[teggy]

hi there , i ve been keeping chickens for about three years now .. 10 hybrids which are 2 years old 10 ex batts which are about 2 years old 6 pol  about 20 weeks old all  three groups are kept in seperate groups.. we have now got a cockeral he is kept seperate at moment we have only had him 2 days ,im not sure which hens to put him with, if any are suitable ... im not sure wot ages are best? ben the cockeral is 1 year old ... he s a buff X silkie any help would be most apprieciated many thanks

[Crofter]

Hi Teggy

If you don't want the eggs for hatching he'd be happy with any of them.  If you want hatching eggs don't use the POL pullets as they are too young to set eggs from. Either lots of older birds would suit for hatching eggs, I'd go for the hybrids, though goodness knows what the chicks will look like!

Dave

[teggy]

hi dave  would i put him in with all the hybrids or put just a few in with him .... ?we would prob hatch a few but mainly use eggs for eating ,i was worried wot they ed look like .... would it be better to buy half  dozen older hens of another breed ...wot would you suggest many thanks             teggy

[Rosemary]

Having the cockerel in won't stop you eating the eggs - although fertile, they are just fine to eat.

[Crofter]

Hi Teggy

Since the cockerel is already a cross breed there's no benefit to using pure hens with him.  Any eggs you hatch would be good dinners but questionable layers!  He will be ok with all 10 hens, as Rosemary says, it makes no difference to the eating quality of the eggs.  If you want to breed your own replacement hens though I'd think about investing in some pure bred stock, perhaps a dual purpose bird like the Light Sussex or Rhode Island.

Good luck with them anyway

Dave

[teggy]

hi guys i see wot you mean about the cross breeding , we gonna take your advice on getting some light sussex or R I R bin wanting some L / susssex for a while . many thanks for your help .wonderful website..

[Crofter]

Something like these?

[teggy]

yea thats the ones...nice looking bird .....be good to have something different to look at !all ours are light brown ,brown or dark brown.........!mainly just brown..... once again many thanks         

[Andrew]

Teggy we have a light Sussex cockeral who was hatched last September. He has turned into a stunning bird but does not get on with our Orpinngton cockerals. If you would like him you are welcome to him. we are just north of Glasgow

[doganjo]

Did you get him from Carol, Andrew?  If so he's my lad's brother.  My one is called Jamie and so far he's crowing from around 8am so no-one has complained as yet.

[Andrew]

We hatched him from eggs bought on ebay. Out oof six eggs he was yhe only one that hatched

[doganjo]

I've never had success from ebay eggs either.

[teggy]

hi andrew, thank you very much for the offer but we in newquay ... north cornwall !couldnt be further apart ..unless he s got  sat nav .......! cheers 


         teggy