Where to source chickens

[Northern_George]

Hi Can anyone help I’m after some chicken for my garden. After either Marans or silkies but open to other breeds.
Any idea where I can get some I’m located in Northumberland.

 

[Cheviot]

Hi Can anyone help I’m after some chicken for my garden. After either Marans or silkies but open to other breeds.
Any idea where I can get some I’m located in Northumberland.

try your local auction mart they may have a fur&feather sale , i will have alook

 

[Cheviot]

DO a google search for (chickens for sale Northumberland) their is a lot

 

[woodland mouse]

I know it’s a bit more effort and you get what you get rather than want in terms of sexes but maybe a basic incubator is easier and get eggs which seem to be easier to pick up. I’ve stayed clear of red mite so far too.
Seem to be running my incubator all year now and keep my eye out for any eggs locally or on eBay

 

[Dunwaters]

Contact your local chicken rescue and get some x battery layers.
The commercial egg producers get rid of them as soon as production drops of, but they’re perfectly fine for the backyard chicken role, cheap as chips and there’s a constant stream in need of rehoming.
They’ll look like crap when you get them first, but they’ll feather up in a few weeks and keep laying regardless.
The 2 breeds you mentioned are very different, silkies dont do much except look nice, Marrans look good but won’t produce nearly as many eggs as a Rhode Island cross. If you plan on getting a cockerel and raising a few chicks, marrans might not be the best choice, they have big feet and are prone to stepping on the fluffies.

 

[JTO]

Rhode-Island-Red cross Light Sussex used to be favourite. We used to get 25 day-olds every year, When they are no longer laying enough, you can eat them. Silkies' main object in life is to be broody!

 

[Basil H]

It all depends what you want them for. For example there are strains of silkies that make great broodies and are used for other breeds and other species such as waterfowl. However, the show birds are quite different. There is a lot of stuff on Facebook including amateurs trading. (I only know this at second hand as my son is an enthusiast).

 

[Overlay]

I’ve had Marrans and the RI cross in the past, my vote would go to the Marrans solely on the superb eggs, ok they’re aren’t prolific layers like some but egg quality is high, Rhode Island x are a good allround bird, hardy and excellent layers

church farm, painters forstal near Faversham do a good strain of free range chickens, but that’s in Kent a fair way from you

silkies etc are good egg hatchers, that’s all I’ve ever used them for - bringing off pheasant eggs

good luck on finding some

 

[VSS]

If you're thinking of silkies from the point of view of using them as broodies, then get silkie × OEG bantams instead. Chicks under purebred silkies often become entangled in their fluffy feathers and die.

 

[Creedmoor Bob]

British Hen Welfare Trust

The British Hen Welfare Trust is a national charity that rehomes commercial laying hens and encourages support for British free-range eggs.

www.bhwt.org.uk

Get yourself some ex battery hens, they're great layers and cheap as chips.

 

[old keeper]

Again far too far from you, but my local free-range poultry farm sells off their 18-month-old birds for a pound each. They'll keep laying well for at least a coup[le of years!

 

[Smellydog]

Ohhhh, source chickens, not chicken source....

 

[VSS]

Ohhhh, source chickens, not chicken source....

Were you about to reply "just pour it all over them", by any chance?

 

[Camdig]

Local poultry club will put you in touch with with specific breeders.

 

[Northern_George]

try your local auction mart they may have a fur&feather sale , i will have alook

I looked at Hexham mart but couldn’t see any up and coming sales there

 

[VSS]

I looked at Hexham mart but couldn’t see any up and coming sales there

I think poultry auctions are in abeyance due to the bird flu risk.

 

[landkeeper]

Hi Can anyone help I’m after some chicken for my garden. After either Marans or silkies but open to other breeds.
Any idea where I can get some I’m located in Northumberland.

Look on Facebook for a local poultry group most folk use those now for moving surplus stock

 

[NoIDeer]

Whatever you go for look for a reputable supplier you don't want hens carrying Marek's and the like.

If it's eggs you're after go for the Rhode Island Red Sussex cross as mentioned, great characters to have around too as birds go.

 

[Camdig]

Whatever you go for look for a reputable supplier you don't want hens carrying Marek's and the like.

If it's eggs you're after go for the Rhode Island Red Sussex cross as mentioned, great characters to have around too as birds go.

My favourite breeds, although we have tried several over the years we love RIR and Light Sussex

 

[Northern_George]

The chickens will be for eggs mainly but I wouldn’t mind having some for meat