Eggs

[Bladerunner]

Wow, thanks for the quick responses.

Love the idea of an honesty table, you must live in a very trusting part of the world. Round here they would take the table as well.

If you want more hens do you just buy them as chicks, from the local chick shop or rent the local cockeral for a few days?

What do they eat and how much of it?

Do they make a lot of noise? I know the cockeral would, but just the hens. If I am going off grid I don't want to give my location away with too much noise.

How long do they live? Obviously without a cockeral, when they die you have no more.

Are there any types of cockeral that aren't as noisey as I imagine they would be? I just read that question back and am now blushing at my lack of knowledge.

Sorry for the daft questions but I am ignorant when it comes to chickens. I could look up this info on the net but I would rather have answers from people who know what they are talking about and not some know it all who has read a few books.

Be Lucky

[Red Doe]

Don`t know of any non noisy cockerels! Our one isn`t too bad though it all depends on the weather...in good, summer, light weather he crows around three am, but we have no neighbours.
We get ours from a breeder on the Isle of Skye, who visits mainland twice a year with poultry of all sorts but there will be plenty local breeders near you I`m sure, chicken keeping has become very popular.
I feed mine kitchen scraps and layer`s pellets (here, around eight quid a bag but with a dozen hens that lasts around three weeks) and they are free range, though shut in at night from the foxes and badgers. You can], if you`re not wanting eggs in abundance to sell, just feed them on kitchen scraps and garden fodder...greens and suchlike, and they`ll still give you eggs no problem. If you do feed them kitchen scraps deny it til you`re blue in the face....it`s now illegal after the BSE issue. Almost every hen keeper I know ignores that one.
I love the noise of hens, which isn`t loud or constant..they are lovely when they are contentedly clucking away, but can be noisy when they`ve just laid...they like to announce it to the world with loud clucks! Doesn`t last long though and if they outlay it means you can pinpoint where and get the eggs afore anything else does.
Laying lifetime is usually three, four years but they do live longer, not sure what the oldest would be but after mine stop laying I eat them and get in replacements. I used to breed my own but that was in Orkney, with no foxes or other predators for them.
Hope this helps, I can talk chicken for hours.

[Red Doe]

p.s I just keep rhode island reds, which are great layers. Plus one white leghorn, who isn`t, but lays beautiful white eggs and is a character. Beware breeders trying to push fancy breeds on you if all you want is layers, rhodies, imo, are best all round birds.

[preppingsu]

We have started with ex-batts which has meant we can get used to handling etc Cost was petrol to collect them and a donation to the charity.
If we were to look at chicks etc we would need a 2nd coop and run (issues over pecking order) and also if you get young chicks you don't know if you are getting a cockerel or hen.
Having been to the 3 counties show and spent time in the poultry tent (nearly came away with some silkies which are gorgeous!) the cockerels do make a lot of noise.

I think eventually I would like to breed but I would need more land!!!!!!

[diamond lil]

I've only got two hens, Black Rocks. They are quiet, dont make noise at all. Get on fine with each other and the cat. One lays big cream eggs and one lays wee brown eggs. Two eggs a day. They eat layers mash and porridge and leftover cat food - and anything that doesnt eat them, really.

[Bladerunner]

I've only got two hens, Black Rocks. They are quiet, dont make noise at all. Get on fine with each other and the cat. One lays big cream eggs and one lays wee brown eggs. Two eggs a day. They eat layers mash and porridge and leftover cat food - and anything that doesnt eat them, really.

Are they cadbury's????????

Thanks for all the information.

Be lucky

[preppingsu]

I've only got two hens, Black Rocks. They are quiet, dont make noise at all. Get on fine with each other and the cat. One lays big cream eggs and one lays wee brown eggs. Two eggs a day. They eat layers mash and porridge and leftover cat food - and anything that doesnt eat them, really.

Are they cadbury's????????

Thanks for all the information.

Be lucky

Oh if only..........................................................

[diamond lil]

I'm working on it. Trying to train them!