welshwarrior Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 Not really a sport but good country habit. Anyone know anything about Buff Orpington’s good layers easy going or best avoided? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 Show bird more then bought for laying but if they are not expensive (cheap😂).. Then worth a go, just feed them on good quality layers meal. If you feed them **** they will stop laying or at least lay less often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 (edited) rhode island red....the standard chicken..............when you get fed up with them...they make a good curry Edited August 17, 2019 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 Just got 6 hens from fresh start for hens £2:50 each only ex battery but good layers and cheap ,dunno what make they are though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 Miran crosses usually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted August 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 I’ve inherited some with a house I’ve just bought, will be looking to add more but stuck BO especially the cockerel as he’s massive a cool kids think he’s great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 (edited) We've got shed loads, just had a bantam hatch off 10 chicks. You simply cannot top having your own eggs. We've had ex battery hens in the past, feels nice to give them a decent life. Edit to say I believe we started off with a handful of light Sussex, they were good layers. Edited August 18, 2019 by Farmboy91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 (edited) I like the look of the Orpingtons. Not got any at the moment, mostly Light Sussex with a few Leghorns plus some other I can't remember. We also took in 8 or 10 ex-battery hens some in better condition than others, and two nearly bald. It is something to see these birds going out of the house for the first time and freaking when they walk on grass for the first time. They are eggcellent layers and very friendly. Edited August 18, 2019 by rimfire4969 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 Be careful of rats keep away from house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted August 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 11 hours ago, snow white said: Be careful of rats keep away from house. There along way down the garden and I’ve got my traps out to erm fix them. Where we are there will be rats about nature of the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 On 18/08/2019 at 09:56, Farmboy91 said: We've got shed loads, just had a bantam hatch off 10 chicks. You simply cannot top having your own eggs. We've had ex battery hens in the past, feels nice to give them a decent life. Edit to say I believe we started off with a handful of light Sussex, they were good layers. You can top it, my neighbour gives me his 😁😁 my kids feed them but there not eating all my garden. Amazes me where they will get, great to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestonSalop Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 I've given up with the chickens. Charlie has caused too much destruction, too many times. I certainly agree about the quality of eggs they lay - and that's not necessarily breed dependent - provided they eat quality feed and can rummage in the soil, you'll fine nothing to beat them in the shops. The yolks mine produced were almost luminous and tasted fantastic. Made a difference not just to a fried egg but also to HRH's cakes and other cooking. I'd encourage anyone to give it a go provided you have sufficient room for them. I see those small arks and wonder whether they are actually much better than battery cages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 3 hours ago, Mice! said: You can top it, my neighbour gives me his 😁😁 my kids feed them but there not eating all my garden. Amazes me where they will get, great to watch. No I suppose everything tastes better when it's free haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 On 17/08/2019 at 18:57, ditchman said: rhode island red....the standard chicken..............when you get fed up with them...they make a good curry I didn’t know they could cook! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 The best bit of British aid i have seen in my decades in Africa was.......... The British govt sent a Hatcher/incubatur and a couple of guys and 5000 Rode island red eggs over to Uganda.........they hatched out the eggs....reared the hens to eat...and made the offer to all folk in the bush ...to bring their African cockrels in and they would be slaughtered and given in return 2 Rode Island red cockrels FOC........ within one year the size of the chickens from the bush doubled in size as the Reds carried very dominant jeans.......and within 2 years most of the chickens all looked like rode islands now that is effective aid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 42 minutes ago, ditchman said: The best bit of British aid i have seen in my decades in Africa was.......... The British govt sent a Hatcher/incubatur and a couple of guys and 5000 Rode island red eggs over to Uganda.........they hatched out the eggs....reared the hens to eat...and made the offer to all folk in the bush ...to bring their African cockrels in and they would be slaughtered and given in return 2 Rode Island red cockrels FOC........ within one year the size of the chickens from the bush doubled in size as the Reds carried very dominant jeans.......and within 2 years most of the chickens all looked like rode islands now that is effective aid... That’s one of the best ideas and sensible foreign aid 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Not had buffs but have had rhode island reds and they were a good bird, speckled mirans have been great for the last 5 or so years and laid almost every day. There's loads of rhode crosses like bluebells (lovely birds) and black star (I think that's what it's called ) that also lay well and are decent. For shear egg numbers then the x battery hens are great and will lay well for some time, growing their feathers back as they do so. Just feed them good stuff and let them wander about the garden. Everybody other day mine roam as they please, anymore than that and they get pooy bums. When these go I'll give it a rest for a bit but so far I've had them between 4 and 6 years depending on the bird and they do make good eggs. My only real advice is avoid those with feathered feet as it can sometimes be a pain when the ground is wet and muddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 1 hour ago, GingerCat said: Not had buffs but have had rhode island reds and they were a good bird, speckled mirans have been great for the last 5 or so years and laid almost every day. There's loads of rhode crosses like bluebells (lovely birds) and black star (I think that's what it's called ) that also lay well and are decent. For shear egg numbers then the x battery hens are great and will lay well for some time, growing their feathers back as they do so. Just feed them good stuff and let them wander about the garden. Everybody other day mine roam as they please, anymore than that and they get pooy bums. When these go I'll give it a rest for a bit but so far I've had them between 4 and 6 years depending on the bird and they do make good eggs. My only real advice is avoid those with feathered feet as it can sometimes be a pain when the ground is wet and muddy. my neighbor used to do that........used to let them out for 3 hours every day.........he never had a problem with slugs or snails.....didnt let them out all day as they can start to do some damage...a little bit and often...............the eggs he gave me were mouth watering.......always boiled them so i could get the full flavour.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Early spring when plants are small they can be a pain as they have feet like super effective shovels and will strip ground to dirt in seconds. Once the plants are 6 inches or so they do no real harm. In the winter they are a benefit and save time clearing flower beds. Slugs and snail (or anything else they can eat including frogs, nice and small snakes!) Soon go. Eggs to die for but you soon get "egged in" and give them away. Or sell them 50p for 6 but I want the box back. Pays for themselves easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted August 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2019 Kids are loving the hens Burster the rooster is a bit big and grumpy but the girls are great and come for cuddles and treats dropping at least an egg a day and they are lovely bright yellow yokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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