[andyin]

Hi everybody,
Not quite a smallholder yet but I do have some Blackrock chickens.
And if the wife had her way there would be goats, ducks and elephants too.
I converted a 3m by 4m brick built storeroom into a coop for them with a 7m by 4m run for them to forage in, but they spend most of their time running around the garden.   
We are in a rural area not far from Helensburgh which is in the Argyll / Dunbartonshire border area.
We would like to do more growing but it is a bit tricky as we live on a hillside and most of the garden is really steep but the chickens love it.
We were thinking of expanding our little flock of 7 to perhaps 15 or 16, would it be best to stick to Blackrocks or have a mixed flock
Thanks
Andy

[Factotum]

Hello from Moray.

Elephants! - think of the manure, think of the tomatoes...

Re having different chickens - we keep a couple of ISA browns and some more 'interesting' birds - Salmon Faverolles, Partridge Wyandotte and Cream Legbars. They all seem to do well together - if you fancy something different, why not.

Have fun

Regards

Sue

[Rosemary]

Hello from Carnoustie

If it's egg prodcution you want, stick to the egg laying hybrids ie if you want to make a bit of cash and cover your costs. If that's not so important, get what you like. I loved our Black Orpingtons.

[Bionic]

Hello and welcome from Carmarthenshire. I'm not sure that many smallholders have elephants but it would sure be a talking point 

[Daisys Mum]

Hi and welcome, I'd forget the elephants if your on a hill.......imagine if one of them tripped at he top.

[Backinwellies]

Hi.

I'd like giraffes so I could feed them from upstairs in my sun room.

[shep53]

Hi as the crow flies about 25 mls from you , I say mix it up ,my friend has about 20 hens and bantams hardly 2 look alike and 3 cockerals  all criss crossing  , all individuals and new chicks born every year , really cute   , were trying to get old English game blood in  to maybe help the cocks protect against predition

[Lesley Silvester]

  and welcome. Goats would be happy on steep land and it's easier to milk them than milk elephants.

[Mammyshaz]

Hello and welcome  I'm  not yet a smallholder but grow fruit, veg and hens for eggs/meat. There is a great mix of people on here with similar interests, you will  fit in well, elephant or not    

[Treud na Mara]

Hello and welcome from Caithness    we have 16 laying birds are they are a merry assortment - I have no idea what most of them are and even a chook-wise friend is at a loss to explain some but I love the assortment of eggs they give us and none of our neighbours complains either!

[andyin]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone,
giraffes, nooooooo don't give her ideas
Katrina (the wife!) has been on some battery hen rescue websites for the last few days, with ideas of increasing our flock to 20 ish and ordering yet more chicken wire so i can extend the pen again, not that they will stay in the pen, as she lets them roam around the garden most days.
have avoided the goat situation so far, chickens have kept her distracted, so shhh don't mention goats and maybe she will forget them.

Andy

[Lesley Silvester]

GOATS GOATS GOATS.
In case you didn't get the idea, I'm a fan of goats.

[andyin]

lol

[devonlady]

Goats are lovely! you will fall in love with them once your beloved has got her way! I have a neighbour who has a flock of about forty and the dear things are forever escaping. I tell him they can escape onto my land as often as they  like, it will save me having my hedges trimmed
I would love a couple of Anglo Nubians if anyone knows of any for sale.

[Lesley Silvester]

Well put, devonlady. Have you tried Goats for sale and wanted on facebook?