Buying chickens

[Crabapple]

All the talk of chickens in Grow Your Own has made me very keen on buying one or preferably two (I don't want them getting lonely!) The only drawback is it s seems like a strong commitment - it's like having a pet,really! Are there any new chook owners who can recommend it (or otherwsie!)? Advice much apprecieatd! Thank you!

[Little chick]

I bought my chickens and Eglu from Omlet just over a year ago and it is the best thing I have ever done...........They make such good pets and are very tame, I only have a small garden and limited time to clean out the chickens but with an Eglu it only takes me 30 mins to clean the lot with a hose pipe.

The chickens that came with the Eglu are Hybrids and they lay an egg almost every day even during the winter, they are very easy to look after and don't need much space if you only plan to keep 2 or 3......

Go for it they are great fun................

[landgirl]

Eggcellent rewards

I've been keeping chickens for 9 years, and they have given me hours of entertainment, as well as thousands of eggs. At the moment there are 15 hens and one bantam cockerel called Kevin. There's a place called The One-stop Chicken Shop in Grantham, and mine have come from there in recent years. They cost between £4 and £35 (rare breeds) but the hybrids are cheap, very hardy and most are suitable for free range. My next door neighbour is happy to look after them when I go away, in return for eggs! I'd start with 3 hens if your garden is quite small. Go on - have some fun!

[dragonz]

where abouts in Grantham? I live just down the road in sleaford and one of my mates is interested in getting chickens, I might be too mmmmmmmmmmm fresh eggs mmmmmmmmmmm

[landgirl]

It's in Belton, on a minor road just off the A607. Hope you find it OK!

[dragonz]

thanks mmmmmmmmmmmm eggs

[sarah]

chooks

hiya, ive just got hold of 5 Lohman Brown hens which are really great layers, have mostly 4 eggs a day, sometimes 5, once 6!(five normal and one soft shell). Very tame breed, they even let my year and half old son play with them without wincing! i'm veggie but even if I wasn't I couldnt eat them, they are part of the family and when the real family are playing up its lovely to slope off up to the run with a cold bottle and it amongst my feathered chums.

Anyone else of similar age / location etc to myself? 27 live in suffolk, large veg plot on site, doing HCC college course in RHS lev 1 and 2, recommend it to anyone, llok in back of GYO for more info.

Hope to make some new chums.

[poultrychat]

Hi there,

I keep about 80 ckickens and breed my own pure breeds, my laying flock is about 60 and they are all different breeds, I can't recommend chickens enough, they are wonderful creatures

[Lizf678]

I have kept chickens, maximum 6, for 9 years, they are terrific, get a good book, keep them clean, wellfed and safe from foxes and you will never regret it. Don't be misled into thinking they're dim, the are not! They just view life in a chicken way. They become very tame, cheerful companions and lay lovely eggs!

[dni_dave]

Eggs then meat

Fellow Grapes,

the good lady has mentioned getting chickens which I'm coming around to. A friend at her work keeps lots of chickens and various other birds so will be good for advice. Her eggs are by far the best I have tasted. Better colour, better taste, better shell - in fact I can highly recommend getting them over supermarket eggs anytime.

The trouble is I know that we will both become attached to them and they will never ever end up on the table. I watched Hugh's chicken taste test program the other day and it got me thinking again.

I've only ever shot pigeons as they were a nuisance in the barn and they made a great burger with roadkill pheasant and venison. Could I stretch a poor chickens neck? Not sure.

The concern I have is that I'll end up with loads of chickens (we'll add more as they don't lay I expect) that don't lay and just turn good money into fertiliser, which is the pony's job at the moment.

I think I just want someone with experience to pat my hand, say some soothing words and recommend it.

[poultrychat]

Hi dni_dave,

If you got hybrids like the black rocks then they will be laying for a good few years and are good at laying through the winter as well although not in such good numbers. The higher the number of eggs a year a chicken lays normally the less years a chicken will live therefore pure breeds will lay less a year, and few during the winter, but will live to a ripe old age. I'm vegetarian so therefore wouldn't dream of eating any of my chickens but I know many people do and if you are going to eat chickens then what could be better than eating your own, they have had a good life and you would also be cutting out the supermarkets that pack 'em high and treat them terribly in most cases.

[dni_dave]

I've done it!

Thanks poultrychat

I've just ordered Starting with Chickens written by Katie Thear as recommended on another thread. I saw there is a whole host of other books for beginners as well on sheep and pigs etc.

If I can get the good lady not to open the parcel while I'm away then she will get it for Xmas. As I also ordered the book on building the runs as well she can see what she would like and we can build it and then fill it.

Thanks for getting back to me. No doubt I'll be in touch asking for advice on buying them in the New Year.

[poultrychat]

Building your own house is very satisfying and cheaper than anything you can buy, it also means that you can alter it to suit yourself

[Lottie]

Congratulations Dave

You will not regret getting chickens - and if Father Christmas in bringing the books too, well you will be top of the pecking order I bet.

Keep us posted won't you. I only have three and they have given me so much fun and are so comical - you can catch a glimpse of them here in the archives from 9th November onwards

http://kooringa.blogspot.com

[CityChick]

...The trouble is I know that we will both become attached to them and they will never ever end up on the table. I watched Hugh's chicken taste test program the other day and it got me thinking again.

I'm hoping to grow my own chooks for meat at some point in the future too (can't here - not enough space and neighbours too close for a cockerel, but one day...).

Best advice I've read from other forums is:

1 To help get less attached to them, don't name them and get them all the same sort. Think of them more as a crop right from the start, rather than pet egg laying chooks.

2 When the time comes, get someone experienced to show you how to dispatch them - and take over, if necessary, when you have a go. Have heard some horrible stories on poultry forums of people trying to dispatch their first chook and it not going quickly or smoothly. That must be absolutely horrible to happen.

Read on the River Cottage forum that HFW's latest preference taste wise is for an Orpington cockerel x Dorking hen...

Hmmm.... roast chicken....