Surprise Hens

[Hen-Gen]

As I mentioned recently I hatched three Buff Leghorns back in the Spring. They are prodigious layers and not particularly flighty. I owned one a few years back who contravened Leghorn regulations by going broody and three blue males to use in a breeding experiment that was unsuccessful.
Now I’m tempted to get some more hatching eggs in 2022 from eBay. (Can’t hatch any next year as I’ve got a full programme). Rather fancy Exchequer Leghorns. Anyone got experience of these?

 

[dianefairhall]

Not a clue but don't stop posting about them. The Buffs sound lovely.

 

[Margaid]

I had a couple but only for a few months when circumstances forced me to give up poultry keeping. They were good layers and like yours Hen-Gen, not particularly flighty. One of them however had a habit of going broody and she needed at least three days n the isolation coop to cure her. I had a very large enclosure about 80 sq metres, with a large hen-house plus a small timber coop and 2 sq m run. I didn't put any bedding i it and it was on a sheet of plywood on the grass - I'll try and find a photo showing it. After 24 hours she would go beserk, flying up at the netting and screeching. I was afraid she would hurt herself so I let her out but she was straight back in the nest box in the main house. I learnt to put up with the racket, but I think she went broody three times. I could tell them apart easily because the comb of one flopped to the right, and the other to the left. I got them because I think they are attractive hens and because their eggs were white.


On grass, not the sheet of plywood.


Their combs look pale but I think that may be the lighting conditions.

 

[Hen-Gen]

They look good and quite chunky for Leghorns. Very tempted now.

 

[Margaid]

This might give a better indication of size - with the two CLBs and the Welsummer cockerel. They are certainly on my list if I decide to keep hens again.