Latest News

Beginners Course - Sunday March 4th 2012

Monday, February 20, 2012

Please note there are only a few places left on this course, if you are interested in attending, please contact us as soon as possible.

Appenzellers - preparing to show

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

We have recently assessed all our Appenzeller flocks and seperated off the cockerels with the relevant hens for breeding the best show quality stock. We have just started the hatching schedule with some Blues and Blacks. In a week or so, we will be setting the Gold, Chamois and Silver eggs. Hopefully, this will produce potential show birds for later on in the year. Our target shows for 2012 with the new offspring will be the National and the Federation. This does mean that we will not have any Appenzeller eggs available to purchase until the end of March 2012, but we think it will be worth the wait!

Happy New Year to all our customers

Monday, January 02, 2012

Hope everyone had a good Xmas and New Year. 2012 is here and we are now back to normal winter opening hours of 10.00am to 4.00pm 7 days per week (including Sundays).

Chocolate Orpingtons Large Fowl - Project for 2012

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

One of our main breeding projects for 2012 will be Chocolate Orpington Large Fowl. Chocolate is a mutant gene found in Black Orpington bantams by the late Dr Clive Carefoot in 1993. Dr Carefoot kept the gene to himself, and only on his death in 2007, was the gene salvaged from potential extinction by a few breeders, including Rob Boyd, who acquired some of the stock. The gene colour has been creating a stir with the breeders over the last few years, with eggs and birds selling for extremely high prices.

Recently, Claire managed to secure a trio of Chocolate Orpington Large Fowl, 2 chocolate hens and 1 Split cockerel from Ramsleys Orpingtons, to embark on a dedicated project for 2012, to breed an improved stock of rare Chocolate Orpington Large Fowl. Further research on the life of Dr Carefoot reveals that he was born and bred in Longridge. Claire lives in the village of Alston, just a few miles outside Longridge. So the chocolate gene has just gone full circle and back to its roots. Amazing story!

We are hoping to improve the strain for Large Fowl throughout 2012, with, hopefully stock and eggs being available either late 2012 or 2013. This will be Claire's main project, and, given the history and origin of the gene, will be a rewarding experience to be able to breed consistent standard large fowl Chocolate Orpingtons from Pear Tree Poultry. 

Relocation to New Field Update

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

We have finally made some progress on the new field. The new 2 acre strip of land is now completely fenced off ready to re-house the hens next year. In the meantime the grass has continued to grow, so we now have our very own 4 legged lawn-mowers in the shape of 20 Red Deer. They have been tasked to get the grass down and allow it thicken, so that the hens can enjoy thick, rich grass next year. The deer also look pretty good roaming around the field, and they are remarkably tame. So, for a few weeks, our visitors will be able to see the deer at close quarters, while they are collecting hens and poultry supplies. We love nature at Pear Tree!

CLAIRE JOINS PEARTREE POULTRY AS BUSINESS PARTNER

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I am happy to announce that Claire Scowcroft has now officially joined Pear Tree Poultry as my business partner.

Claire originally came as a volunteer working at weekends. She must have enjoyed her time at the farm so much, that she felt she wanted to be part of it all. I could see the benefits she brought to the business in her knowledge, and her care and welfare of the hens. Added to this, I recognised her warmth and enthusiasm, particularly when dealing with our customers. So the decision for her to join the business was almost inevitable.

Pear Tree Poultry has grown steadily as a business over the last twelve months, as has our reputation as reliable provider of hens and poultry supplies, both for the 'garden' pets enthusiast and also for 'show quality' pure breeds. I was personally finding it increasingly difficult to look after all aspects of the business, as anyone who has visited the farm recently will appreciate. Claire has played a vital part in the progress we have been making recently, and now will continue to do this in an official capacity.

I hope you will all join me in welcoming Claire to the fold.

Ken Rigby

PROGRESS ON MOVE TO NEW FIELD

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Anyone who has visited us at Toplands Farm will have been told/shown our pending move from one field just before the bungalow (which last year proved a little muddy) to a new 8 acre field behind the farm-house to be shared by a herd of Red deer.

The field was previously a home to a few hundred pigs, so was a little messy to say the least. However, the field has been ploughed. levelled, sown with grass seeds, and is now growing fast and almost ready to cut.

Again, anyone who has already visited us, will have had to experience the to-ing and fro-ing from the original field where the hens are kept outside to the cabins on the new field, which contain the shop, hatchery, breeding pens and winter housing. The buildings have been recently extended with a store area, workshop and extra breeding area.

We are hoping to be able to start moving the pens to the new field as soon as the grass has been cut. With over 60 pens and other runs, coops and sheds, this will be no mean feat. We are optimistic, that with some favourable weather, and the use of some of the farm vehicles and machinery, we will have completed the move by the end of the year. It may take a few weeks/months to establish the site as we have planned with some new time-saving ideas, and easier visibility for our visitors. We are anticipating that by Spring next year 2012, the site move will be complete.

We obviously apologise for any inconvenience during this time, but we are expecting it to be business as usual during the transition period. We are very excited about the proposed move, and we will try to keep you up to date.

Celebrity Hens Part 3

Thursday, March 31, 2011

5 young bantam hens, a Silver Pencilled Wyandotte, Partridge Wyandotte, Gold Laced Wyandotte, Buff Sussex, and Double Laced Barnevelder left Pear Tree Poultry for a life in one of UK's most popular stately homes. They are now drawing in the crowds at Holker Hall, which is the estate of Lord & Lady Cavendish near Grange-over-Sands, (see link www.holker.co.uk).

I would like to thank Chris for taking the hens on his way to his lakeside retreat. Yvonne Cannon is the head gardner, and is delighted with the hens "Thankyou very much for arranging delivery of your bantams, they are the best quality ones I have ever bought. The Barnevelder is quite something & drawing the crowds already, the gold laced Wyandotte has come out with her boxing gloves on and is taking on all comers, even the cockerel!" So why not pay the estate a visit and see the 'girls' for yourself. Oh and if the hens from Pear Tree Poultry are good enough for Lord & Lady Cavendish, then ....... you know the rest!!!!

Celebrity Hens Part 2

Thursday, August 28, 2008

This is becoming a regular item. Readers of Practical Poultry, turn once again to the Gallery page (23) Issue 74 May 2010 and right in the centre is a stunning picture of LILY, the White Silkie hen, hatched and reared at Pear Tree Poultry, before joining the lovely family of Kris Jackson of Wigan. This is the second Silkie to appear in the mag, following SILKIE, the black Silkie (see below).

Celebrity Hens Part 1

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

So guess where some Pear Tree Poultry hens are now enjoying a celebrity lifestyle. Let me give you a clue! This year's Eurovision song writer and producer, and pop music impressario, non other than Pete Waterman. Pete's right hand man on the estate, Bob, popped down to Pear Tree Poultry this week to pick up a few hens, saying, me and Pete like our eggs in the morning. Apparently, a few of Pete's hens have been killed recently by a fox.

Okay, joke's about his co-panelist on a postcard please. As a kindred old soulie myself, I wondered if Pete remembers his days in Mr M's downstairs from Wigan Casino in the 70s, where he used to wear out his copy of Robert Knight's 'Love on a mountain top'. He went on to have a No1 hit with Sinita on this song. Anyway, I presume the hens are having a great time running around his steam engines etc. They "should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky!!!"

Appenzeller Spitzhauben Breed Society

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

I am pleased to announce that Benjamin Shepherd has registered the Appenzeller Spitzhauben breed society with the Rare Poultry Society. This means this fantastic breed will once again have its own dedicated 'club', which will hopefully develop with breeder's days, shows, photgraphic competitions etc. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE www.appenzellerspitzhauben.co.uk and register your name to join this society. Thanks to Benjamin for all his efforts and hard-work, we shoud be able to raise the profile of this (my favourite!!) breed.

DEFRA Registered

Thursday, June 19, 2008

I am happy to announce that Pear Tree Poultry is now DEFRA registered. Following a visit by the Animal Health, Egg Production inspector, Pear Tree Poultry has now been cleared by the recognised Government Office as an approved Hatchery. I am really pleased we were able to comply with the goverment legislation, and I am proud to accept the DEFRA recognition for poultry welfare.