The Poultry Keeper

creamcrackered · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject: milton keynes

hi, does anyone live in this area? if you do could you tell me where you buy your supplies from. i bought the chickens from the bell plantation garden centre, but wondered if there was anywhere nearer to get all their other bits and pieces, plus is there any reason why 4 of my birds keep sleeping in the nest box when theres stacks of room to sleep in the main part of the coop. oh! and is there anything i can do to encourage them to become tamer, they will let you cuddle them but it is rather forced upon them rather than enjoyed by my .. many thanks

CP · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:15 pm Post subject:

There are several 'Milton Keynes-ites' near you! I'm sure they'll be on later to let you know the best places to buy chicken things. Wink

Some people block off the nest boxes to stop them sleeping in them. You could try that. Wink

Food is usually a good start to tamer chickens. Try letting them eat out of your hand. You could also pick them up easier when they go to bed at night, just for a quick cuddle. Saves chasing them around.
It's easier if you start them young too, but that may not be an option for you as you already have your girls. Rolling Eyes

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: milton keynes

Lisa · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:03 am Post subject:

Hiya creamcrackered Razz

I've found several places around here. I find it depends exactly what I'm after, and if I'm passing that way anyway...

Bow Brickhill Animal feeds is nice. Simon and Sue that run it are friendly and knowledable people - they answered many of my chicken questions when I was first starting out and before I became a forum addict Laughing

There's also Jollyes at Westcroft - they do various pet foods loose, so that can be useful if you want just a little bit of something. Last time I went I think that included layers pellets, layers mash, chick crumb, wheat, barley, oats, various seeds, some grit etc... And of course they do big sacks too.

From the "Smallholder Range" website Furr and Purr in Stony Stratford are listed as stockists of poultry food, though I've never been in there for chicken stuff.

On the Downsizer forum someone said there is a place in Cranfield too, but I've not been there yet.

And there's an equestrian place in Great Brickhill: R B Equestrian Pet & Country...

There are a few other places further afield that I might pop into if I'm over their way:

Woodside Animal Farm nr Luton.

Thornes at Letchworth, and

Widmer Animal Feeds at Lacey Green, Bucks, who do small bags of lots of different things - why can't more places do that?

I'm sure there must be other places north of you too, more Northampton way... its always worth trying pet shops / yellow pages / equestrian centres, that kinda thing (and do let us know if you find somewhere nearer that you like).

From my experience, its also worth giving places a ring if you are after something very specific or slightly out of the ordinary. That would have saved me a couple of wasted journeys in the past only to arrive somewhere to be told they're getting a delivery tomorrow.... Doh! Rolling Eyes

I struggle a bit because I want to feed organic layers mash and I only have 4 chooks. I'd love to be able to buy it in small bags, so it's fresher, but I find it hard enough to get in large sacks and never use it all up before the best by date Confused

HTH - let us know how you get on.

Lis

PS Welcome to the forum, btw Very Happy

What sort of chooks have you got? (Sorry if you've said elsewhere and I've missed it.)

creamcrackered · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:33 pm Post subject:

thanks for the info, i'm still new to chickens but finding it very enjoyable. i've got 2 bantams that are about 20/21 weeks old they are called noodles and dumpling, then we've got 4 meadowsweet rangers who are about 19 weeks, they go by the names of bloomer, ginger, freckles and darcy. then cause we liked them so much we went and got 2 buff orpingtons, nancy and pudding they are about 16 weeks now, mind you the ages are a rough guess as i'm going by the ages the women gave me when i bought them. none of them have laid and egg yet, we're still waiting with baited breath. the kids love the chooks and my eldest girl whos been off school since october (shes 12 and has been diagnosed with tourettes syndrome) shes brill with them which is great cause she can get a bit lonely. they are now getting quite tame , and the 2 bantys decided yesterday to venture into the house which the kids found highly amusing!

Lisa · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:51 am Post subject:

Oooo, that's a nice little collection you've got - love the names Razz

creamcrackered · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 9:51 pm Post subject:

i didn't mean to have a collection, i just got carried away! the kids picked the names, i wonder if darcy bustle knows she has a chicken named after her.

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

I get my supplies from Dovart Pet Supplies - situated on the A507 just past the Millbrook turn but before Ampthill. I pre-order by telephone and they give me a ring a few days later when it's in so that I can collect when I'm passing. They are always very efficient.

And yes, I also have the big bag, not so many chooks problem... I have 1 Black Rock (the other has now passed away) and 2 Light Sussex Chicks only 6 weeks old so it is tough keeping food fresh. I find keeping it in smaller air tight containers is better than in one big bin.

I'm hoping to pick up a few more different chooks this summer and have some Buff Orpington eggs on order for mid March for another incubation session so the problem should ease a little.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Good luck with the buff orp eggs, Timbo. Did you hatch out the light sussex ones?

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

Yes, my first Hatch! Eggs from Ebay...

coco · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 318 Location: Northants

Hi,

Sorry to have missed your original post! I live just off J16 of M1 and work at the 'Park' just the other side of your village. If you are still looking for suppliers, please send me a pm or e-mail and I'll let you know my favourite places.

BTW, we got our first 2 hens from Bell Plantation - Ashley, the owner was extremely helpful. There is also an excellent vet at the same site - his wife is also a chook keeper so he is very much up to speed on matters chookery!

Cheers,

Colin

Lisa · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject:

Hi Colin - if you've got some other chicken supplies places you like, I'd love to know too. Would you be able to share on the forum?

Its always nice to know of other places, for when I'm passing that way Razz

Cheers,
Lis

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

Hi Colin,

Yes, it would be good to get an idea of what's around the area - I'm fairly new to this myself and don't know the area that well. I have only used one supplier so far so it sounds like a plan!

Tim