Home grown chickens to eat? (Merged Discussion)

ampersand

'farine' - flour.
Naked necks - featherless neck type; Google for further info.(makes them look a bit vulture-like, but they're lovely)

Poultrymad Naked Neck

This breed is one of Nature's freaks. It is thought to originate from the area of Transylvania, Romania.
The main characteristic of this breed is that virtually all the neck and crop area is naked of feathering, just rich red coloured skin, giving the birds a revolting yet fascinating appearance.
When first introduced into this country around the 1920's, there was speculation that the birds were the result of crossing chickens and turkeys and for a period they assumed the name of Churkeys. This story was reported by the media at the time and the breed gained much publicity. After their original appeal as novelties faded the breed was left in the hands of just a few stalwarts.
In recent years the breed has once again gained publicity for its ability to withstand the extreme heat of Eastern countries and is consequently being used as part of the breeding programme for their commercial table poultry industry.
Naked Necks have existed in France for centuries as a free ranging meat bird, and they have a good reputation for their ability to forage freely, resulting in plentiful flesh meat.
The large varieties are classed as heavy breeds and when crossed with other breeds the bare neck factor is quite dominant.
The basic body shape of Naked Necks could be described as similar to the Sussex or Rock breeds, with wide shouldered well rounded fronts but not so long backed. The wings are carried fairly high. It has a single medium comb, rich red in colour, as are the face wattles and the front of the crop. The long neck is bare except for a cap of feathers on the back of the head.
The breed exists in a wide range of colours similar to traditional game and is available in miniature in all the colours and are more popular than the large birds in the UK.

• Large Males Kgs (5½ pounds)
• Females Kgs (4½ pounds)
• Hen 4.10 Kgs (9 pounds).

Look here: poultrymad.co.uk. It seems you can visit them - Lincs.
'chez J-P' - French neighbour and caring agriculteur.
Chickens can swim.
h.t.h.

ampersand

rog2 - good morning!
re: Your post 126 :T - you know where I'm about to post/highlight it, don't you?;)

rog2

Lotus-eater wrote: »

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

Don't worry, Lotus. Once you've gotten the hang of Ampersand's 'Francophilic' use of English, you will find that not only is she a veritable fund of information, but a lovely person as well.

tomsolomon

My Grandad always kept chickens. At one time he must have had hundrends of them. I would like to get a couple of hens, and have a few ideas, but I'm not sure where to start.
I have some good ideas for coop's involving a 10" to 1' concrete footing with a couple of courses of bricks on top to stop the local fox's, and the coop built on top.
I remember getting corn feed in big bags for my Grandads chicks from a place called midshires farmers or something like that, but they have moved now.
How much corn would a chicken eat and would it be possible to grow enough corn to feed them? Or would it be better to just get pellets?
I've found a few web sites but not realy what I'm looking for, can anyone help or point me in the right direction?

SEE

tomsolomon wrote: »

My Grandad always kept chickens. At one time he must have had hundrends of them. I would like to get a couple of hens, and have a few ideas, but I'm not sure where to start.
I have some good ideas for coop's involving a 10" to 1' concrete footing with a couple of courses of bricks on top to stop the local fox's, and the coop built on top.
I remember getting corn feed in big bags for my Grandads chicks from a place called midshires farmers or something like that, but they have moved now.
How much corn would a chicken eat and would it be possible to grow enough corn to feed them? Or would it be better to just get pellets?
I've found a few web sites but not realy what I'm looking for, can anyone help or point me in the right direction?

Yay, chucks:T I'm clearing the bottom of my garden for 3 hens, and a cockerel next year:D I'm going to build mine out of timber, and have been told to have a lino floor for ease of cleaning and disinfecting.

I've looked at Cotswold chickens? Their site seems good.

Hawthorn

I'm jealous. I'd love chickens. But not as much as my bull terrier would I suspect

garom_2

Try here they have loads and loads of info/tips/help

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/board,29.0.html

Penelope_Penguin

Take a look here

lhd4

:j :j :j We are having ex battery in a few months
http://www.pandtpoultry.co.uk/index.php/fuseaction/home.content/page/breeds

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/caring-for-battery-hens.php

debbie_dee

hi, we keep chickens have a couple of pens but they are mainly let loose, we use mixed corn and layers pellets from our local farm supplies. but they also have all the lettuce and brassica trimmings from the vegtable plot they also love bread and odd non meat scraps from the house. we have found the best tasting eggs with the darkest yolks come from when the hens get a good varied diet. mine are all friendly so are fine out and are good in patches that i am preparing for planting as they eat all the slugs ( the kids collect the slugs and feed them to the hens..) THe size of the run is more important than the house as they are not inside much, but make sure it is fox and rat proof as rats will take eggs have lost a few that way when we first started.
good luck with them they are great fun and the fresh eggs are yummy.