New hens

[Healing Hands]

Oh my goodness I am going to have to get a move on, Ken and I went to the pub last night and we got talking about chickens as the landlady lost all her chickens to the fox over the weekend and she was saying that she will be getting some more in a few weeks time, she knows that I am wanting chickens and is going to ask the chap who has got the baby chicks if I could have a couple. these are Bantum hens and I understand they are quite good for people like me who are just starting out with hens.

This morning I shall be doing a lot of reading and getting the area planned. I am so excited about it. :)

[Oola]

Lovely! Do you know what sort of bantams they are? I think bantam is a term for a sort of more compact version of a breed.
You should find out whether they're going to be vaccinated against things like Marek's (I think some vaccinations are done through 'misting' the chicks), as it could save you a lot of hassle and heartache in the future! How old will the chicks/pullets be when you get them?

I am very excited for you too now. We'll have 3 regular posters that are chicken keepers - excellent! Would love to see some pics when you get them :) :) :)

[Healing Hands]

I am not to sure Oola what sort of Bantam they are and thank you for the info on the vaccination I will make sure I will check that out.

i have been onto you other site this morning and clicked on to Wiggly Worms i think it was called to have a look at their chicken coups.

I will certainly take some photo's for you once I get them, I just so excited now.

[sunflower]

How exciting Healing Hands. Bantams are so lovely. Yes,they are a miniture breed of the pure breed hens. For example Orpingtons which are huge hens, but the bantams are cute but have the same features. Then there are the Pekins. These are true Bantams with no chicken look a like. The beauty of bantams are that, their droppings are smaller! and also they do'nt destroy the garden because their short legs are usually feathered. Continue to tell us your news as hen news is sooo interesting!!

[Healing Hands]

I have now ordered my chicken house from Wriggly, it was on your site Oola I was so excited oredering it, even ken has come around to the idea of me keeping chickens.

I will keep you informed with other details.

[Oola]

Excellent, good luck with it HH xxx Any advice, you know who to ask

[Healing Hands]

Well Oola and Sunflower I heard last night that the chicks will not be hatching as they were not fertile, I was so disappointed, but on the brighter side the chap is going to put his cockeral with some other hens and see what happens if that fails he knows where he can get some.

I now have a lovely hen house but no hens. I will get photo of hen house to show you, but I am a bit tied up with a busy weekend ahead.

[Healing Hands]

Well Oola and Sunflower I heard last night that the chicks will not be hatching as they were not fertile, I was so disappointed,:( but on the brighter side the chap is going to put his cockeral with some other hens and see what happens if that fails he knows where he can get some.

I now have a lovely hen house but no hens. I will get photo of hen house to show you, but I am a bit tied up with a busy weekend ahead.

[Oola]

Hi HH

Sorry to hear the bad news :(

If you're interested in ex-batts, you could try Free At Last hen rescue. They rehome nationwide:

http://www.freewebs.com/henrescue/exbatteryhens.htm

[sunflower]

Hi Healing Hands. If you look in Poultry magazine, and the two Smallholder magazines, they sell these mags in WH Smith they have adverts in the back from where you can buy hens at point of lay. Also, if you go into Google and type in 'West Sussex area where to buy hens' or something similar you might get onto websites where you could buy hens near to you. These sites also have pics of different chicken breeds and their laying capacity, also their temperement, so you could decide exactly what type of hens would suit you. Happy searching.

[Healing Hands]

Thanks Oola and Sunflower for your advice, I will be looking into it soon. I should find out more tonight what is happening.