Where to buy chickens near Bromley?

[CarolineW]

Does anyone know where we could buy some point of lay chickens? We live in Bromley, but have a car.

Also, could anyone recommend a good book / website (or have any tips yourself ) for a newbie keeping chickens?

Thanks!
Caroline

[MaureenHall]

Don't know where you can buy them near you. Try doing a search on POL's for sale. Also, have you thought about rescuing some ex-battery chickens? Look on the BHWT website for your nearest co-ordinator and next rescue date.
Katie Thear does a good book about chicken keeping, but in my opinion, though it's great to have the book as a stand-by, this forum is where you'll get the best tips and advice.
Best of luck, and keep us posted

[CarolineW]

Thanks, Maureen :-) I considered ex-battery hens, but then decided that they might be a bit difficult for a newbie to start with, and that I'd get 3 'normal' hens first, that know how to be hens, and add 3 ex-battery hens later once I've got more confidence and can help them to learn - or the they can watch the other hens and learn from them. Is it a flawed theory?

Thanks for the tip on the book, I'll get hold of a copy of that. And I agree with you, books have their place, but for expert advice on a specific situation, nothing beats this site :-)

Caroline

[MaureenHall]

I started off with ex-batts, having no experience of keeping chickens at all before. They aren't difficult at all, I think you still have to do the same for them as you do for "normal" chickens, i.e. show them where they sleep and nest, where the food and water is, where they're allowed to wander around freely, and above all show them kindness and love.

[NSB]

I've just ordered some pol. I live in Carshalton Surrey and have scoured the web pages etc, I went to view some today and I'm so happy with the advice and the quality of the birds.

I too am an absolute beginner, and the lady who we went to see breeds chcieksn, she let us handle one, and showed us the products to use, she is based in Leatherhead.

I can fully recommend her. We should be picking ours up in a couple of weeks as our chicken house is flat packed! Have you got your chicken hosue yet?

[CarolineW]

I followed Maureen's advice on the search string to use, and got some on Sunday from Golden Valley Poultry. I'm so thrilled to have them here! I need to wait until next week before I can let them out to freerange with me in the garden (I can only let them out when I'm there 'cos of the foxes), but I chat with them while I'm out and give them tidbits.

I didn't see your post until too late, NSB. But we plan to get 3 more in the spring, and possibly some ex-battery hens too. Perhaps you could PM me the Leatherhead information?