[3Bluebelles]

Hi Everyone,

We have 5 chickens at the moment, which we have had for almost 3 years. We have 2 Blubelles, a Rhode Rock, a Magpie and a Speckledy. They are in a very large fenced run in our garden, and there is loads of room for a few more. We are thinking of getting 2 or 3 more, just so that we have a good progression of chickens and egg laying. I would like to try a pure breed this time rather than a hybrid, but I am reading so many conflicting things I am not sure.

Can anyone suggest a breed that would be happy to mix and not get too bullied? How much would you expect to pay for a pure breed? Would you go to a breeder or try an auction?

The breeds that look most likely are Sussex, Legbar or Orpington. Are there any other breeds I should consider? Or would anyone suggest Bantams? I do want them for eggs so are they too small to be worth it?

Sorry for so many questions, but any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks,
Jacky.  

[Casey76]

I would expect to pay between £25 and £40 for a pure breed pullet depending on age (breeders normaly work on £5-10 pound per chick, plus £1 - 2 per week in age).

Bantam eggs are lovely.  They seem to have a higher yolk to white ratio, which makes them fantastic to bake with, but you have to adjust your recipes for the difference in size (i.e. use more eggs )

[joyfull]

I would avoid buying from auctions unless you really know what you are looking for or take somebody with you who does - so many have come a cropper by buying cockerels passed off as pullets etc.
If you go to a breeder buy from one whose welfare for their birds comes first - check their cleanliness and condition of their birds.
You could always buy from a poultry show where people showing are genuine enthusiasts 

[3Bluebelles]

Thanks for the advice on Bantam eggs. Would Bantams be able to stand up for themselves with full size chickens?

I agree on the auction front. I don't know enough to decide what to bid for. I have emailed the breeder we got our girls from to ask what she recommends too.

Any suggestions on breeds to get?

Thanks,
Jacky

[yellowpenguin]

Most bantams are best kept with other bantams. We had two full size chickens and they terrified our girls. I love our bantams, their eggs are gorgeous and their characters full of fun. The other plus of bantams is you can have more of them as they are smaller lol.

[joyfull]

I have true bantams (so very tiny), bantams, large fowl and guinea fowl all running together and the large fowl usually ignore the smaller birds 

[3Bluebelles]

Now you've started us thinking - we maybe have room for a separate run for bantams, plus still have the 3 new chickens!

Still had no advice on breeds that people recommend - any ideas?

Thanks,
Jacky

[joyfull]

just choose whatever breed you like the looks of, we all have our own favourite breeds - mine are sabelpoots 

[yellowpenguin]

Mine our welsummers 

[Lindeggs]

As you will be introducing two or three to your existing five and have plenty of room, hopefully bullying won't be too much of an issue.

Just out of curiosity, how big is the run?

Personally I think the suggestion of Light Sussex is a really good one.  I have two in my flock of six pullets, and they are big, brave and beautiful.  They have very calm, docile temperaments and I have found them very easy to keep.  Mine aren't yet laying, but I am told they will be good layers once they start.

Being heavy breeds, they are likely to grow bigger than your current hybrids, and they will be slower to mature.  But then they are likely to live longer and keep laying much longer than your current hens.

I'm also very pleased with the two other heavy breeds I keep - Barred Rocks and Barnevelders.  Both breeds also have lovely temperaments and have been hardy and easy to keep.

[3Bluebelles]

Their original run, which has the house and feeders etc in it is 8' x 16'. We then built them an extra run over the other side of the garden path, which has a sort of tunnel/bridge to it. The extra run is 12' x 12' and is divided into 2 areas. The original idea was to let them into 1 half, while reseeding the other half with grass seed. But we soon learned that it took about 6 weeks a time to grow, and about half a day for them to dig it all up again!

So at the moment they have the use of 200 sq feet of space at any one time, with another 72 sq feet left to rest for a few weeks at a time. This is the area we think that we could give to bantams.

What does anyone think? Are we better putting them all in together? And have we still got room for an extra 3 chickens as well, making it 8 in total? And if bantams in the smaller space, how many should we get?

Cheers everyone for your advice.
Jacky.

[evie2]

My favourite are Sablepoots too they are fantastic, about the size of a wood pigeon and they come in all sorts of colours

[Sassy]

It really is up to you what breed to get. I have Light Sussex and one Cotswold Legbar and I am very happy. Orpingtons are not known for lots of eggs but are lovely docile birds.

As to their cost, it seems to vary depending upon where you live. I have never paid more than £10 for a pure breed at pol, although you could easily pay more for some of the more specialist breeds, colours or for showing.

[hillfooter]

If you want to mix pure breeds & hybrids I'd suggest a less ornate purebreed such as a Sussex, light or buff are attractive and if you get a good strain will lay well.  Don't assume all Sussex are good layers as ther are poorer show strains around which don't lay so well don't be affraid to ask the breeder.  Barnevelders are nice looking hens which should mix well and lay a mid-dark brown egg though they are as prolific.  Welsummers are also attractive and lay a dark teracotta coloured egg but again can be less prolific and less friendly generally.  Attractive graceful hens which will match your bantams for size and are reasonable layers are Vorwerks (a little more difficult to find but worth it).  RIR are excellent layers and reasonably easy to find.  Plymouth Rocks are good layers though not widely available.

Good Marans are difficult to find and there are lots of poor examples for sale so I'd steer clear of these.  I'd also not go for Orps (poor layers of small eggs more suited to pets and showing though beautiful birds), Cream Legbar best kept with other purebreeds or on their own but do lay nice eggs.  I've never kept Wyandottes but these attractive birds birds might be ok though I'm not sure about their laying.   Also I'd steer clear of the larger breeds such as Cochins or Brahmas for mixing with Hybrids also avoid the more exotic showing beeds such as Silkies, Polands, Frizzles or rare breeds for mixing which require special treatment to maintain.

Bantams will mix OK and are very attractive and great charcters but I'd prefer to keep them separate.  Poots may be lovely but their feathery feet mean they need to be kept on clean litter and looked after a little more.  There are excellent Sussex bantams and many other pure breeds available though in bantam varieties.

Find an enthusiast breeder rather than a commercial one and beware of commercial breeders who describe their birds with pure breed names which sound like Sussex  or other pure breeds but are really crosses or hybrids.  Often crosses can be difficult to tell from the pure breed visually at POL.  Expect to pay £20 - £40 for a good quality POL bird.
HF

[OpiumEater]

I agree with the Barnevelder, and Australorps are fantastic, good layers, big and beautiful, and so docile. My Silver Grey Dorking is a little more scatty, but brilliant layer and so attractive.