Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: Martyne on July 07, 2011, 19:35

Title: new chickens
Post by: Martyne on July 07, 2011, 19:35

I unfortunately lost two of my three Loman browns which were about 3 years old. I now only have one left and want to get more because she is by herself. A neighbour has Black Rocks and thinks that they are a bit more hardy than the Lomans. I know very little about chickens so I am unsure about this as well as their nature. The Lomans were very friendly so I do not know what would be the best type to get. It would be purely for eggs. The local poultry farm keeps Lomans, Black Rocks and Marans. Does anyone have any of these types that they could tell me a bit about?

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: joyfull on July 08, 2011, 06:47

I have a blackrock aged 5 and a English Cuckoo Marans aged just under 5, both are excellent birds, hardy and good layers. However my Cuckoo Marans (Brenda Lee) keeps gowing broody - at the moment she has 13 sabelpoot chicks to look after  :)

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: JaK on July 08, 2011, 09:17

I've read they are all very good for eggs (in the Haynes manuel) why not get one of each?

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: Shop Keep on July 08, 2011, 10:31

Quote from: JaK on July 08, 2011, 09:17

I've read they are all very good for eggs (in the Haynes manuel) why not get one of each?

Nah, Two of each.  ;)

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: Dominic on July 08, 2011, 12:21

I've got a black rock, she's no different than the other three breeds I have, very very friendly if they think you might have mixed corn, vaguely interested if you have cherries, otherwise, not interested at all.

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: Diddy Gardener on July 08, 2011, 13:13

I've got 2 black rocks... lovely girls, very friendly, follow you about everywhere (in the hope of food I think). They're both good layers - I would recommend them.

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: daisy1990 on July 08, 2011, 16:08

I agree with the suggestion of getting a selection of breeds then you can have all their many assets (and Ok faults!) it is nice getting different coloured eggs too and easier to tell the girls apart (although our Maran and Speckledy look like twins!)

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: Martyne on July 09, 2011, 20:17

Thankyou for your suggestions I think I may get a couple of each.

Title: Re: new chickens
Post by: ANHBUC on July 09, 2011, 23:10

We have 4 Black Rocks and 2 Bovan Goldlines.  I would agree that the Black Rocks are hardier breed they seem to cope a lot better with the rain.  I can tell which hen has laid which egg as they all have different characteristics.

I am sure you will get great pleasure from whichever breed you decide on.  If you are looking for genuine Black Rocks here is the link to the approved agents

www.theblackrockhatchery.co.uk/agents.htm