best breed

[nemo]

thanks very much for your replies
i wont buy ex battery hens because i saw the ingredient list in a very common feed which is used in a local free range system (free range in sheds)not really a free range system.there was gm soya ,gm maize and it contained a dye to colour the yokes plus many more unnatural ingredients.i use only organic feed it would take month of feeding to rid the ex battery birds of all the chemicals they have been exposed to
i am getting rid of our three hens because they are about 6 years old and haven't supplied enough eggs for a long while now .we are buying eggs to supplement them food isn't cheap so 3 fresh hens will last another 6 years hopefully
if i can find black rock pullets i will definitely give them a go.we aren't looking for anything special in the new birds just good layers of standard eggs.its hard to be picky when it comes to buying poultry in Ireland as breeders are scattered apart each with their own subscribers its rare to see light Sussex etc in the local paper.we once had mixed breeds and bantams they didn't lay particularly well and they kept going broody

[Snadger]

That's why I decided on black rocks, CountryFayre - I know there is an agent near me. Also I read up a bit about them and they sounded just what I was looking for.

I was put off black rocks when told they were prone to feather pecking!

Plymouth rock X RIR cross I believe, and they lay nice dark brown speckled eggs.
After having now kept a few hens that were doomed to be batteries I think the feather pecking thing would probably be for any hen that was bored or in cramped surroundings!
My next foray into chook keeping in the spring will probably involve white egg laying pure breeds or hybrids! May even go for dual purpose such as a Light Sussex trio!

[Paulottie]

I've got Light Sussex...They are beautiful hens...not blessed with any brains but endearing characters....I've got to say though; I'm a bit fed up with them as I haven't seen an egg since late September...they seemed to moult then dry up altogether.

I think part of the problem may have been that I stupidly left the food in a nearby greenhouse for my neighbour to feed the girls while we were on holiday...Mr Rat moved in. I poisoned it, dug out the nest etc. brought a metal dust bin for the food and moved the chooks, and religiously picked up any remaining scraps at night ....still nothing and now its nearly the shortest day.

The thing is Snadger, with a vegetarian wife and 2 kids under seven 'dual purpose' is a bit of a fantasy really....I did go out there waving the roasting tin at them shouting 'No, more Mr. Nice-guy' one day but they could tell I didn't mean it....they know I couldn't bring myself to do it....

[Snadger]

...................The thing is Snadger, with a vegetarian wife and 2 kids under seven 'dual purpose' is a bit of a fantasy really....I did go out there waving the roasting tin at them shouting 'No, more Mr. Nice-guy' one day but they could tell I didn't mean it....they know I couldn't bring myself to do it....

Wonders why you have a large breed of chook which eats a comparatively large amount of food and isn't a renowned egg layer when you have no intention of using them as table birds?
There are some Light Sussex cockerels for sale close to me advertised in the local ad mag............24 weeks old, can be used as breeding stock or as Crimbo lunch......£5 each to a good oven (sorry I mean home!)........I'm sorely tempted!

[Hilary B]

Wonders why you have a large breed of chook which eats a comparatively large amount of food and isn't a renowned egg layer when you have no intention of using them as table birds?
There are some Light Sussex cockerels for sale close to me advertised in the local ad mag............24 weeks old, can be used as breeding stock or as Crimbo lunch......£5 each to a good oven (sorry I mean home!)........I'm sorely tempted!

If you have reason to believe they have been well fed (ie, not too much rubbish-type feed) go for it. Get a few, and have super-quality roast chicken once a week for a month or so. I wouldn't eat them past about 30 weeks of age. They are likely to be too 'cocky' after that, and lose flesh.