[death of rats]

I am looking to add to the types of chicken that I keep and have built another compound for them to range in to keep them away from the dogs.
I have turkeys at the other end of the holding and I have an enclosed area for them so they cannot fly out.
I do not want to mix chickens and Turkeys because of the possibility of bio contamination from the chickens to the turkeys, neither do I want to cover another enclosure because of the expense of the net to cover such a large area.
Comments on that please.

The Ideal chicken is one that does not flutter higher than a metre high.
I have thought of silkies since they are incapable of flight. They are swines for going broody though at the drop of a hat or the sun going behind a cloud.
What other breeds are there that will work for me please?

[hen-night]

 Hi, all depends on what you want, is it egg birds, meat birds, or just pets. What birds do you have already..

[death of rats]

The only birds I have are the Crollwitzer turkeys but I used to have several types of silkie bantams. Large fowl silkies may be an option

I would like eggs but not in huge numbers.
I will not use them as meat birds but use them as breeding stock to sell on the young ones.
Really for interest and making a little money to support the feed.
Open to suggestions but the flying out of the pen is the main thing.

[hen-night]

Well in that case your choice is vast, whatever you get just clip one wing below the blood line, that will stop them flying out...Aden...

[Mrs Bee]

Well in that case your choice is vast, whatever you get just clip one wing below the blood line, that will stop them flying out...Aden...

I have clipped all my chickens wings but my three new girls are excape artists and fliers even with their wings clipped

They have shown the old girls what to do and so they all have a go at flying over the electric fence

Have had to build an enclosure to stop them from flying out and off into the garden and into the foxes open mouth 
Clipping the wings doesn't always work.

[kegs]

Well in that case your choice is vast, whatever you get just clip one wing below the blood line, that will stop them flying out...Aden...

I have clipped all my chickens wings but my three new girls are excape artists and fliers even with their wings clipped


Clipping the wings doesn't always work.

Mine too!

What other breeds are there that will work for me please?

I've no experience of them and I think they have a tendency to go broody but what about Orpingtons?

[Lizziechick]

I've had Orpies and in my experience they didnt fly much/at all. They did go broody a fair bit.

[kegs]

Oooh and Cochins too.

[jason g]

black rocks , easy first bird , nice colours mainly black with a fleck of gold on the neck,hardy too

[Cluckyclaire]

I love my hens they are sweet (2 weeks tomorrow i have had them) though have not had an egg yet (19 weeks kiddas so maybe soon? hehe lets hope) but they are lovely Orpingtons and have only got about 2 foot in the air little ninjas so far bless em (one each white, crele,gold lace) breeder i got them from got lots i might have to get some more...one day...ok get lost common sense....lavender cuckoo.....

[ali2]

If you want  regular eggs try the rhode island red/white sussex  you wont be dissappointed !

[JACDORE]

our first girls were black rocks and and rhode reds.  Both great birds, (Would fly over the fence, but 2-3ft max), well for us, cant say for anyone else, good layers, had 2 of each, the reds died first (2yrs ish) and we have 1 of the blacks left after 3years.  Now we have the black and 5 ex-batteries.  None have flown as theyve never been allowed in their past, how sad,.  But yes, i recommend them too like ali2

[bood77]

i would say get a pecan they are small and nice to hadle and very quiet

[joyfull]

my blackrock is 6 now and still laying a few eggs a week (except for winter), she is friendly and although when young would fly over a fence at 3 feet high she couldn't get any higher.