The chicken house is nearly ready – apart from its roof (but it would be too heavy to carry into position with it on), we have eating and drinking equipment at the ready as well as a supply of food and litter. There’s even an electric fence waiting to be put up to keep out predators (not to mention cats) but no feathered friends.
However, this has given me time to research ‘makes’ of poultry and peruse local adverts so it may be a blessing in disguise.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Light Sussex hens would be good for a start but the only ones I’ve tracked down are teeny weeny chicks living a good two hours drive away. Now I do know that at that age it’s impossible to sex them so I’d have to bring home more than the four I intended to have. So the problems would be where to keep them – like buy another poultry house – and what to do if there are several cockerels. The neighbours might not appreciate crowing and the hens may not want their ‘advances’ day in day out.
I’ve seen an advertisement for four Black Maran hens aged six weeks. 
That may be a better bet. They lay brown eggs and are said to thrive in damp conditions (Our region is renowned for its rain) but I had rather set my heart on the handsome white Sussex with black necks and tails.
Does anyone have any advice or opinions to offer please?
May 1, 2010 at 2:21 pm |
Strangly I was looking on the Wikaniko website last night and saw 2 DVD’s one keeping hens on a budget and the other Chicken keeping for beginners. I tought of you! Here is the link if you are interested. https://www.wikaniko.com/wexec/order.exe/list?s_cat=31. Good luck anyway. Rosemary
May 3, 2010 at 5:59 pm |
Thanks,
xx
May 1, 2010 at 8:31 pm |
Sorry, we don’t have posh chickens with a pedigree, so I can’t advise on that at all. I’d be inclined not to go for really young chicks myself, if you only want four you really need to know they’re all going to be female. Several people I know who have just a few hens have each one a different breed – the chooks don’t seem to mind and the variations in the eggs are quite interesting – but if you’ve the offer of the right number but the wrong breed, that’s another matter. I’m sure you’ll love them anyway, hens are so soothing!
May 3, 2010 at 8:19 pm |
That’s very sound advice, Zoe, but, as you’ll know by now, I went for the teenies after all.
May 2, 2010 at 4:12 am |
I used to have Bantam chickens, just small size ones, but they are lovely and lays eggs. I think brown eggs are nicer so I would go with the brown layers.
May 3, 2010 at 8:21 pm |
Thank you for your comment Glennis. Now I’m getting into chickens I may well go for some brown egg layers in future. But, shh – don’t tell the family.
May 3, 2010 at 11:13 am |
No advice but interested to know what you will call them!
Jonny B has chickens on his blog but they seem a lot of trouble!
May 3, 2010 at 8:23 pm |
Well, all suggestions for names thankfully received. So far, I had thought of Gert, Daisy, Peggy and Susie for the hens but I’m going to need more names including boy’s please.
May 3, 2010 at 12:47 pm |
I have 6, 3 “ordinary” brown hens which are great layers (ask for poules pondeuses) and 3 black marran- types, who do lay light brown eggs. I am currently getting 5-6 eggs per day! These are shared between 3 of us, but even so, we are frantically researching egg recipes. I’ll send you separately the series of brief tales I wrote for the grand-children which will tell you exactly what it’s like as a debutante chicken-owner.
May 3, 2010 at 8:25 pm |
Thanks Jill. Looking forward to the stories. Why not publish them on your website – with illustrations – maybe a tapestry?