Tis TM 8 Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 This is my lad, William, and as he helps me feed the chucks and ducks, and collect egg's, he had first dib's on the two MASSIVE double yolkers, for his lunch! I had one very happy laddie I can tell you Just look at the colour of those yolks... .... Still wondering if keeping hens is worth it? xxx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elmerfudd 5 Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Wow! What whoppers. Some of our Light Sussex are just coming in to lay and have been popping out 100grm+ double yolks too. The oldies in the park homes over the way have been snapping them up! BTW We're looking at getting some hubbard day olds delivered to cornwall next week at 80p each. We are buying collectively with other smallholders. If you're interested in free ranging meat birds then let us know. Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueCoyote 0 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 i wish i liked eggs better than i do lol at least my husband loves them he loves the little egg holder things (forgot what he called them) what kinda chickens are those again and can you mail me some eggs for my incubator Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tis TM 8 Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 i wish i liked eggs better than i do lol at least my husband loves them he loves the little egg holder things (forgot what he called them) what kinda chickens are those again and can you mail me some eggs for my incubator lol, "egg cups" hun The chicken that I get the belters from is light sussex, she's 3 years old now, but lay's like a goodun Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueCoyote 0 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 i wish i liked eggs better than i do lol at least my husband loves them he loves the little egg holder things (forgot what he called them) what kinda chickens are those again and can you mail me some eggs for my incubator lol, "egg cups" hun The chicken that I get the belters from is light sussex, she's 3 years old now, but lay's like a goodun lol no he called it something like delft blue i think. he and his family has spent a lot of time in Holland so that sorta thing always catches his eye.. he even speaks dutch to confuse me.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
food for free 0 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 ive been toying with the idea of getting a couple of hens for a good few years now. Only thing is the area i live in is not that rural. Its quite quiet in the garden (old victorian with high old walls). I would guess at 20ft square. Do you think its feasible to keep a couple of hens. How much space do you guys allocate to your hens. Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elmerfudd 5 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 ive been toying with the idea of getting a couple of hens for a good few years now.Only thing is the area i live in is not that rural. Its quite quiet in the garden (old victorian with high old walls). I would guess at 20ft square. Do you think its feasible to keep a couple of hens. How much space do you guys allocate to your hens. Cheers To qualify as free range each bird requires 2 square feet of space according to some supermarkets. That means in a garden 20x20 you could have 200 birds! Obviously that would be ridiculous, but hey, that's Asda price! In short, almost any garden will have room for some birds, if you get a trio of hens that would be ideal. They'll have plenty of space, companionship and they won't trash the lawn, and you'll have 2-3 eggs a day. Boy, they soon mount up! Get some rescued battery hens if you can find them, or a Rhodie hybrid or Light Sussex. Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sue 1 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 as soon as ive rehomed 5 ferrets im going to get myself 3 ex battery hens i carnt wait ,fresh eggs lovely Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stubby 175 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 ours have settled in so well, were getting 8 eggs from 8 hens daily Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueCoyote 0 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 what is a battery hen? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elmerfudd 5 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 (edited) what is a battery hen? Battery hens are caged hens. Between 6 and 12 hens in a crate too small to move around properly. They're kept indoors and with nothing to distract them they just eat, lay eggs and peck each other. They have to have their beaks clipped to stop them doing too much damage to each other. After about a year they are disposed of. As there's no real meat to speak of, they're usually used for dog food or processed foods. Or if they're really unlucky, KFC or McDonalds! :sick: You can tell if you're eating a battery egg, the yolk is a watery yellow colour, similar to pus, and they have no flavour, but they're cheap! :wacko: It's becoming more popular over here to rescue them at that stage. With a little TLC they make great pets AND great layers. This barbaric treatment should be made illegal soon (2010 I think?) but in the meantime millions of birds are kept in conditions you wouldn't keep a sardine! Edited April 27, 2008 by Elmerfudd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldTrapCollector 377 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 I realise that I really should know the answer to this question but will the hens lay happily without a cock bird there with them?? OTC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elmerfudd 5 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 I realise that I really should know the answer to this question but will the hens lay happily without a cock bird there with them?? OTC Yup! And if you do have a cock running with them, the eggs DON'T taste salty! (despite what my wife thought) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tis TM 8 Posted April 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 I realise that I really should know the answer to this question but will the hens lay happily without a cock bird there with them?? OTC Yup! And if you do have a cock running with them, the eggs DON'T taste salty! (despite what my wife thought) thats a classic!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueCoyote 0 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 I realise that I really should know the answer to this question but will the hens lay happily without a cock bird there with them?? OTC Yup! And if you do have a cock running with them, the eggs DON'T taste salty! (despite what my wife thought) :clapper: :clapper: i'll have to show this comment to my husband Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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