The Poultry Keeper

Smudge · Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Henhouse

Hi All

I am interested to know what the latest chicken trends are - what breeds people tend to be interested in the most... personally, I am fascinated by the Cochin - having seen some at a country show recently and fallen in love. And my other favourite has to be pekins - we have 2 and they are always so busy and organised... they'd make great housewives ;D

Thanks

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 345 Location: Sussex

Id love some Brahmas, there just massive! saw some at a show today and there great! I also like the pekin bantams aswell, there really charming, friendly chickens. My friend has loads, thats all he keeps. Ive got 12 eggs in the incubator i couldn't resit hatching some Smile

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 453 Location: Manchester

I think my light sussex are fantastic - but then I also just love the two new Indian game chicks too...

I've also got some silkie crosses but they're just mutts so probably don't count!

Attila The Hen · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 296 Location: Shetland

Orpingtons are increasingly in vogue, with the development of new colours coming on in leaps and bounds.

Over and above the standardised Buff, Black, White, Blue (and Splash), and Jubilees, there are now Gold-laced and occasionally Lavender Orps available. And other wacky variants like Chocolate and Lemon-barred in the pipeline.

As with the standardised colours, you need to look hard to get good typey birds. Early Gold-laced weren't much cop, but it's becoming possible to source some really nice 'heavy' birds now. The others will in time follow suit, I'm sure. (And hope... the only photo I've seen of a developmental Chocolate Orp was sufficient to inspire something close to lust!!).

Ebay is a crude barometer of what's hot and what's not - look at some of the prices half dozen Orpington eggs have fetched this year. Crazy.

Wyandottes (especially Silver-laced LF) were commanding £20+ last year... but not this year. Strange how these fashions come and go.

Attila

Welsh Duck · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

At the sales, everyones going mad for copper marans, and I agree with you atilla, orpingtons are in fashion as well

Attila The Hen · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 296 Location: Shetland

Copper marans... and here I am breeding the blasted things hundreds of miles and 2 ferry journeys (1 overnight) from the nearest livestock sales...

Grr!

Shall be in a position to start offering hatching eggs again in coming weeks, so maybe won't be too late to capitalise on this...

Attila

minstrelmerrymaker · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 69 Location: ISLE OF WIGHT

Ooh im glad orpingtons are in fashion this year i have a load in the incy at the moment,althogh i only have black, splash and blue, would love a lemon cuckoo! i also think people are buying chickens pending on the egg colour,(its very fashionable to have a variety of coloured eggs in your egg boxes, just check out all the magazines at the moment!
I would love a maran, just for the egg colour
I must say i have chosen my birds this year for their egg colours, ie wellsummer and cream legbar, anyone else chosen their birds for their laying ability

Phill · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 70 Location: Essex

Im into Poland Chickens they are stunning looking chooks with their impressive crests and lovely colouring. They make excellent pets being so friendly and easy to tame and have really nice personalities.

Their crests don't need as much attention as books recomend and they are as easy to mantain as other breeds, their crests do not restrict them and they are hardy in all kinds of weather. Polands where the first propper breed I kept as pets before I had hybrid bantams.

Im also interested in Brhama's but other then their size I don't don't know much about them ^^'

debcat · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

I love pekins and appenzellers
The pekins are so funny strutting round the garden, the cockerel stands up to all the other roos and always comes off best.
The appenzellers are really hardy, eat hardly anything and are really good layers