what breed are these?

[johnnyt93]

Hello there,

Have started growing my own this veg year and have been chickens yesterday by my uncle to add to the good life experience. Could someone please tell me what breed they are and point the way with any tips that they feel would be helpful for a beginner.

Thanks in advance.

[pdblake]

Look the same as mine, which are bog standard brown hens (that was what I bought them as anyway), also known as ISA Browns I believe and Warrens I think, though I might be wrong.

They're some kind of Rhode Island Red cross (with a Rhode Island White I think).

[Pumpkin Becki]

That sounds about right pd, the hybrids you've been given johnny will each lay you and egg a day for about 18 months to 2 years before production starts to slow down a little, but they can live 10 years plus given the right care. They don't tend to go broody (although Snadger seems to have one at the moment), and don't go off-lay in the winter either, which the 'breeds' tend to do.

Feed them good quality layers mash or pellets (which ever they are used to), as they will need all the vitamins and minerals to produce your eggs. They'll also need access to grit (to help them grind their food) and oystershell (usually found in mixed grit - to keep their egg shells hard), and they must always have access to water, not only is it cruel not to, but it can throw egg production out for about a fortnight, believe it or not.

And most importantly, enjoy them! They are a lovely calm hen and will do you proud.

[MaureenHall]

I agree, they look like ex-batts, or Warrens. Easy going, friendly, egg a day (mostly). Feed them layers pellets, greens, corn (not too much) and let them have access to plenty of water. Somewhere safe to sleep, somewhere to lay their eggs, and protection from Mr Fox!! Provide shade too for when it's hot, raining, snowing etc but most of all love them and enjoy them

[HayleyB]

Don't kneel down and look at them face to face, you could lose an eye ouch.

Be prepared to spend lots of time watching them (timewasting) as they are theraputic - like fish - and magnetising.

They love grapes and learn that cabbage and all kitchen scraps are to die for - remember they are omnivorous

For full chookish Aunty Mo is the dictionary for general translation services.

Bok bok a chookabok BWARK BWARK - Translation - Welcome to the madvine...........

[Polly Fouracre]

Yes, these are known universally as "Brown Hens" Friendly, reliable layers and as tough as old boots.

[johnnyt93]

Hi again everyone, thanks for all the great advice. As an update got my first egg today however there were some broken ones there this morning too, on 2 of them the shell felt really soft.

My question is do hens eat their eggs, I know it sounds stupid but otherwise I have no idea what happened.

[Pumpkin Becki]

My question is do hens eat their eggs, I know it sounds stupid but otherwise I have no idea what happened.

Hi again Johnny, yes hens do eat their own eggs sometimes. Basically, its a bad habit, which can get started if a hen isn't getting enough calcium and other vitamins/minerals in her diet, so she supplements it by eating eggs. Or sometimes is brought on by boredom (mostly in birds who are confined ie battery/barn kept hens with nothing interesting to stimulate them). There are some methods regularly mentioned to break the habit - filling a blown egg with mustard seems quite popular. Do a 'search' on the vine and I'm sure you'll find loads of ideas.

Soft shelled eggs can again be brought on by poor diet (which is why its really important to feed a good quality layers mash or pellets), or sometimes a very young hen who is only just coming into lay or an elderly hen going off lay may also produce a few oddities, tiny weeny eggs, double yolkers, soft shelled. Just make sure they're getting good feed, access to water and mixed grit at all times, and they should soon settle into a better laying pattern.

One last tip is to make sure you collect the eggs as soon as you can after they've been laid, this reduces the time frame for inquisitive hens to start egg eating.

[Hilary B]

Soft shelled eggs are especially likely to get eaten (possibly the hens don't even realise what it is, or maybe it is just so much easier to get into).
If the only ones getting eaten are 'softies' improvements to calcuim intake should solve it.
Some hens will 'clear up' any broken eggs they find, without being confirmed egg eaters, and eggs can get broken in over-crowded nestboxes (they do like to all use the same one!) so as Pumpkin says, collect ASAP.
If after sorting out these matters you still find that eggs are getting eaten, the only answer is to find and remove the culprit.

[Flummery]

Do you know how old the chickens are Johnny? Young ones just starting to lay or older ones getting on a bit can tend to lay the odd softee. If that's the reason it's not a huge problem but you do need to discourage them from egg eating.

[HayleyB]

I've got three egg eaters, all I can do is get there first regularly

[johnnyt93]

Erm my uncle got them from a farmer who said they were point of lay so I guess they are young but some have feathers missing etc so maybe they were battery hens I don't know.

In the 2 days I have had them they have hidden indoors mostly and did not seem to recognise that they could go outside without some coaxing from me.

[frias]

Don't worry they will be happy to go outside soon. Once they gets used to scratching around they will love it. The softies might just be because they are stressed at the move. My lot will eat a softie but never peck the good eggs.

[Flummery]

Could be that they are young and not into the swing of egg laying yet, or it could be the stress of the move as Frias has said. I hope it stops and doesn't become a habit for you.