Home grown chickens to eat? (Merged Discussion)

tryingtobegreen

Dont need cocks so make sure theyre just hens!

I found the hybrids friendly, funny and good egg producers.
Ive 3 hybrids and 3 pekin bantys. The prue breed pekins are a nightmare and have not laid since i got them in oct. Beautiful tho!

The guys at the allotment have also said there hybrids are more reliable for eggs

tessie_bear

my mum has got rhode island red and they lay loads and are cute

ktp1975

I have Rhode Island Red and agree with previous posters they are good layers, would get Back Rocks next time as I think they are a little more hardy my ladies don't like the cold and wet and I've been told that the Black Rocks are much hardier.

Enjoy your chucks- they're grat fun!

MoJo

We have 3 Warrens and 3 Amber Lee. We got them all at the same time as pullets but the Warrens were a shade older. They get along famously but the Warrens are at the top of the pecking order.
They've been great layers - even when it's snowing!

weezie_2

Check out the omlet website for a breakdown of what each breed is best for.
Personally, we're going to go for the one's that Omlet supply themselves as they seem as good as any - Miss Pepperpot & Ginger ranger - but it's nice to keep the old breeds going if you're inclined.

Mitchell285

i think red Warrens or susexx hybrids are your best bet , thier both freinds and lay an egg every day ( once at a laying age)

I see my chickens as pets and not something that saves money to be honest but we sell on any eggs we dont need for £1 for 6 eggs and this normaly brakes even most months on the food and bedding we spend .

betterlife

hi, ok so ive chopped down some scraggily half dead tree`s at the top of my garden so i can do a veg patch up ther but as there is so much space im seriously thinking of getting some chickens. now the area im thinking of using is a bit grassy/weedy/some tree trunks still in ground etc, theres nothing unsafe so would it be ok to leave it like this and build there fence around this so there can fourage, i will also build them a house to go in this area. when you clean out chickens do you just do there house? also does anyone rear there chickens for eggs and meat, then start the cycle again? what natural food can you feed them on to cut the costs. in trying to become as self sefficient as possible so any help/advice would be greatly appreciated thankyou.

rog2

betterlife wrote: »

hi, ok so ive chopped down some scraggily half dead tree`s at the top of my garden so i can do a veg patch up ther but as there is so much space im seriously thinking of getting some chickens. now the area im thinking of using is a bit grassy/weedy/some tree trunks still in ground etc, theres nothing unsafe so would it be ok to leave it like this and build there fence around this so there can fourage, i will also build them a house to go in this area. when you clean out chickens do you just do there house?

The area that you describe sounds fine, bl. Chickens love to 'forage' for bugs and will soon reduce the weeds and grass. The tree trunks will give them somewhere to 'play' as well as harbouring plenty of bugs for their treats.
Basically you need to keep the house clean, but chickens tend not to mess where they sleep - so plenty of fresh straw so they are comfortable and can form their 'nests' for laying.
I would reccomend that you try to keep their area relatively free of their (quite plentiful) droppings as this can be a potential source of salmonella - most free range farmers move their flocks on a regular basis to avoid the risk.
Whilst your chickens will eat virtually anything (ours love pasta and sweetcorn) you should also feed them with Layers mash/meal to ensure that they get a fully balanced diet with all the proteins they need. It is not too expensive - we pay about £7.00 for 25 kgs and that lasts us ages.

MunnyBoiler

I would recommend you getting ex-battery hens. In return for you providing a retirement home for them, the girls will thank you with a good supply of eggs.

I rehomed my girls via the Battery Hen Welfare Trust and I was a first time chicken keeper when I collected them but it has been a great experience and I will get all my future hens via the BHWT too

poppet

I too vote for rescued hens from the Battery Hen Welfare Trust http://www.bhwt.org.uk/index.php

We have been keeping poultry for 3 or 4 years now and having had various breeds I can honestly say that our little brown rescue hens are by far my favourites. They have such personality and character.

When we first got them, they were quiet and timid and probably confused having never seen the big outdoors before - but after a few weeks they found their feet and their feathers began to grow back and their combs began to turn red again and they were soon scratching and pecking around in the grass like chickens should.

Even if you you only rescue 1 or 2 its a heart warming thing and your little brown hens will reward you with a brown egg each day and alot of laughs.