What shall i do......... ;)

[Bramble-Poultry]

amrocks are a "made" bird using barred plymouth rock in the make up. They are an autosexing birds, prized for its utility nature for eggs and reasonable carcass.

outwardly it appear similar to the plymouth rock, however the plymouth rock i snow more an exhibition bird, and as such lost its utility nature, so these amrocks were created to be more utility than show

As for carlisle - it is on our "to do" list, just not sure when we wilk make it.

With regards to the commercial blue eggers, i dont know the breed name, they are just listed as "hybrid blue egg layers". i will have a better idea when i see them grow as to what their make up is!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

further to my statement babove about the amrocks being a made bird..... the original cross is an autosexing (not sex linked) cross, and hence they breed true.

in a similar fashion to cream legbar, you can cross mother to son, father to daughter, mother to brother in whatever combination and still determine the sex of the chicks by the colour of the down.

In a sex linked cross such as light sussex x RIR, the chicks are indeed sex linked, however, subsequent crossings of the offspring will not give you the sex linked cross as they are just a hybrid.

Therefore, if you want to create a sex linked cross, you must maintain a flock of the parent stock (in this case RIR and LS) to createthe cross each time, whereas with amrocks etc they are autosexing and will retain this for generations to come.

[RichmondHens]

Polly - I've been toying with the idea of peafowl too. A neighbour across the fields has quite a few. Do you think if I had some they would be attracted to hers and bog off over there? That's my one concern. There's probably only half a mile or so between us across the fields.

[chris]

No bugger by me sells cream legbar (hens), there's a gap in the market BP

They all say we can source eggs and hatch them for you - but that's no good if they all turn out to be cocks!

[Bramble-Poultry]

chrismarks - when i hatch some out i will let you know and you can come and choose yerself some! (as long as you only take cockerels of course )
seriously, if there is really a gap like that thats fine, we do breed them here so will be able to help you out i am sure

richmond, we have peafowl wandering around here, they have 400 acres to play with yet they all seem to wander purely around the farmhouse and surrounding field.

If you do decide to keep peafowl, i would suggest that you keep the birds in a release pen for a while to get used to their surroundings and where the food comes from. Remember too, if you wish to breed from them, you need to have older females, around 2-3 years old in the same way as you do guinea fowl otherwise you run the risk of teh parent stock not being fertile and having a load of "blank" eggs!!

[Glutton4...]

Noooooo - not Pea Fowl - they are the most stupid, annoying, noisy PITA that I've ever met. Well, nearly! They are pretty though!

[jessmorris]

:Seriously, are you heading to any of the Carlisle sales this year? If you are let me know and we could meet up! Bet Jess would join in too.
And now to show my ignorance..what's an Amrock? I've heard the name and am guessing its based on Plymouth rock?

.

Hello IH,
I may go to Carlisle, d'you know when it is?....would be fun to meet up with some chook folk we know from the vine!

[Bramble-Poultry]

I always want to go to Carlisle because they have some really good belgian breeders up there who always sell at the specialist sales, but alas we never make it because Mike is always working or the kids are ill or some other little thing always pops up I live in eternal hope though that we will make it

[walldanzig]

I would like some Chocolate Wynadottes

[RichmondHens]

I would like some Chocolate Wynadottes

Can't you get those in Sainsbury's?

[Bramble-Poultry]

have you seen the price!! £35 each and granted they are choc coloured, but they dont have the shape of a proper wyandotte as they were crossed to an orpington bantam to get he colour over. so you would need to get the orpington bloodline out to get back a a proper wyandotte.

i would wait until the price comes down and the quality goes up!

Bid4poultry.co.uk - Trio chocolate wyandottes Auction, Buy

[OverWyreGrower]

We might be off to carlisle again this year... although if the prices were as high as last year, we'll be looking and not buying!!

[OverWyreGrower]

One on 26th Feb - but we're not going to that as we're at a wedding
One on 9th April - (entries close 18th March)

Rare Breeds - Livestock Sales

[Polly Fouracre]

Polly - I've been toying with the idea of peafowl too. A neighbour across the fields has quite a few. Do you think if I had some they would be attracted to hers and bog off over there? That's my one concern. There's probably only half a mile or so between us across the fields.

I've never kept them but I understand that if you buy an adult it is reccomended you keep it penned for about twelve weeks. I don't suppose you would have much problem with chicks though.
I dare say they may go visiting(but so might your neighbours!) but will come home to roost.

[Glutton4...]

... but will come home to roost.

Unless they prefer roosting on a Neighbour's garden wall, and HONKING VERY LOUDLY at three every morning!!!!!

(Been there, done that...)