Home grown chickens to eat? (Merged Discussion)

lindseykim13

V_Chic_Chick wrote: »

Sounds like what can be generically referred to as a 'brown hybrid'. These come under various different names such as ISA Brown and Meadowsweet Ranger, depending on the supplier (stupid, I know). One supplier is http://www.meadowsweetpoultry.co.uk/poultry.html

If it was a pure breed then it sounds like it might have been a Rhode Island Red or similar. Can you remember any other details about this breed?

Thanks for that think it may have been the isa brown, anyway perhaps would be easier to ask you guys, whats the best layer and how long to they tend to continue laying for?
We are only looking for 4-5 hens as layers (would only eat them if they died or needed putting out of missery ahh) is there a particular breed thats best for laying in numbers and for the longest? Hope that makes sence.

V_Chic_Chick

lindseykim13 wrote: »

Thanks for that think it may have been the isa brown, anyway perhaps would be easier to ask you guys, whats the best layer and how long to they tend to continue laying for?
We are only looking for 4-5 hens as layers (would only eat them if they died or needed putting out of missery ahh) is there a particular breed thats best for laying in numbers and for the longest? Hope that makes sence.

The hybrids, such as the ISA brown have been created specifically for commercial egg production. This means that they can produce 320 eggs in their first year BUT then they start to 'burn out' and tend to die young (especially if they are given supplementary light). They are very much sprinters rather than cross-country runners. However, they have a reputation for being quite docile, and there are quite a lot of people out there who keep them for pets.

On the other hand, some of the breeds that have traditionally been kept for eggs, such as the Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Welsummer can combine high (but not quite as high as the hybrids) egg production with longevity.

As a general rule for how long they will lay, every year, a hen will lay 80% of the eggs she laid the previous year, so assuming she laid 200 eggs in her first year then (theoretically, there is always an exception) the pattern would go like this:
First year: 200 eggs
Second year: 160 eggs
Third year: 128 eggs
Fourth year: 102 eggs
Fifth year: 82 eggs
Sixth year: 66 eggs
Seventh year: 52 eggs
Eigth year: 42 eggs and so on until they lay so infrequently that they have effectively stopped laying.

Probably the best breed I've ever had from several points of view was the Welsummer - numerous, big brown eggs, friendly & inquisitive, healthy and pretty. Only thing was the fox got her I've only ever owned one, and I did once come across a particularly vicious Welsummer bantam cockerel, but I would highly recommend them. You can see pics here.

This is a fairly useful tool for finding out about breeds which are suitable for your situation but it is a starting point only. (ps where it says hardy in winter, they are referring to American winters with 6 foot of snow, 6 months of the year, so say 'does not matter'. And if it recommends Ameraucanas, then be aware that they aren't available here in the UK). Make sure you research breeds well, and we're always happy to answer your questions here

moonpixiewitch

this is a plea for anyone considering keeping chickens ..... please do not get a cockerel unless you live in a detached house miles from anyone else!!
We live in flats in a rural location with communal gardens , a neighbour in the next block has got himself a peking cockerel and some hens which he has "housed" in an old cable reel covered with tarpaulin in the communal garden of his block no more than 5 metres from our bedroom window. He is apparently breeding them for meat ! His cockerel is free to come and go as it pleases and on average wakes us each morning at 5.30am - :mad: , he refuses to listen to reason and consequently is now going to be dealing with the social housing landlords , asbo team , police and environmental health . We would have had no objection to him keeping hens for eggs , however we do object to being woken by that cockerel at 5.30am!
So please please consider your neighbours if you are thinking about getting a cockerel .
Personally I hope nature takes its course (excuse the pun) and the local fox decides to have chicken for lunch one day:rolleyes:

Lotus-eater

I had a gorgeous Welsummer cockeral that I hatched out from an egg, Lovely looking boy, but we had the same problem as the post above ^ so we had him last easter for dinner. Shame, wanted to breed my own.

V_Chic_Chick

Moonpixiewitch, I'm sure that most of us here are responsible chicken keepers. Your neighbour, on the other hand, is not. I would dearly love to have a cockerel, but as I live in a semi-detatched house in suburbia, I don't. For the same reason, I don't breed, as half of them would be cockerels and I couldn't cope with killing them

It sounds like you are being fairly reasonable with him, and thank you for asking him to do something about the noise before going to the authorities (I have heard stories of people doing the complete opposite and causing unnecessary trouble and ill feeling). Whilst we're at it, this "old cable reel covered with tarpaulin" is in no way, shape or form adequate housing. Keep an eye out for black bits appearing on the cockerel's comb and wattles (the fleshy bits above and below the head) - this is frostbite, and the RSPCA might actually do something if they know that they have frostbite.

lindseykim13

I have read about the use of a light a few times now, they don't need a light do they? Could be tricky riging one up from the bottom of the garden eek, i want them as pets and for the kids to collect a few eggs a day (from 4 chickens) but don't need them to lay tons to be honest i'd like them to live for a good few years but 8 seems like a long time. Saying that though i have a dog who's only 3.

I'm not really fussed what they look like, just some chickens that are easy going and lay enough eggs to keep us going and would be nice if they lived at least 3 years or so. Read a bit about some hybrids getting to heavy in weight and then crushing their own bones and dying, is there a breed thats avoidable for that reason?

Also anyone got a secret supplier on chicken coops/houses that you could share? Am currently browsing ebay. :rolleyes:

Lotus-eater

You don't need a light, it increases egg production in the winter, but I just like to give them a bit of a rest.
Different hybrids presumably will lay for different lengths of time , for example I don't know how long the black rock will lay for.
For a pure breed chicken, they should lay for longer, see v chic chicks posts. Light Sussex, Rhode Island, marans, I've kept them all with success.

Maybe find a local poultry supplier and see what he has, unless you have your heart set on one particular breed. Ask him about laying rates etc.

You're not going to have to worry about hybrids crushing themselves, thats only meat birds inside. The hybrids we are talking about have mostly been bred for free range egg farm production.

On coops, just try and find a local one going cheap, unless you have woodworking skills.
I suspect a square box made from roofing particle board (very cheap) with a pop hole, a door for you to get in and a nesting perch (a bit of wood) would be fine. There are a few other design needs, an area of wire so they can get some air in, a nesting box (an orange crate will do that), it must be off the ground because of rats. A roof of onduline, or I've just read someone recommend a clear plastic corrugated roof, so the red mites don't live underneath it.

Hope that helps.

V_Chic_Chick

As lotus said, you don't need a light to make them lay, it just stops them having a break in winter. Added lighting also has the disadvantage that it causes cancer of the reproductive organs at alarmingly high rates - in the study I saw pretty much all the hens were dead by 3 years old! Needless to say I don't bother with lighting.

As for coops, they are, as a rule, rediculously expensive. However, converting a garden shed (just add pophole, perches and nestbox) can prove a very cost-effective option. However, we made our own coop from plywood (with a clear plastic roof), which has served us very well over the years.

ampersand

http://www.countrysmallholding.com/
Treat yourself to this each month - and enjoy your girls vicariously while you consider/research. For me, the regular Poultry section is usually the highlight, but it's all interesting.
There's an excellent DIY Henhouse/Ark/etc article this month.
(NEVER overlook pallets for much small-scale DIY.
Used them for large decking area over a wild eddying backwater, too.)
Check out their Country Smallholding's small ads for humane dispatcher info/prices(most have website links) - price is pretty consistent countrywide.
Also use their calender to see local Events to visit and learn more - lovely, simple days out.
Finally, check out your local poultry auction.
In East Anglia, Fabian R. Eagle on a Wednesday is good - a fine day out, too.
re: food - in my other life, A. grinds farine for 6 naked neck girls next door, chez J-P. A small sprinkling of wheat and cuddles daily is prized on both sides. Trial and error discoveries - they adore beetroot, loathe carrot, peck beets and rows of things A. leaves in over winter, can swim to the other side of deep-banked ruisseau.
Chickens are a joy - double yolkers most days, sometimes a triple!
Please try.

Lotus-eater

ampersand wrote: »

re: food, in my other life, A. grinds farine for 6 naked neck girls next door, chez J-P. A small sprinkling of wheat and cuddles daily is prized on both sides. Trial and error discoveries - they adore beetroot, loathe carrot, peck beets and rows of things A. leaves in over winter, can swim to the other side.

Maybe its me, but there is not alot of that I understand