[lucy-lu]

Hi,

I'm after some more chickens. We already s have 4 Ida browns.

Not sure what breed we would like though, I would like it to be a good layer, look different to isa (not brown), and a decent layer, and good to have running around the bAckyard.

Also, where in sydney can I get them from, I am in the hills area.


Thanks,

[melaine]

I'm not a chicken expert - but our Isa Browns can be a bit cliquey when new birds are introduced so when we wanted some different chickens recently we got Australorps because they are a larger breed so would be less likely to be bullied by the Isas.

Can't help where to get them from as we are in Victoria - but we couldn't get them at point of lay because there were never any available at that age, so we got them at about ten weeks old I think.

They've settled in well, we kept them separate for a while and gradually introduced them and all has been well.

This post has been edited by melaine: 03/01/2013, 01:28 PM

[FoxyRetro*Gal]

We had a Salmon Faverolle that was sadly taken by our dog a few nights ago. Really sweet natured and great with the kids. They are quite a large size & look gorgeous scratching around in the yard. We are not in NSW so not sure where to buy from but try looking on the net.

[FiveAus]

We get ours from poultry auctions, you can wander around and look at the different breeds before the bidding starts and mark down the cage numbers of the ones you want to bid on. Lots of fun!
I lost all mine to foxes recently so I need to restock soon. The breeds I had were Hamburgs (silver spangled, smoke and black), silkies which were my favourites, Barnevelder, Australorp, Old English Game bantams, Speckled Sussex. Loved them all and from 12 hens I regularly got 6 eggs a day, except when they stopped laying through winter.
Check the Backyard Poultry forum for auctions near you, someone on there should be able to advise you.

[noi'mnot]

Australorps are very hardy, and great layers. They're big chickens.

Araucanas (my favourites) are smaller, hardy and great layers.

Have a look at the leghorn varieties, as well as Rhode Island Reds, I think both of those are pretty good layers too.

And backyardpoultry is great, you'll find locals on there who can recommend where you get some more.

[jak'n'jil]

I started with Isa and Australorps about 8 yrs ago. In the past 18mths I've moved into pure breds. The main reason is that I have lost so many of the commercials I found the pure are healthier, lay far longer and have much better health and accordingly have less vet bills. I currently have 4 different age groups, my last 2- lorps are 3yrs - one has stopped laying altogether the other has her days/wks.. I have a white sussex (very hardy and great layer) good solid chook and a brown sussex who still has to come to terms with where she should lay and that she should when she needs to.. I have 2 bantams, 1 is an ancona -the size of a pigeon fully grown tries very hard to lay with a lot of noise and not much success.. the other is a silver spangled hamburg (black/white spots) and lays every day a beautiful small white egg. I also have a Road Is red hardy chooks good layers, lavender sussex which are also great layers but they are my babies atm.
You can also get pure bred 'lorps black and white now. Will see what i can find out about breeders for you. I do keep mine seperated for a mth then introduce each other under supervision for a wk til they sort themselves. I have found putting them in a cage with the others helps esp as they are on different feed for about a wk and then that's it.

[Mama8]

http://www.barterandsons.com.au/ try these guys they have different colours but the same laying capcity as ISAs. They also freight

[~sydblue~]

Kellyville Pets has chooks.

[WaitingforZiggy]

These guys are awesome: http://citychicks.com.au. They are out at Richmond.

We bought three Australorp x Isa Brown hybrids from them in February 2012. Beautiful chooks and great layers.

They also helped us out with advice and support when one of our girls was under the weather a couple of months ago.

[CharliMarley]

We found that Hyline chooks are the best layers and don't go clucky as much as the Isa Browns did. I am in Victoria, so I cannot help with where to find them.