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Post by lucyhappy on Jan 16, 2009 17:21:14 GMT -5
Hi guys! Chuffed you've got a forum, We've looked on your main site a few times now and it's nice reading what you get up to  We're just down the road from you, in Garstang. We were planning to call you over the next month or so when we've got our chicken housing finished but I may as well ask for your advice here for the good of the board eh? I covered poultry a little on a course at Myercough many moons ago but I never really got too in-depth, so we ordered some books and have been reading up over winter. We currently live in a semi with a large 40ft x 25ft fully fenced garden at the back. We are a family of three (my husband and I and our 3 year old son) and we also have a large dog (he's pretty placid). We are going to house our chickens in an ark and run my husband is currently constructing but will also free range them as much as possible. We would like 2/3 medium-large birds into/due for their first year of laying, for daily fresh eggs for our family. Due to being in suburbia, having a dog and a small child who I hope will learn loads from keeping chickens (he's very excited about it!) we would like to know which breeds that you stock best fit our criteria: * Good egg laying * Docile/good size to handle for our young son * Quiet (ish) for our suburban position Any advice on breeds and age would be very much appreciated. We would also like to mix breeds, 3 different types...is this possible? Cheers, Lu. x |
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Post by Sarah Holden on Jan 19, 2009 8:22:16 GMT -5
Hi Lucy
Thanks for the message!! sorry im reply so late, we are open all weekend to the public so dont get inside much to check the computer!!
What your doing sounds great.We have two children and the great thing about hens is when kids feed them they get the immediate return (an egg every morning!) We have some family favorites here that make great pets and egg layers. the best two being the amber star and the blackrock. Both breeds can be chased around the garden all day by children and still find the time to lay eggs!!! Neither of those two breeds will ever peck you or be aggressive - they are more likely to want cuddles more than anything! These hens are all 20-22 weeks old so are starting to lay over the next couple of weeks. If you anymore question just give us a call or give us a shout on the forum.
speak soon
sarah
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Post by lucyhappy on Jan 19, 2009 12:59:05 GMT -5
Hello Sarah No worries about the time to reply. I expect all those animals keep you very busy! Those two breeds sound perfect! We really liked the look of both of those on your site so I'm glad they will suit us. We'll be getting the housing finished before the end of Feb I expect. Can we just turn up within your opening times on a Saturday sometime or do we need to ring to arrange? Cheers, Lucy |
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Post by Sarah Holden on Jan 21, 2009 6:31:01 GMT -5
Hi Lucy. If you are coming at the weekend you can just turn up. If its during the week it best to give us a call first
Look forward to seeing you
Regards sarah
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Post by angieptaylor on Jan 21, 2009 17:13:43 GMT -5
Hiya Lu, I have had 3 blackrocks since Oct '08 (when they where 12wks old) and they are blooming marvellous as pets, slug and snail control, cat scarers and entertainment!!! As Sarah is the expert I'm glad she would recommend this breed. Granted it is still very early days for me but I don't know how Sarah gets any work done as when I am at home they distract me from doing anything other than watching them! My blackrocks are very friendly - they come running everytime anyone goes into the garden; they often sit at the patio doors watching us and waiting for the door to open. They spend the entire day walking around and peck, peck, pecking every nook and cranny, staying together in a little gaggle. They easily allow me to pick them up now and regularly jump up onto my back when I am crouched doing gardening or some other task outside. Mine have only started laying over the last 10 days but I have had 2-3 eggs everyday since the first one appeared - they are getting bigger and bigger now (the eggs that is!). We live in a quiet suburban area - the hens had been very quiet with their clucking until they came into lay. I'm not saying they are noisey but when I open the back door to go out to let them out their coop they start making quite a fuss...sounding more like ducks quacking than anything else lol They soon quieten back down though when they get to their food and water. They are beautiful to look at with their feather colours - I know they are not a fancy looking breed but I love them. Angie T |
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Post by lucyhappy on Jan 26, 2009 5:53:56 GMT -5
^ Thanks ever so much Angie, they sound fabulous! I'm excited now. Not long until our coop is finished and then we'll be straight over to Happychicks to look at Sarah's Blackrocks! ;D
Thanks again guys, all the info is very much appreciated.
Lu. x
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Post by kateab on Jan 28, 2009 18:05:30 GMT -5
Hi Lucy
We got 3 ex-batts from Sarah in October and they've been fine. I have a 3 year old (soon to be 4) and a very reticent 2 year old (Sarah will probably remember screaming the place down when we came to get our hens) and our garden is probably a similar size, and we live near Chorley, in a fairly suburban area.
Even tho they are a bit bigger than some of the other breeds, I am glad we have done it. At first, the children would scream if the hens ran towards them or flapped their wings but they have got used to it. So much so that when we went on a recent holiday, we went to a demonstration involving parrots that flew literally right over our heads and they barely flinched. They have given the hens names and they are very proud of their chickens. They also get stupidly excited when we get an egg, even now.
kateab
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Post by lucyhappy on Jan 31, 2009 9:36:17 GMT -5
^ Thank you. It's very interesting to read how other people in a similar situation are getting on with keeping poultry |
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Post by lucyhappy on Mar 1, 2009 13:08:44 GMT -5
Finally got the chicken house finished:  So we took a trip to Happy Chicks today (who's friendly and informative service was fabulous by the way) and we've got our cluckers! ;D Charlotte the Blackrock, Nancy the Bluebelle and Gemma the Sussex...   Our son, Seth is getting to know them and can't wait to let them out to free range next week  The Sussex is very sociable already! I'm really looking forward to having them around. Thanks again for all your help guys! Lu, Tom & Seth. XXx |
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