hens for sale in Scotland

[jennybain]

I have just been told that my wait for ex-battery hens may be very long and I have been advised to try and source them elsewhere. Does anyone know of any laying hens for sale in my area (Fife)?

[parrot1974]

Hi. Don't know about ex-batteries, but this person has some Marans & Orpingtons for sale in Aberdeen:
Practical Poultry Forum - GLO & FCM growers for sale - Aberdeenshire
Might be worth a try - I went with pure breeds as didn't feel I had enough experience to deal with hens with issues.

[jennybain]

thanks for that - unfortunately they have no hens left as they are closing their business for a move apparently.

the search continues......

[Birdie Wife]

Have you had a look in the Practical Poultry magazine? They have a list of suppliers/breeders at the back, there's bound to be someone near you, or at the very least Edinburgh diirection. Also try your local Scotads in the livestock section. There is the Muirfield hatchery at Kinross which is the owner of the Black Rock breed, an excellent choice of hybrid for free ranging (but it might not be the best for confined runs). Failing that, ask around - there's bound to be somewhere near you that stocks the normal brown hens (Isa Brown or Warren hybrids usually). Livestock feed merchants are usually a good bet for information at least.

[parrot1974]

Just checked in July's issue of Practical Poultry. Here are some breeders for you:

AK Poultry, index.htm nr Inverurie, breeds loads of different types. Tel 07789 744101

All Year Round Birds, All Year Round Birds » Home Stock 10 types of hybrid, so a good choice if that's what you're looking for. Tel 0131 3334901

Ben Reay Birds, 01863 766275, Marans, Welsummers and some others.

Breachdown Poultry, Dumfriesshire 07989163119. Orpingtons & Wyandottes. Specialising in Exhibition Buff and Black Orpingtons and Buff Wyandottes | Consistant Quality

Fir Tree Chooks, Aberdeenshire. Tel 01888 551781. Orpingtons, Marans etc. http://fir-tree-chooks.mysite.orange.co.uk

John & Isolbel Gillies, Penmore, Ayrshire. 01465 861202. Point of lay pullets.

Glenstockdale Poultry Tel. 01776 870669. Orpingtons & Wyandottes.

M G Grogan, Caithness. GroganOnline Tel. 01847 841242, 13 breeds of large fowl & hybrids.

Happy Hen Hoose, Moray, Banffshire. Pure breeds & hybrids. :: Happy Hen Hoose :: Breeder and supplier of rare and traditional poultry and hatching eggs from the Moray Coast. Tel. 01542 841100.

Invercharron Poultry 01863 766069 Loads of type of rare breeds.

Miranda McDonald, Aberdeenshire. 01771 653282. Marans, Scots Dumpy, Barnevelder, Leghorns.

Madchickenwoman, 01330 844235. Legbar, Marans, Welsummer & many others.

Middlemuir Croft Poultry www.middlemuircroftpoultry.co.uk Orps, Sussex, Marans etc.

Adam Nodwell, Dumfriesshire. 01576 470888 Rhode Island Reds & Barred Plymouth Rocks
(great birds!!!).

A.McIntyre, Ayr. 01292 591266. Black Rock agent.

Janice Smith, Aberdeenshire. 01651 842397 RIR & others

I have no idea which ones are closest to you, but that should start you off. Have tried to pick ones with a variety of breeds so you could have a look through. Good luck!

[jennybain]

Thanks so much for all that information! I (hopefully) am sorted for my birds now and am getting 3 Warrens tomorrow fro ma relatively local farmer.

Warrens are sweet tempered and heavy layers, or so I am told.

[jennybain]

...and today we have our first egg!

[Birdie Wife]

Hurray! How will you cook it?

[jennybain]

aww, it was so tiny that i just used to to add to a carbonara sauce. Very tasty though.

This one particular hen has laid now for 3 days in a row, seems like the other 2 are far too busy dust bathing though!!
How long should it be before the eggs I am getting will be of a 'normal' size? The hens are 18 weeks at the moment.

[PJB]

Hi, I got my original two from a farm advertised in the smallholder mag in East Linton. The second lot came (much cheaper) from East Links family farm park at Dunbar. Its a great day out if you've got kids and they were £3 each. My husband thought I was mad, but there you go! They have them in great conditions there and my youngins are doing really well. Not sure what you might have in Fife, what about Kathellen, do they have hens? Or Cambo estate? I found it quite difficult to souce hens to start with too. Good Luck.

[jennybain]

Hi - I finally managed to source some through my local feed supply shop. They put me in touch with a local farmer who they thought might be willing to sell some, and he was.

You say you ended up with 2 lots.....how was it introducing the new ones? I hear this can cause problems sometimes.

[elizabeth shepherd]

Dear Jenny, I am looking for a home for a cream legbar baby cockerel 10 weeks old, and live in Fife. yours hopefully, Elizabeth Shepherd

[jennybain]

Thanks Elizabeth, but my neighbours would have something to say about my getting a cockerel.

Hope you manage to find a home soon though.

[homes4hens]

Hi just wanted to point out our existence in case you ever have space in your family for a battery hen or two!
We are a battery hen rescue in Dumfries we always have hens looking for homes. please have a look at our website    - Home for more info.