First Birds?

[nribs]

Can anyone suggest a good first bird to start with, i have done much reading and some of it seems contradictory? My wife and I feel we are ready to take the plunge, we would like mabe 3 or 4 birds that are fairly good egg layers, with good natures and with a good temprement, also we ere in fife and if anyone knows of any breeders in this area or surounding i would love to hear.

Thanks and i just love reading these forums some amusing stories guys

[Nicos]

Wow...well done on making the decision.
Mine were given me so I never really had to think about choosing a variety.
Loads available...have you considered exbattery- at least you know they lay...and once settled in will be very friendly.

Oh...and welcome to the Vine!!!

[nribs]

Thanks for the welcome, we have considered ex battery and i know any new chicken could pass away unexpectidely but i have read that there is more of a risk with ex bats? and with 2 young children im worried about how they might cope with sudden deaths after the excitement of the new family aditions

Cheers Nicos

[Hans Mum]

ex-batts i got six 5 weeks ago, and they have come on leaps & bounds, they're feathers have/are coming back, they do chickeny things now and its really fab to see them flourish with a bit of sun on their backs and some freedom, they eat from my hand and know when the back door opens they'll either get a treat or a fuss i can really recommend them and of course they lay eggs from the off.
I also have a lavender blue and a calder ranger and these are both very tame and beautiful to look at.

[Nicos]

Hmm...I can see what you're thinking- maybe the ex-batt brigade can share their experiences with you?????

[MaureenHall]

Well since I've got 9 ex-batts in my "flock" of course I'm going to say yes, go for them Yes, they've had a hard life before being "released" but with lots of love, space to "be a chicken", learn that us humans are their friends they really do come on in leaps and bounds. It takes a week or so before you see the new feathers growing and by then they'll probably be eating out of your hand! Yes, sometimes ex-batts die quicker than young birds, but they're already well over a year old, probably 18 months old when you get them, and because of them being egg-producing machines for the majority of their lives, that's bound to take a toll. In all, I've lost 3. All 3 didn't show any signs of illness, they just went to sleep and didn't wake up. I'd rather they went like that than ending up in a chicken pie or pet food. Whatever type of chicken you decide to get will be the right one for you Enjoy and happy chook-keeping.

Oh yes, welcome to the chicken-nuts bit of the forum

[Suechooks]

I'd agree with all the above! i have 8 ex-batts (did have 12 but 4 have died - 2 within the first few weeks). They are lovely friendly girls and always grateful for anything you do for them. I understand your concern re. the children. Maybe you could start with sme "normal" point of lay then later - when the addiction has set in - you could add some ex-batts. That was how I did it (don't have small children but suited me) and I think I would continue to have a mixture.
The sheer joy of seeing the ex-batts blossom in the real world is unbelievable and to see their first venture into the sun and the realisation that they can stretch and flap their wings is wonderful.
I also have an Amber link, a Bluebelle, Speckled Rock. Black Rock and a Sussex hybrid. They all lay well and are friendly. The Amber is probably the calmest but all can be picked up and hand-fed.
Good luck in whatever you decide! You'll never look back!

[Glutton4...]

Ex-batts, or ex-free rangers deffo! I can vouch for both.

Having said that, I'm collecting 4 'posh birds' next Saturday.....

[BilboWaggins]

I don't have my "girls" yet, so what do I know??, but earlier this week someone on the Vine recommended Black Rock hens.

From what I've read so far, they sound wonderful. Where are you, doesn't say on your posts, Black Rock might not be practical if you are a huge distance from a breeder.

On the other hand, I can see the joy of giving ex-batts a good life - bet I end up doing both

[davefromthechipie]

Can anyone suggest a good first bird to start with, i have done much reading and some of it seems contradictory? My wife and I feel we are ready to take the plunge, we would like mabe 3 or 4 birds that are fairly good egg layers, with good natures and with a good temprement, also we ere in fife and if anyone knows of any breeders in this area or surounding i would love to hear.

Thanks and i just love reading these forums some amusing stories guys

Getting Ex batts is a kind and rewarding Seeing them have freedom at last But i have found a downside to getting the ex cage ones is they do seem to get ill and die more so... also eggs from ex batt have a thin shell if shelled at all later on So dont expect alot of eggs. I also have Ex free range hens And have to say they are great ( I wouldnt swop them for any other chickens ) mine cost me about 6.50 each . If you want to help give a some batt hens a new life and can only have 4 chickens maybe getting 2 ex batts and 2 farmed to sell or 2 ex freerange hens ?? .I dont know about other breeds of chickens but i guess any type can be tamed by spending more time with them . As for bantams iv never kept any but the ones iv seen seem alot more jittery then normal hens

[RedThorn]

Hi nribs and welcome to the vine. Congrats on thinking of taking the plunge to get some girls. I was exactly where you are a few months ago. I got laods for friendly advice, help and support from a lot of people here. Thanks again to all who helpd me. I ended up getting 4 ex-batts. I will try and post some pics thisweekend for you to see how far they've come along. They honestly were no hassle to look after and didn't take them long to learn to start scratching etc (yup this very basic chicken skill was never learnt as they never had the chance or place to learn before) The one girl(Noodle the featherless - has just finished moulting and is now no longer featherless) now they all look lovely We are now averaging 2 eggs a day too.....

They are so placid, 2 of them don't mind being held and eat from your hand. They even let me hold them and let 6 kids stroke and pet them now that's tolerant from any animal!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...nge_25238.html

Hope this helps you and whatever you decide, good luck and enjoy

[Flummery]

Most ex battery hens are some variation on the theme of little brown hens - sometimes Warran, ISA Browns, Lohmanns and any number of types of Rangers. These birds are hybrids and are excellent layers. They were bred for the egg-production industry. You can buy them from breeders or farmers and you could look at it from the point of view that you are saving them from battery cages BEFORE they go in!

I share your worries about the early death of some ex-batts as I want my grandchildren to get used to feeding and handling the chickens (I'm another that hasn't got them yet!). Anyway, after taking advice from my local breeder I'm going for Rangers. (Probably! - Changed me mind about 6 times already)

[johnbhoy]

came accross this site with a list of supliers in scotland for you nribs
Chicken, Hen, Ducks, Poultry, Live Hatching Eggs Suppliers in Scotland

[Hilary B]

Without wanting to be overly hard, children often accept death much more readily than adults expect. They may well weep a bit over the loss of a pet hen, but if there are others to enjoy, they recover fairly quickly, because they tend to live in the 'now', rather than dwelling on the past. In a lot of ways they are more sensible than their elders!

[HayleyB]

We have lost 2 ex-batts out of 25 since we first got them in November and then again December (second batch). We now have 23 and yesterday got 19 eggs - they are laying very well and only the occasional thin shell. And tomorrow I collect 10 more