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Hello from Derbyshire

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MalSabreur

MalSabreur

Chirping
Apr 19, 2023
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Hi Everyone. My name is Mal. We moved to Derbyshire from North Lincolnshire last year and have kept chickens for many years. I am interested mainly in heritage table and dual purpose breeds, though we have also had hybrids and ex-battery birds. I am a firm believer in eating our excess birds as I think the best way to maintain the character of a breed is to use it for its intended purpose.
Over the years I have kept various table birds in the quest for the " perfect" one for my family and now specialise in heritage French breeds which live on our sons small holding. We currently have La Fleche, Black and Cuckoo Crevecoeurs, Houdans and Faverolles. We DID have Barbezieux too, but a couple of years ago I lost all my birds to foxes. The others I could replace, but sadly, I couldn't source any more of the wonderful Barbezieux. Until now, that is. I have at last managed to find someone who is sending me fertile eggs. YAY!! If I could only have one breed, it would be these - they are truly magnificent, nearly as big as Jersey Giants but with a GOOD meat to bone ratio (cocks are 4.5kg plus!) and allegedly even better eating than the Bressés, but I'd have to ask Mr. Fox about that!

I look forward to discussing chooks wiith like-minded people. Cheers, Mal
 
MalSabreur said:
Hi Everyone. My name is Mal. We moved to Derbyshire from North Lincolnshire last year and have kept chickens for many years. I am interested mainly in heritage table and dual purpose breeds, though we have also had hybrids and ex-battery birds. I am a firm believer in eating our excess birds as I think the best way to maintain the character of a breed is to use it for its intended purpose.
Over the years I have kept various table birds in the quest for the " perfect" one for my family and now specialise in heritage French breeds which live on our sons small holding. We currently have La Fleche, Black and Cuckoo Crevecoeurs, Houdans and Faverolles. We DID have Barbezieux too, but a couple of years ago I lost all my birds to foxes. The others I could replace, but sadly, I couldn't source any more of the wonderful Barbezieux. Until now, that is. I have at last managed to find someone who is sending me fertile eggs. YAY!! If I could only have one breed, it would be these - they are truly magnificent, nearly as big as Jersey Giants but with a GOOD meat to bone ratio (cocks are 4.5kg plus!) and allegedly even better eating than the Bressés, but I'd have to ask Mr. Fox about that!

I look forward to discussing chooks wiith like-minded people. Cheers, Mal
Click to expand...
Hello MalSabreur.
Welcome to BYC.
I hope you managed to deal with Mrs Fox, her partner, their offspring and their mates before getting any more chickens.
 
Shadrach said:
Hello MalSabreur.
Welcome to BYC.
I hope you managed to deal with Mrs Fox, her partner, their offspring and their mates before getting any more chickens.
Click to expand...
Thankyou! We have an ongoing fox (and badger) problem, even after moving our flock to the farm. Our solution, rather than victimize the foxes, has been to beef up our defences stronger wire, electric netting, fences topped up to 9 feet using loose strung bird netting, claymore mines (I wish!)
Our attitude is that foxes and badgers play an important part in the countryside and that it is up to us to protect our birds, not the wildlife's to leave them alone.
Where we lived, the biggest problem were urban foxes that had been trapped by the RSPCA, neutered and released near us. There prefered release point was adjacent to a smallholding that specialises in POL pullets, just to make sure they have a ready- meal handy?
 
MalSabreur said:
Thankyou! We have an ongoing fox (and badger) problem, even after moving our flock to the farm. Our solution, rather than victimize the foxes, has been to beef up our defences stronger wire, electric netting, fences topped up to 9 feet using loose strung bird netting, claymore mines (I wish!)
Our attitude is that foxes and badgers play an important part in the countryside and that it is up to us to protect our birds, not the wildlife's to leave them alone.
Where we lived, the biggest problem were urban foxes that had been trapped by the RSPCA, neutered and released near us. There prefered release point was adjacent to a smallholding that specialises in POL pullets, just to make sure they have a ready- meal handy?
Click to expand...
According to various wildlife agencies here in the UK foxes are on the decline so the neutering program may grind to a halt in the not too distant future. There is a vixen living about 50m from where I look after some chickens on the allotments here in Bristol. Her or her suitor did get into the run a few years ago, mainly because a new gate had been built for the run but the anti climb crank above the gate wasn't replaced. Fortunately she hasn't taken do daylight hunting so far although I do see her current suitor sneak accross the allotments from time to time.
 

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