[wellies]

Hello everyone, after much thought and debating the pros and cons of chickens or ducks we have decided we would like to get a few chickens. I was thinking possibly three? We would like to have eggs from them and have a lovely area behind the stables for them to scratch and dig, this would also be where their accommodation would be sited. I have so many questions... Is there a particular type of chicken which would be best for a newbie and still produce some eggs? Is three an ok number to keep together (the eggs are only for hubby and I)? and other info would be gratefully received   

[Bionic]

Wellies,
I got my first chickens last year. There were 4 of them. 2 Light Sussex, 1 Bluebelle and 1 Blackrock (which died).
They have since been joined by 3 others which I raised. 2 French Copper Marans and 1 Barred Wyandotte.
I think 3 or 4 would be plenty if the eggs are just for two of you. All of mine lay well. The Light Sussex give me light brown eggs and are probably the most consistent layers. The Bluebelle gives me very large eggs, sometimes like a torpedo. The Marans give chocolate brown eggs which are slightly smaller than the others and the Wyandotte egg is about the same size as the Marans but much lighter in colour. 
I find they are very entertaining and wouldn't like to be without them now. 

[the great composto]

You wont be sorry you decided to have chickens they are a joy to have and watch.

I have had chickens for some time and in your situation i would choose at least one which lays a coloured egg ie dark brown or very white just because it adds a bit of interest.  My welsomer lays very dark brown almost chocolate coloured eggs.

I started with Buff Orpingtons because they are just beautiful birds but they do go broody ( stop laying ) quite often which may not bother you.
I then had some Light Sussex because they seem to be prolific layers of decent sized eggs & dont go broody so much.

Beware starting with a plan for 3 and ending up with 15 like me!

and protect well from visits of foxy shaped things.

[Bionic]

and protect well from visits of foxy shaped things.

Definitely agree with this. I have been lucky so far but there has been much heartache on here with people loosing some or all of their birds

[Clarebelle]

If you arn't to fussed about specific breeds etc and only want a few eggs for yourself maybe you could think about giving some ex batts a forever home?

[manian]

hi
most hybrids are good for newbies- speckled sussex tho' are brilliant and friendly
we also started with 5 and now have 20 layers and 10 breeders..... addictive
Mx

[Mammyshaz]

Very addictive.we started with 4 hybrids two years ago, lay continuously and don't go broody. We lost one then bought 3 il birds at auction. Lost 2 of those so now have 4. They are so easy to keep and come running to the rattle of a tub.
Now we are waiting for hatching eggs to incubate. So exciting 

You won't regret having them and will wonder why you hadn't done it years ago     
Look forward to piccies of your new arrivals when you get them.

[Small Plot Big Ideas]

I can't recommend chickens enough and can only agree with all the other comments.


We got our 3 hybrids almost exactly 1 year ago, we keep them at the end of our garden and have had no regrets at all. They are hugely entertaining and relaxing to watch but best of all for us as newbies they have been healthy too.


Just the other day I was reading my old blog post about when we first got the chickens and it's amazing just how different they look now and much we've learned in the last year.

I would say that 3 is a perfect number for starting out and if you're completely new to this (as we were) then hybrids are what I would recommend. In the near future we will move to somewhere with more land so we may expand by getting some ex-battery hens as well but for now this is a great way to start..

[Marches Farmer]

I'd recommend getting a henhouse with run attached that can be moved - big fan of not keeping chickens on the same ground year after year.  Keep away from anything made from tongue-and-groove with a felt roof - magnets for red mite.  Light coloured plastic drinkers make the water go green - galvanised ones are more expensive but last for ever.  Feed layers pellets, not kitchen scraps, and remove the feeder at night so as not to attract rats.  Commercial type hens (Warrens, ISA Browns and their derivatives) can be a good choice to begin with - they'll lay their socks off for a year or two then die - handy if you find you don't like keeping poultry after all.  Don't forget they need letting out, shutting in and checking every day - think about cover if you take holidays.

[colliewobbles]

If you arn't to fussed about specific breeds etc and only want a few eggs for yourself maybe you could think about giving some ex batts a forever home?

Exactly what I was going to suggest.  We have had lots of ex-batts, some are around 5-6 years old and still laying regularly.  We are picking up another 12 this Sunday as we cannot keep up with the demands from our dog training club where everyone buys them from us and love them.

There is a good rescue in our area (Norfolk) called Little Hen Rescue - search for them online to find their very good website.  There are a few links on there for other chicken rescues and they may be able to put you in touch with someone in your area.

Good luck    Donna

[wellies]

wow thank you for all your advice and suggestions    Marches Farmer no need to worry about their requirements being met if we go on holidays or away for the day; we have pigs, sheep, horses, dogs and cats too, so on the rare occasions we do go away or out for the day where we won't be home before evening we have someone to come and do all the animals for us  . Just contacted a lovely chicken person in Ludlow and asked if we could go and meet her chickens. Are plastic houses the best option to avoid attracting red mites then?

[the great composto]

Are plastic houses the best option to avoid attracting red mites then?

Yes but they have their own problems with condensation if not ventilated adequately.

Chickens generate a lot of heat and vapour leading to condensation and possible respiratory problems when its a bit cold

[Brijjy]

Hi Wellies. I see you're not a million miles from me in Sarn near Newtown. If you want to come and meet my rabble of chooks then you are very welcome. I started off with five ex battery hens and now I've got about 30 all together. Plus ducks and a turkey!

[colliewobbles]

................................... I started off with five ex battery hens and now I've got about 30 all together. Plus ducks and a turkey!

That sounds familiar 

[HesterF]

Good call! (although we love the ducks too and they're laying like clockwork at the moment - husband wants more and more of them). We started with chickens last year with the idea of breeding them as well as for eggs - I went for Orpingtons because I love the look of them, there are lots of lovely colours/patterns and they're a local rare breed (I'm in Kent). I've had a bad run of luck with problems already with worms, mites, lice, coccidiosis and avian leukosis (the latter was the over-riding feature making them more susceptible to the rest). So I've managed to kill seven chickens so far - so much for supporting rare breeds - but still have six which appear well. At the moment two of the hens are broody so yes, Orpingtons do have that tendency.

Once I'm allowed to get new stock in again, I want to get a couple of hens for green/blue eggs (Araucana or Cream Legbar), a couple of Marans (dark brown eggs) and a couple of Sussex (big white eggs). I'd also like to breed some Dorkings because they're another local(ish) rare breed but I do have to make sure I can keep them alive first!

In your position I'd be tempted to get three different breeds of hens for three different egg colours but that's probably just me being daft - you're just as well off with some ex-batts who lay throughout the year.

H