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What chicken?

 
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mochyn



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 8:51 am    Post subject: What chicken? Reply with quote
    

OK I've decided: having got ducks, I now want some hens too. Which should I go for? Good layers, tough (as in hardy), some table birds... Where do I start?

pink bouncy



Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 174

PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you're looking for birds to lay eggs and to provide meat as well, light sussex, maran and rhode island reds are the most popular.
I have maran growers at the moment, they are growing very fast and the cockerels are shaping up to be a good table size.
If you are wanting seperate breeds for meat and eggs, hybrid layers are great. They generally keep laying through the winter and do surprisingly well outdoors. Commercial meat birds also do well if they are allowed to live an outdoor life. They take a little longer to grow to table size but they still have lots more breast meat than a fattened cockerel does and taste much better than a factory farmed one.

High Green Farm



Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 10:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

pink bouncy wrote:
Commercial meat birds also do well if they are allowed to live an outdoor life. They take a little longer to grow to table size but they still have lots more breast meat than a fattened cockerel does and taste much better than a factory farmed one.


Anyone know of where I could get some commercial meat birds in Suffolk?

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

High Green Farm wrote:
Anyone know of where I could get some commercial meat birds in Suffolk?


Google came up with:
D.A. Poultry Products, 25 Johnson Road, Burrow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. IP29 5DY. Tel: 01284 810779 Fax: 01284 810137.

High Green Farm



Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks .....I'll try them

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 9:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have no experience with chickens at all, but when I get the space, I'm having white wyandottes, welsomers and dorkings, just because I like them! Himself will probably insist on a speckled hen too.

There are some good pictures here:

https://www.poultrymad.co.uk/chickens/orpington.shtml

and some good advice in the RC cookbook. Or at least I think it is - how would I know?! I just picked the ones that looked pretty!

Lots of people gave advice in the 'chickens with fluffy bottoms' thread too (which is where got the website from!)

Wombat



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire
PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 05 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You can also take a look here:

https://www.gardenpoultry.com/index.html

Wombat

Wombat



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire
PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 05 6:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Actually Mochyn, I have some pure Silver Spangled Hamburg Bantam chicks, some cross Araucana/Gold Campine chicks which lay blue/green eggs, all 7 weeks old. The SSH you could have at going rate, whatever that is, the crosses are free. Last year crosses have been great broodys, with 3 sitting and hatching eggs this year, hence the stock available!

Wombat

mochyn



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales
PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 05 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Aha: when can I come and pick them up, Wombat? Having failed with you on the deuck front, lets have another go with the chickens! Seriously, though, I'm interested. Give me a price, and I'll bring some lemon curd or something to swap for the freebies.

Wombat



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire
PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 05 8:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Wow.....you are keen!
Lemon curd would definately seal a deal.

Look at prices on below, £25, I'm amazed!!!

https://www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/livestock.html

£15 a bird would seem OK to me, what do you think?

Wombat

mochyn



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales
PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 05 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What about I take 3 of th SSHs: 2 f & 1m and several (don't know how many you've got!) of the hybrids?

Wombat



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire
PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 05 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

SSH's, Yes, thats OK providing I have enough females. I will try to sex them this weekend.
I have 9 crosses, but a local wants a couple, I will keep a couple, so 3 again if OK?
Wombat

Wombat



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire
PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 05 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

When do you want to come over to collect?
This sunday afternoon is good or any day in week, as I work from home. Not around next Weds, Nantwich Show!

Wombat

mochyn



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales
PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 05 9:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sounds good 3+3. If you haven't enough SSH females, I'll take a pair, though. That is if you get sex sorted out! (You know what I mean...)

Tuesday would be good for me, unless I can talk the old chap into coming with on Sunday. PM me with how to get there stuff, and see you soon!

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