Rhode Island Reds. Hardy, friendly and reliable layers. |
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| judith |
I think the hardest part with the traditional breeds will be finding one that doesn't go broody. They just do - and when one goes, they all do.
This does, however, give you some respite from the eggy onslaught in the early summer! What you need is some of Chez's barnies. Then you will have to come and visit, and finally attend a meeting.
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| woodsprite |
If I could only keep a few hens and no cockerels I'd keep a couple of Wellies and a couple of Light Sussex.
Edited to add Yes You should come to a meeting Mrs F!
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| jocorless |
I love the Barnvelders and the Cream Legbars - I can't comment on Barnvelder's egg production as the little madams haven't started laying yet but I'm totally sold on the Cream Legbars - Lovely blue/green eggs and a far more reliable layer than my ex-batt's who really don't like cold, wet weather and go into a full sulk - whereas the little Legbar lays me an egg 5/6 days out of 7
As I want to have a go at hatching chicks next year for meat and for egg's - I'm going to go for Cream Legbar eggs with a view to expanding the flock with the resulting girls (and eating the boys!) |
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| judith |
Pookie does legbars, doesn't she.
See, you aren't going to get out of visiting, Mrs F!
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
Re: poultry breed suggestions
ours are warren type. They seem especially prone to laying eggs that are too big for them which then break inside resulting in peritonitus 
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| VSS |
have to say i have always found black rocks first class. Also although they are technically a hybrid, they are a first cross. Pretty tough and long lived to. | ||||
| pookie |
I do indeed have legbars, however they do quite often go broody as do the light sussex and barnevelder.
My welsumers have never gone broody though, but the one breed I keep that is well known to never, ever go broody and are fab and funky to look at are the Gold Spangled Appenzella Spitshauben. They lay pure white eggs, are very hardy and easy to train to go back in the run when you want them to. They are the first to go to bed at night, so no chasing or waiting around. They have gold bodies with black spots and instead of a comb they have a funky Tina Turner hair-do! We have had ours for 6 years now and all of our 4 originals are still going strong and still laying! So if you aren't after meat birds and want something a bit unusual, I would recommend them! http://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens&breed=Appenzeller%20Spitzhauben&image_offset=3 |
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| Chez |
I haven't got anything that's going to be POL for three for four months, unfortunately; the oldest I have at the moment are about six weeks. I am also due to have an incubator full hatching today, which would be POL at Christmas ... but so far nothing is happening. I have that horrible sinking 'oh dear, what happened to the electricity supply while I was away' feeling.
I do think that the barnies are very placid; and the LS/Barnie cross seems to be the same. I think the boys from the LS cross fatten quicker if you were thinking of using them to breed your own roast dinners. Pookie has a whole lot of RIR/LS babies - about the same as my oldest growers - but don't know whether she is selling them or keeping them as winter layers. Her internet connection is a bit erratic at the moment though. Edit: Oooooh, there she is!!! *waves* |
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| pookie |
Hey there!
*Waves frantically whilst she still can!!* internet connection very sparse still but have a plot hatching to make it better! 
I will make a list of what I can spare and the prices if anyones interested please pm me. It may be tomorrow though, did I mention my net access is erotic? |
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| Chez |
Shooting the children? 
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| pookie |
well that could be plan B! |
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| vanessa |
You'll have the boys all a-fluster with comments like that 
Our Cream Legbar does go broody, but she doesn't really sit for long ... 4 days is her current record! Easy to break her of it, too ... go in wearing gloves, lift her off the nest and put her outside. Take the egg(s) away. Bingo, she's no longer broody
Strange you don't think Welsummers make good eating, Tavascarow ... we've only had one Welsummer coq, and he was delicious and very meaty! Free-ranging to the end, too. |
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| TAVASCAROW |
At the same killing age the buff sussex (& light. silver & speckled) are probably a good 1-2lb heavier & most of it is breast & thigh. Nothing wrong with Welsummer cocks I eat a few every year but def more meat on a Sussex & the hens make a heavier boiling fowl when they're done laying as well. As has been said in another thread recently for eggs it's not only the breed but finding a decent laying strain. I have kept Orpingtons & Wyandottes but I couldn't recommend either as layers as most strains have been bred for the show bench & egg numbers aren't important. Cuckoo Marans are another I'd recommend.
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| jocorless |
Apart from the fact that all 3 Marans that I have (Cuckoo, Wheaten and Copper Black) are escape artists  - although they also haven't started laying yet - but they do like to sit on the top of the fence and see what is going on!
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| Chez |
I like cuckoo marans, too - they do seem to have a bit more about them than the average chicken. Although obviously, we are talking in Chicken IQ terms, here. | ||||
| lottie |
I like cuckoo marans they lay lovely eggs,are nice natured birds,are easy to sex and good to eat. As far as hybrids not laying for long is concerned we had some speckledys which were very long lived and layed for years--I think it depends what variety you get. I have P.O.L. marans and jersey giants for sale but I don't live near you.
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