What hens to have?

[raine]

hi all,
we are looking at getting 3 new hens but this time OH doesn't want ex-batts (we already have some ) Now, up until now that is all we have ever owned so am in the dark what breeds to buy, what to look out for etc. Any advice please?

[VirginVegGrower]

Marans are what we have - love them - chocolate brown eggshells with heavenly golden yolks. Miss Sagey Baby is a Cream Legbar - blue eggshells with almost orange yolks. She is a bit noisy though. Marans are big birds. Cream Legbar a dinky.
Depends on whether you want a pure breed or hybrids (I think they're called - pure breed crossed with something else which makes for more egg laying) - you'll get somebody along soon with more knowledge of best breeds and the hybrid thingy. My hens lay every day at the moment, so pretty regular.

[raine]

We'd really like good layers as the ex-batts do not lay anymore. They also need to be happy within a coop and run as although they will be let out when we are home, we work during the day. I lovethe idea of blue eggshells though!

[lettucegrow!]

Maybe think about egg colours you'd like and go from there. I didn't think about that at all when I got my first three and then really craved dark eggs and blue ones. Added two hens, which was the most stressful thing going so consider that too! Hybrids are reliable egg layers but if you want a classy bird maybe a welsummer? Beautiful dark eggs. All much to personal taste.
Funny you say about your legbar being noisy, vvg, mine is to. Is that a trait?

[VirginVegGrower]

She's a right screamer! It appears other CL owners have the same problem. She is high maintenance but we love her funky chicken look and her blue eggs...so her screaming lives.

[RedThorn]

I suggest you look into egg colours, I always wanted a larger variety of egg colours. Missus wouldn't let me get more (we were up to 12 girls) and now I've moved country and will have to wait a few years before I can get more

[Suechooks]

I suggest you look into egg colours, I always wanted a larger variety of egg colours. Missus wouldn't let me get more (we were up to 12 girls) and now I've moved country and will have to wait a few years before I can get more

Ooer - just noticed your location RT! Got some old mates in Perth (well they're actually young mates it's me that's old!) Hope you're happy over there?
Sorry to hijack your thread Raine.
How about Barnevelders? Lovely calm nature. I have a noisy Cream Legbar too - not yet laying but actually she's not as noisy as one of my bantam Orps or the Gold laced Wyandotte!

[frias]

If you look at pullets on Leighvale Poultry website you can get a good idea of colours of some hybrids and eggs they lay. These are probably the best layers if you want eggs. No blue egg layers though. Welsummers eggs are lovely dark brown but my Wellie is a fine weather layer and had a 7 month rest last winter! She makes up for it by being so beautiful.

[RichmondHens]

Bear in mind what sort of set up you have. If you have limited space don't go for something that likes a lot of room and can be flighty, otherwise you will have a job keeping them in and they will also get depressed at being cooped up which will lead to reduced egg production and illness. Try a placid breed such as Light or Buff Sussex or one of the modern hybrids.

[baldrick]

My CL is noisy noisy noisy and when broody is nasty nasty nasty instead of her lovely placid self. my neighbors call her psychochicken.Welsumers are beautiful with eggs the colour of a good plant pot, maybe a bit darker but same shade. White leghorn lays enormous pure white eggs and is no bigger than a wood pigeon but is a bit flighty. TBH the warrens are the quietest and most docile but I love my motley crew.

[NovaStar]

I'm really interested to see the replies to this as I posted earlier today to another forum asking a very similar question.

We are particularly interested in finding out which are the smaller breeds of chicken as our run will just about have 2 sqm each for 3 birds.

Without actually being able to see lots in one place to compare them, it's hard to know where to start!

I like the more 'traditional' looking birds and am a fan of preserving rare breeds. So far love the look of the Welsummer, Barneveldar, Cream Legbar, Marans, Welbar and RIR - although naturally not all of these may be suitable.

Any advice appreciated!

[baldrick]

white leghorn are tiny. my wellie is really placid and sooooooo beautiful. Like a baby golden eagle.

[Suechooks]

Remember just because they're small doesn't mean they're happy in a small space. More depends on the temperament. Don't go for the so-called "flighty" breeds and some tiny bantams would be very unhappy in a small space - Friesian Fowl for example as they love to roost in trees.

[OverWyreGrower]

My Welsummers and Barnevelders lay lovely eggs, but are very much fair-weather layers.... they will all but stop laying in about September, and that will be it until about March....

However both breeds are nice and robust in terms of dealing with bad weather (coastal winds, snow, ice, hail, rain).

My Vorwerks, which are small compared to the Wellies and Barnies (although still LF), are foragers by nature, and hardly eat any pellets, preferring to scratch and forage instead. Whilst being smaller, they cover much more ground than the others.

I'd quite like some CL's and Marans next, for the egg colours only!

[Glutton4...]

I have a selection of Ex-Batts, home reared Heinz 57's and some Marans; 1 Cuckoo and 2 Copper Blacks, but none of my Marans are any bigger than my Batts! I also have 6 young Orpingtons, which are nearly as big as the Batts already, and very fluffy.

I chose Marans for the egg colour, but they lay the same as the rest, so I guess they weren't good stock.