Which is the right chook for me.

[Kyle]

Hi Again. New here so i might start being a pest (too many questions and not enough answers) . I am looking at getting a few egg layers but I am at a bit of a loss at which one's to get. Who better to ask than those in the know. Im not quite sure what the differences are between New and the Old breeds and of course quite an easy starting bird. I look forward to your words of wisdom, thanks Kyle.

[Squirrel]

If you are looking for a good sensible bird that will lay you eggs and not take a lot of upkeep you can't go far wrong with a Light Sussex. They are also good looking birds - white with black bits around the neck and in the tail. They often will produce an egg or two during winter as well.

I think what they mean when they talk about new and old breed - the old breeds are the ones that have been around for years - Rhode Island Red or Orpingtons. The new breeds are more likely to be your hybrids which are a first cross between say Rhode Island Red (male line) and Barred Plymouth Rock (female)which gives you a Black Rock (bred up in Scotland and registered to the breeder there).The hybrids will usually lay right through winter to a certain extent unlike the older breeds which don't lay nearly as much.

Hope this helps. There are lots of people on the vine who are very knowledgeable, so any questions you ask will be answered by someone. Feel free to ask!

[Saoirse]

Hello Kyle,

We have a few hybrid hens, and they are very easy birds to look after. They more or less lay an egg a day each, even through the winter. They are quite friendly, the friendliest being the "meadowsweet ranger": she is a traditional brown hen, not sure which cross. They are said to be very hardy, being able to cope with cold winters etc.

They're great fun to have around, so do get some!

Nicky

[poultrychat]

Hi Kyle,

The old breeds are pure breed hens so if they hatch any chicks the chicks will be pure breeds too, just like their parents whereas hybrids are a mix of breeds and not always a mix of just 2 breeds. Pure breeds tend to live longer than hybrids but are not so good at laying through the winter, although that can depend on the breed, whereas a hybrid is more likely to lay through the winter but in the long run the 2 different 'types' are much of a much. My suggestion would be light sussex as a pure breed and one of the calmer hybrids but I would suggest you stay clear of any hybrids that have Leghorn in the mix

[nick the grief]

Can you still get "Speckldey hens" hybrids PC I think they were based on Marans so you could have real dark brown egg, tat said it's only the colour of the shell & they all taste nice!

[poultrychat]

Yes you can NTG I have a couple here but I wouldn't say they have dark brown eggs though but they are nice easy to look after birds and have never caused me a problem unlike some of the other hybrids

[nick the grief]

Hmmmm, My neighbours son has just bought 3 rescued battery hens with his pocket money (he's only 10) he made the pen himself & we do a swap for tomatoes every now and then

My two kids (16 & 18) have now decided that it would be good if we had chooks again so I was thinking about what sort I'd like.

I used to have Welbars but these were taken by a two legged fox one night but i quite liked them

[Sunbeam]

Good on your neighbour's son, NTG!!! We have rescue chicks and they are fab - except they come in the house - pinch the catfood and I sometimes find one of them dozing on the sofa, I think she may have been a cat in a former life - have to keep shutting the bottom half of the kitchen door now to keep them out

[poultrychat]

Let me know if you would like any more ntg

[Kyle]

Thanks very much. Avoid the nasty chickens that will take your leg off if dinner is late (I have two children who do that allready i don't need any more). Nick i do enjoy the occasional speckled hen. Never heard of a Speckldey hen but im guessing its not a drink.

[nick the grief]

Let me know if you would like any more ntg

Hmmmmm, might take you up on the PC. I'll have to work on the other/better half

Hi Kyle, Speckledys are chickens similar to Marans (grey stripey sort of plumage) but are a hybrid. I know the old Speckled hen your talking about very well

[Sug]

I have exactly the same problem as you Sunbeam. I came in today closing the patio door without looking, thought it was sticking, when I looked I was sliding one of our chooks - who had followed me in, along with the door. Good thing I stopped to look else it could have been squashed chook!

[Saoirse]

Thought I'd try and attach a photo of our hens: one is the aforementioned Speckledy hybrid. She doesn't lay dark brown eggs, but is a Maran cross. We have just lost a Blue Belle hybrid and she was our chocolate egg layer. Beautiful girl!

I think this one is of the blue belle and meadowsweet ranger: here goes!

Nicky

[Saoirse]

Rubbish picture but never mind!

[Mucky Lizz!!]

Hi,
No one has asked an important question, how much space do you have? Are you gonna have them free range or couped? If you don't have a lot of space a maran is a little on the large size, a smaller breed, not so much a bantam would be better. I keep Shetlands and silkies as well as Marans, and am thinking of giving up on the marans as they are large and just sticking to the 2 smaller breeds.
Also, are you wanting to breed from them? If so you will want something that is a good mum, silkies are great for this, not saying that others aren't but my silkies have had 3 broods this year, fair enough the eggs stop but the chicks don't!!!
www.poultryscotland.co.uk go to this site, they have photos of many different breeds, there maybe something that takes your fancy, then at least you'll know what breed they are. Hope this helps xx