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Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 5:06 pm
by alan refail
When you and I were young, Primrose, commercial flocks were usually based on White Leghorns, which lay white-shelled eggs, and Rhode Island Reds, which lay brown-shelled eggs. These days the vast majority commercial flocks are ISA Brown (or similar) and these are hybrids derived from Rhode Island Reds - hence the preponderance of brown-shelled eggs on the market.

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Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:28 pm
by robo
Around forty years ago I had a few chickens in our back garden as pets for our daughters we had one white leghorn a couple of Rhode island reds and a lovely little silky bantum one sat on an egg which hatched to this day I don't know how it got fertilized we did not have a male but the chick grew into a cock bantum and what a nasty hugger he was

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:06 pm
by Westi
I think the timing is right for different coloured eggs. Seen them pop up on the foodie shows (using proclaiming they taste better), but the minute anything becomes trendy if you can get in quick you can turn a hobby into a business even if you start on a small scale.

Good luck Alan, remember us before you ask your PA to answer on the forum for you! :) :)

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 1:51 pm
by alan refail
Early run across to Ynys Môn (=Anglesey) this morning to pick up son's heart's desire. A breeding trio of Welsh Harlequin ducks. They were originally bred as a sport from Khaki Campbells in 1949 in Criccieth, which is only four miles from here. A truly local breed. Here they are just arrived home. Drake Arthur, ducks Gwenfrewi and Blodeuwedd (all names from Welsh legend!). The white one is a young Muscovy which we brought home because she looked lonely. She's Tatiana, despite the fact that Muscovies have no connection to Moscow at all, having originated in Central and South America, and they're more related to geese than ducks!

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Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 1:58 pm
by alan refail
Some pictures of how the poultry enterprise is developing. Looks like a lot less grass cutting this year :)

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Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 2:07 pm
by oldherbaceous
Lovely to see the set up you have, Alan, quite a cottage industry....How many different types are you up to now?

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 2:13 pm
by alan refail
oldherbaceous wrote:Lovely to see the set up you have, Alan, quite a cottage industry....How many different types are you up to now?


Duck breeds - four
Chicken breeds - about ten or a dozen

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 2:19 pm
by Diane
Wow - that's an amazing set up - so much room and all that healthy green grass. Your eggs will have beautiful yolks.

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:10 pm
by Stephen
That is a very smart set-up Alan. I hope you do well from it.

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:57 pm
by alan refail
Right on cue, we now have two serious broodies, one Barred Plymouth Rock and one Black Rock. By serious I mean you steer clear of them unless you want to be growled at and and pecked! If the new broody coops arrive as planned on Monday they will each be sitting a clutch of ten to a dozen eggs. And, if I'm lucky, I won't be nursing pecked hands :wink:

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:15 pm
by Primrose
And i,m going green with envy thinking of all that lovely poultry manure !!
Good luck with your new ventures.

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:21 pm
by oldherbaceous
Have you ever kept Geese, Alan?

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:27 pm
by alan refail
oldherbaceous wrote:Have you ever kept Geese, Alan?


Only in the fridge and in the oven :)

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 7:39 am
by Shallot Man
Alan . i believe our American cousins prefer white shelled eggs.

Re: New kids on the block - New birds in the flock

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 12:28 pm
by Diane
Love a good broody hen Not to be messed with. :evil: