Re: Choosing a new breed - help please

Steve Newport wrote:

Any idea where in the UK (we are in Sussex) we could get these birds?


Steve
Go down to SPR centre and get some really good solid advice from the Blands
They have more experience in poultry keeping than any one else you will find
and have been helping folks for SO many years.
Be clear as to the space - inside and outside that these birds will be
getting.
They have been supplying birds and owners and will be the best to help you
find birds to suit your particular conditions.

I think I would steer you to bantams and the lower productive large fowl as
they tend to be less needy in terms of space and environment.
However some of the intensive hybrid types are very quiet and space tolerant
so could also cope with with your set up and still be productive.

Beware about reading info about breeds. Most are over generalisations based
on descriptions of birds 50 - 100 years ago. You need to talk to actual
breeders of birds they have bred for more than 3-5 generations and see what
their strains of birds tolerate.
In every breed there are the good the bad and the ugly in terms of
temperament and requirements - depending on how the breeder is selecting.
Its their input in the past 5 generations that is critical - not what
someone in the US, Australia, or someone re-typing what has been passed down
for 100 years.

Hope you find some fun birds to take you on in your chook keeping.


--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk







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