Getting Black Rocks

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Shirl,

I have everything crossed for you! I only paid �44.11 plus postgae so a very small price if that helps?

Good luck, Mandy

[Hazel at the Hill]

You will all be fed up with the amount I start to post!

Hazel you can adopt one of mine as a virtual hen if you wish, you can even pick her name.

Mandy

Oh oh! Can I?! Cool!

Hmm. Have just spent the last 10 minutes staring into space thinking of chicken names. (note to self - remember that 'just logging on for a mo' and fine tuning a Client proposal for work do not mix.)

Tell you what - you can name her after me - Hazel Hen!

[mandyballantyne]

Oh oh! Can I?! Cool!

Hmm. Have just spent the last 10 minutes staring into space thinking of chicken names. (note to self - remember that 'just logging on for a mo' and fine tuning a Client proposal for work do not mix.)

Tell you what - you can name her after me - Hazel Hen!

So it is not just me then! I am trying to price proposals down just now but cluck, cluck it is just not happening!

Of course you can name her, I wouldn't have offerd if I did not mean it!

Hazel hen it is then

mandy

[muckman]

Hi mandy, I got 6 black rock chikens for �6.50 each p.o.l. I bet you got yours from one of the best breeders in the uk, murryfield or somwhere

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Muckman,

Not got them yet, only just ordered the house today but can't wait!http://allyearroundbirds.com

My nearest is

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Muckman,

Not got them yet, only just ordered the house today but can't wait!

My nearest is in Edinburgh www.allyearroundbirds.com do you know of them?

I am not sure if they are good or not but would be intrested to know. The other place that looks good is www.kintail.co.uk but it is 5 hour journey and I am not sure if it would stress the girls out being in a car that long.

Mandy

[muckman]

Sorry mandy, Im no expert I was just guessing were you got them from, so sorry again for any fauls information.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Muckman,

No problem at all. Take it you are a rugby fan

Well done for knowing where Allandale is

Just been searching where looks good foe quality as I don't know anyone who has chooks up here.

Visit is probably my best option and see what i think when I get there?

Mandy

[Birdie Wife]

Hi Muckman,

Not got them yet, only just ordered the house today but can't wait!

My nearest is in Edinburgh www.allyearroundbirds.com do you know of them?

I am not sure if they are good or not but would be intrested to know. The other place that looks good is www.kintail.co.uk but it is 5 hour journey and I am not sure if it would stress the girls out being in a car that long.

Mandy

Hi Mandy,

I went to the Kintail Poultry Centre in June as I was down there on hols and it's a much smaller setup then I imagined from the website! They are really fanatical about their birds and actually I was put off by the lady that runs it, who assumed I knew nothing about genetics and was very patronising. Mind you, most of her customers are from the nearby caravan park who just want to come and feed the hens. It was �2 just to look around, and then they tried to sell us some food for the hens as well!! No thanks! Their birds are very pricey but for utility, probably some of the best in the country. They really know their stuff.

Re long journeys - as long as the birds have enough water and are comfy in their carrying box, you can actually take them quite long distances - my two bantams came from an auction which we had to drive about 6 hours back from, and they were fine. We just kept stopping every 1 1/2hours to check they were okay. They are surprisingly resiliant sometimes.

[mandyballantyne]

Thanks for that Birdie wife,

It is so hard to tell form a web site if they are any good or not, they are a lot cheaper than the place in Edinburgh but what I want is nice healthy birds not the cheapest option.

Think I need to visit them both and see what I think of them.

Mandy

[Birdie Wife]

PS Black Rocks are a strictly controlled hybrid, sold only by approved agents (but I think this list is a bit out of date now as Kintail aren't even on it). The Muirfield hatchery near Kinross is the main dealer, and you might be able to get cheaper birds from them - �13 might be a little expensive, especially when you consider than even at POL you won't get a huge number of eggs until the spring? A young female from Kintaline is �7.50 but other places I've seen POL Black Rocks for �9. Mind you, another site is selling them for �15 POL. Might pay to shop around (unless you've already booked birds with allyearroundbirds)

[mandyballantyne]

Oh thanks for the link Birdie wife,

I have not come across the muirfield hatchery yet. I will be getting in touch with them too.

Mandy

[muckman]

PS Black Rocks are a strictly controlled hybrid, sold only by approved agents (but I think this list is a bit out of date now as Kintail aren't even on it). The Muirfield hatchery near Kinross is the main dealer, and you might be able to get cheaper birds from them - �13 might be a little expensive, especially when you consider than even at POL you won't get a huge number of eggs until the spring? A young female from Kintaline is �7.50 but other places I've seen POL Black Rocks for �9. Mind you, another site is selling them for �15 POL. Might pay to shop around (unless you've already booked birds with allyearroundbirds)

Thats the place i was on about, just spelled it wrong.
It's not my strong point !

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Muckman,

Me to

Here is me going on about Rugby, you must ave thought I had gone mad!

The link was brill, spoke to a nice man at Muirfield who has given me a number for an old chap only 10 miles from here Thanks BW!

Not got hold of him yet, must be out with the birds but will keep trying.

House arrives next week and will build run as soon as it arrives then it is chicken time

Mandy

[Birdie Wife]

Glad to be of service

Now are you going to put up a poll so we can vote on their names?