This time last year I was blissfully unaware about the number of breeds of chicken out there. Fast forward to now and I'm probably looking a bit confused. For anyone who is interested Omlet UK (the people behind the fantastic Eglu) have a great breed guide.
We're about a month away from getting our chooks, which just leaves me to decide on what the dickens I actually want. There are so many to choose from, who knew?! Some good layers, some not so good, some very broody, some very tame, some that don't like getting their feet dirty...
I thought I had it sorted. I had narrowed it down nicely. I was going to get myself six little ladies and had chosen them on the basis that they are friendly, tame type little misses that would be good with the children. Two Gingernut Rangers, two Miss Pepperpots and two Pekin Bantams. They look a little like this.
(Images are the property of Omlet)
Now are Pekin Bantams not just the most gorgeous little chickens you've ever seen? They are supposedly not prolific layers which is not a huge problem as my other four would more than make-up for that.
However in my wisdom I decided to offer to let my mother-in-law have two chickens, and also decided that perhaps I'd just get two to start with. Which meant I have had to whittle my decision down further. I think I've got it sorted and I'm going with the glorious Gingernut Ranger. A chook that is apparently gentle and friendly and lay nice large brown eggs.
That was until I read my latest copy of Good Food magazine and happened across the Cotswold Legbar. Not the prettiest of chickens I will admit but wow, the eggs are amazing colours - blue, olive, pink, peach, turquoise, eau de nil . That's surely a winner? I'd love to see those in a bowl in my kitchen, although it would seem a bit of a travesty cracking the gorgeous pastel eggs open to shove in a cake wouldn't it?
So at present, I am back to four chickens. Two Gingernut Rangers and two Cotswold Legbars. And mother-in-laws two Rhode Island Reds. Now I just need to work out a) where I am going to get them from and b) if they can all live happily together in peace and harmony or if a few feathers will indeed be ruffled (and I'm still yearning for a Pekin Bantam or two).
I'm not at all indecisive am I? Watch this space. I will have changed my mind before this post has been published.
I'm not at all indecisive am I? Watch this space. I will have changed my mind before this post has been published.
love & kisses
Mrs M x
Ooh, very jealous. I'd love to keep chickens of any variety (though Cotswold Legbar eggs are just lovely) but sadly don't have a garden. One day... Have you chosen names for them yet or do you (and the children) have to see them first?
ReplyDeleteThe eggs are lovely aren't they?
ReplyDeleteWell I'll definitely have two chickens and they are going to be Holly Golightly and Eliza Doolittle. I have told Mr M that he MUST call them by their full names at all times!
ooo im just going through a similar process!! i keep visiting a friend of mine who has 6 and a lovely hen house and area - hers are lovely and see is getting me details :-D i was going to start with just 2 but she did say its very hard to introduce new chickens to existing ones and then can attack the new ones so best to get them in one go - i best get thinking of names!! Lx
ReplyDeleteHi there, My friend has just bought some chooks, thay are so cute!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to do my new post tomorrow, and it will include the shoe show n tell....I'm so behind with my blog...:>)))
xxxxx
OMG, chickenny cuteness!
ReplyDeleteErm, where does one actually acquire chick chick chickens from anyway? I'd love some one day.
There are lots of poultry breeders out there Claire. I've been Googling but not all of them have the ones I want. Or Omlet lists them for sale with various private breeders on each breed page.
ReplyDeleteMel Mel, don't worry you'll catch up ;-) sometimes I neglect my blog for weeks and then I have a mad crazy blogging session!
ReplyDeleteyou can get te cotswold legbars from legbars of broadway - just type the name legbars of broadway in google.
ReplyDeletete only thing is that they are TOOOOO! expensive - £35 each
the alternative is to go to ollies chirpy chickens (type in google) and they are £15 cheaper at £20 eac and the good thing is that you can also get some gingernut rangers
Pekins are the most beautiful and friendly little souls. Our lays better than most of our other bantams although they were bought for the children as pets as much as for egg laying. I reckon she probably gives us around 150 eggs (a wild guess really)a year. She had little Pekin crosses last year which we kept and they are all laying well now.
ReplyDelete