[Arielf]

So yay! I just found out that the place we will be living in has a half acre garden, and the owners are ok with us taking some of the field area as well..so after reading posts and looking at chicken pictures, I so want some.

So.my question..for a beginer, is it better to get point of lay birds, or can I try with some ex battery hens?


Thanks!

Erin

[Bodger]

No contest ! POL everytime. :thumright:

[Vickie & Richard]

Go for it, POL are great, they may take a few weeks to start laying (one of mine was laying within 1 week), but that gives you the chance to get to know them all.  I love my girls!! and i have 2-3 fresh eggs a day from 3 out off 4 hens (one isn't laying yet as she's decided to have a moult first!)

[Arielf]

Go for it, POL are great, they may take a few weeks to start laying (one of mine was laying within 1 week), but that gives you the chance to get to know them all.  I love my girls!! and i have 2-3 fresh eggs a day from 3 out off 4 hens (one isn't laying yet as she's decided to have a moult first!)

Excellent! Thanks for the advise..now I just need to decide on what kind to get.... ^^

[smiler43]

Yeah get POL, excellent, I have 3 girls 2 Amberlinks and 1 Warren, they are lovely, very entertaining too!!  Oh I'm excited now  

[richyrich7]

Hi Erin
POL get my vote too every time  

Whatever you do read the posts in the Poultry info section 1st on buying and then looking after hens. Be careful what you buy, don't buy the skinny little thing with a sneeze that you feel sorry for  

[Arielf]

Hi Erin
POL get my vote too every time  

Whatever you do read the posts in the Poultry info section 1st on buying and then looking after hens. Be careful what you buy, don't buy the skinny little thing with a sneeze that you feel sorry for  

That is actually the first thing I read when I thought about getting them...I need to do some research on breeds now..as I'd like some layers and some meat ones...

[woodburner]

Hi Erin
POL get my vote too every time  

Whatever you do read the posts in the Poultry info section 1st on buying and then looking after hens. Be careful what you buy, don't buy the skinny little thing with a sneeze that you feel sorry for  

That is actually the first thing I read when I thought about getting them...I need to do some research on breeds now..as I'd like some layers and some meat ones...

POL for eggs, but meat birds you would buy as chicks, or maybe hatching eggs.  
Would you be able to kill a healthy bird that you had raised from a chick though?

[Foxy]

Well personally I love having a couple of exbats around -usually tame and cheap and usually 50p to a £1.00.
They are healthy things  (OK maybe a little shabby looking initially) just need a little tlc in the early days until they get their strength back.
From what I have been reading these days -it isn't that easy to source a "so called" healthy POL hen!!!
So why not give a home to a couple of exbats? Cmon you guys have a heart!

[richyrich7]

That is actually the first thing I read when I thought about getting them

   that's great  

[Spadefighter]

I agree Foxy! To watch an ex-bat recover from being a bald, stumbling scrap of feathers to become an active, happy, laying hen is truly rewarding.

[Arielf]

POL for eggs, but meat birds you would buy as chicks, or maybe hatching eggs.  
Would you be able to kill a healthy bird that you had raised from a chick though?

Yes, actually. Our plans include a few sheep (for fiber and food..I'm a spinner/knitter) and a coo or two (I fell in love with highland coos. Must have fuzzy coo.)

I'm more comfertable with eating something that I have raised and know that it has had a good life, then with eating something that has had a miserable existance in a battery farm...

[Oliveview]

Hi Erin
POL get my vote too every time  

 Be careful what you buy, don't buy the skinny little thing with a sneeze that you feel sorry for  

It´s ok richyrich, the man saved the poorly/old hens for me, he saw me coming :x
Pamela

[Foxy]

Hi Erin
POL get my vote too every time  

 Be careful what you buy, don't buy the skinny little thing with a sneeze that you feel sorry for  

It´s ok richyrich, the man saved the poorly/old hens for me, he saw me coming :x
Pamela

You're not wrong! I've heard of soooo many stories of poorly birds bought recently.....  :?
 
well up the ex-bats I say!  

[richyrich7]

Hi Erin
POL get my vote too every time  

 Be careful what you buy, don't buy the skinny little thing with a sneeze that you feel sorry for  

It´s ok richyrich, the man saved the poorly/old hens for me, he saw me coming :x
Pamela

Oop's hope you took it back, I would have done.