Hens Again

Mooneen

HI Guys,

Hope you can help, I am looking to get come chickens (4 or 5) in the next week or two, (first timer) the chickens are really for the kids as pets and for them to look after, I was wondering
1) if it is best to get the chicks younger than POL so that they get used to been handled by youngs kids
2) can anyone recommend a reliable place to puchase chicks in the South kilkenny area (replies by PM please)

aonb

Mooneen wrote: »

HI Guys,

Hope you can help, I am looking to get come chickens (4 or 5) in the next week or two, (first timer) the chickens are really for the kids as pets and for them to look after, I was wondering
1) if it is best to get the chicks younger than POL so that they get used to been handled by youngs kids
2) can anyone recommend a reliable place to puchase chicks in the South kilkenny area (replies by PM please)

2)Check out IRISHFOWL.IE and FOWL.IE for breeders/poultry for sale in your area. I will also PM you with a breeder Ive heard of nearby, but have no experience of.

1) if you are a first timer, you might be better to get POL hens, on the grounds that they are reared for you. Hens are relatively pretty fragile beings. Talk to the breeders, and see whats available and which breeds are more handling-friendly. I have hybrids that are really timid and nervous and HATE being handled, while some hybrids are fine. Ditto with some pure breeds Ive had. Orpingtons are pretty friendly.

Couple of words of advise:
If they are not going to be free range, get the BIGGEST run that you can possibly manage. If possible at all I would build your own run - the custom made things that are attached to a coop are a joke.
Get a hopper (for pellets) with an 'umbrella' top, save $$ on wet/ruined pellets
Always, always have water available, they drink a surprising amount
Pellets are a 'perfect' food for hens - giving them scraps is fine, but they will turn their beaks up at pellets if they get in the habit of scraps, and the egg quality/their health will suffer
Make sure the breeder shows you how to pick up/handle hens - specially for your children

Let us know how you go!
good luck!

Qualitymark

If they're pets for children, be sure to get a gentle breed (I wouldn't personally go for the biggest). Make sure that kids know how to be careful for fear of a peck in the eye.

My first hens were eggs from ones found on the Sugarloaf; turned out they had a good dash of fighting cock in them: savages. Rapidly got rid of them.

Here's a video of a silkie bantam with araucana chicks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjcJ7Xx-oJM - an ideal breed for pets for children - hear that "gog-gog-gog" call? That means "There's food here! Come over!"

kowloon

Silkies get ill VERY easily, could be heartache for the kids. Hatching eggs is really rewarding, the children can candle the eggs and it'll be really exciting for them when the hatching starts, but a chick might die and you have no control over the result (Roosters).

A really tame breed is the Australorp, they also produce a huge amount of eggs. They have a bantam variety which you might prefer as the regular chooks are pretty big.

Qualitymark

kowloon wrote: »

Silkies get ill VERY easily, could be heartache for the kids. Hatching eggs is really rewarding, the children can candle the eggs and it'll be really exciting for them when the hatching starts, but a chick might die and you have no control over the result (Roosters).

A really tame breed is the Australorp, they also produce a huge amount of eggs. They have a bantam variety which you might prefer as the regular chooks are pretty big.

Really? I had silkies for around 15 years and they never got sick. Little honeys they were! (At least, I started out with silkies and ended up with a silkie/araucana crossbreed - particularly cute, with their adorable cockades and blue eggs.) Their one fault was that they were mothers dedicated enough to please even Breda O'Brien; give them a whiff of a chance and they'd go broody.

kowloon

I'm not saying Silkies aren't a lovely breed, they're really friendly and the fluffy coat makes them particularly popular with children. They're more prone to diseases than other hardier breeds, respiratory diseases seem t be the big problem with chickens. I'd guess it's selective breeding in Silkies that makes them so susceptible, much like some breeds of dog.
The broodiness can also be a curse if you want eggs, but very useful if you want to hatch other breeds that don't make good mothers.

I used to have a Silkie that would come into the house, hide under my arm and watch tv.

flutered

Mooneen wrote: »

HI Guys,

Hope you can help, I am looking to get come chickens (4 or 5) in the next week or two, (first timer) the chickens are really for the kids as pets and for them to look after, I was wondering
1) if it is best to get the chicks younger than POL so that they get used to been handled by youngs kids
2) can anyone recommend a reliable place to puchase chicks in the South kilkenny area (replies by PM please)

google is your friend here, there is an australian breed which like to be handled.

flutered

silkies do not like to get their feet wet, if you follow that guideline you will not have many problems.

kowloon

flutered wrote: »

google is your friend here, there is an australian breed which like to be handled.

Not sure if you're talking about the same breed as I mentioned, the Australian Orpington, or Australorp. Really calm and hold the record for egg production (unless it's been beaten since).

There's a guy who sells them in Meath (I think it's Meath). Look up the breed online, should be a few youtube vids of them too. PM me if you want me to have a look for his number. I only have two Australorps at the moment and no rooster so I can't offer you any myself.

flutered

the australorp is the name that i could not think of.

bluecherry74

I have a Light Sussex who is very tame and friendly, much more so that the other hens. I'd definitely recommend them as a breed to include in your flock. She follows me around when I'm out in the garden and has "trained" me to bring her treats (dried mealworms) by standing at the door to the run and squawking whenever she sees me.

They're very easy to come by; most poultry sales or done deal sellers have them. She started laying about 2 weeks ago and averages about 4 eggs a week. I have hybrids who average about 6 eggs a week but they're not quite as tame.

I would love an Australorp, but I couldn't find a breeder near me.

Jelly2

bluecherry74 wrote: »

I have a Light Sussex who is very tame and friendly, much more so that the other hens. I'd definitely recommend them as a breed to include in your flock. She follows me around when I'm out in the garden and has "trained" me to bring her treats (dried mealworms) by standing at the door to the run and squawking whenever she sees me.

They're very easy to come by; most poultry sales or done deal sellers have them. She started laying about 2 weeks ago and averages about 4 eggs a week. I have hybrids who average about 6 eggs a week but they're not quite as tame.

I would love an Australorp, but I couldn't find a breeder near me.

Of all our hens, 'Blondie' the hybrid Light Sussex/Rhode Island Red is a real pet. Easy to pick up and hold, and always coming into the kitchen to look for food! I would definitely recommend one like her for children. She is also a great layer, naturally enough given her breeding. Our Barnevelder is also pretty placid and a regular layer so maybe a good choice too.
Make sure to keep a close eye on your children when they are handling the hens, and also when they are feeding and cleaning them out. Hens are not a huge amount of work but do need regular care. Very rewarding though!

kowloon

bluecherry74 wrote: »

I have a Light Sussex who is very tame and friendly, much more so that the other hens. I'd definitely recommend them as a breed to include in your flock. She follows me around when I'm out in the garden and has "trained" me to bring her treats (dried mealworms) by standing at the door to the run and squawking whenever she sees me.

Light Sussex are great hens, I have one pure and a few crossbred. They're great mothers too.