The Poultry Keeper

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

Who would have thought that chickens were so interesting and addictive, you hear it all the time on here. They are very endearing and make me laugh all the time like their little "go faster flaps" when they're running towards me. Chicken people seem to have a wry sense of humour.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1495 Location: Clawddnewydd

I never knew Marans came in so many colour forms Shocked

Some are simply quite stunning!! I'm just used to the bogstandard cuckoo Marans. I went for different breeds as I'm not a big lover of the cuckoo colour. I may have to revise my opinion of Marans now ........... Laughing

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1129 Location: Carmarthenshire

CP · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

We currently have 23 plus 5 chicks, though 3 are boys.

We will hopefully be getting some Swedish hatching eggs this year sometime, & have room for roughly 35-40 hens at most.
Would really love to increase our flock even more with different breeds, but space prevents us.

debcat · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:31 am Post subject:

a quick add up is 45 hens, 26 ducks, 5 turkeys and 4 geese plus 1 gosling

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

I've always fancied having a few turkeys, (oh dear)are they any different to care for, do they have any particular quirkiness?

debcat · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject:

turkeys are really funny birds, they like to roost fairly high up
they're definitley lacking in the brain department,
very clumsy but great characters
one of mine tries to jump off the barn rafters every morning and 50% of the time hits the wall instead of the open door

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

That is so pathetic, poor thing, made me laugh though. I had some turkey eggs once and they were great, I wonder why they are not sold like chicken eggs, probably not commercial enough. Where on earth does one get turkeys from? Bernard (I never did it) Mathews? !!!

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1495 Location: Clawddnewydd

me!!

turkey eggs are more cost effective to hatch rather than eat Very Happy

however, I had a surplus and cooked with mine, they were delicious Very Happy

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1163 Location: Correze

Well, we started with 4 that we hatched in the incubator ... we now have 10 hens, 1 coq, 12 "teenagers" and 6 "youngsters" ... plus 24 eggs in the incubator, 5 under 1 broody, and another broody-in-waiting who is probably going to get some pheasant eggs to hatch!! Oh, and a duck and 8 ducklings!!