|
|
 |
Author |
|
| Message | |
|
spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 382
Location: North Yorkshire
|
 Posted: Fri May 09, 08 10:32 am Post subject: Blimey - sourcing hens isn't necessarily easy! |
 
|
I'm glad we got our four ex-bats earlier this year as apparently the waiting lists have got much longer now they're in such huge demand thanks to Jamie, Hugh et al. But it seems every breed of chicken we've looked at as candidates to add to our flock is equally in demand.
We've been trying to locate Araucanas - only available six weeks old from one place that isn't either at the top or bottom end of the UK, no good I think as that young they'd be battered by the ex-bats - and can't find any so far in Lancashire, Yorkshire (both huge counties) or Cumbria. We've tried getting Columbines, a new breed, but none will be available until some time in July and they won't take advance orders unless we are prepared not to see the birds first and get them delivered. And we want to see them first, and take them home ourselves. Same goes for the delightfully named Fenning Coucous.
Maybe the problem is that we're not looking for prolific layers - the ex-bats do that for us - but for distinctive looking birds and eggs, and eggs that aren't necessarily provided all year round or in quantity.
I'm left wondering why you get 'clusters' of breeders sometimes, with vast swathes of the country lacking in availability of certain breeds. Am I to conclude it's because the type of bird you keep depends on where you live? Surely not!  |
|
|
|
 |
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 16128
Location: Montgomeryshire
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 10:37 am Post subject: |
|
Have you tried putting a Wanted ad on something like the Practical Poultry forum? Not everyone who keeps, say, Araucanas will have a website for selling them, but you might be lucky and find someone closer to you who has one or two spares from their own hatch.
It's also relatively early in the year for point-of-lay pullets - most people will still only have youngish birds. |
|
|
|
|
spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 382
Location: North Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 10:44 am Post subject: |
|
Thanks for the advice. I was looking at that forum earlier, will head over and register to post! |
|
|
|
|
lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 3803
Location: ceredigion
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 10:59 am Post subject: |
|
Don't know how close you are to Hipswell but Glencroft poultry used to sell a range of birds---think they advertise on the N.Yorks smallholders site.  |
|
|
|
|
jocorless
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 4162
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 12:07 pm Post subject: |
|
Its Glencroft Poultry who are selling the Columbines and the Fenning Coucou's - Spicy has tried them but they won't be ready until July at the earliest - its a pity we can't book them in advance as I would have had some as well and we could have gone and got them together - I'm just glad that Chez has got some Barnvelders for me as well |
|
|
|
|
lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 3803
Location: ceredigion
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 12:15 pm Post subject: |
|
It's a problem at this time of year---someone I know wants P.O.L. now----they are going to try the poultry auction tonight----I have some nice Marans hatched from good egg layers I would have given them---as they only want 3---but it'll be 10 weeks before they're P.O.L. |
|
|
|
|
Chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 12750
Location: Quantock Hills, Somerset
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 1:39 pm Post subject: |
|
Araucana's ARE pretty prolific layers in my experience - we had lavender ones when I was a kid.
I think the issue is, as Judith says, it's early in the year for POLs - fertility in traditional breeds tends to get going in spring. And people don't want to breed loads and then not be able to get rid of them. I understand he last couple of years haven't been too good for the fancy poultry trade because of bird-flu scares.
The practical poultry lot are really helpful, though, you should be able to find something there. |
|
|
|
|
StuP
Joined: 19 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Aberdeenshire
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 2:15 pm Post subject: |
|
We took the long way round - bought an incubator and ordered hatching eggs off ebay. We now have three Welsummers at four weeks old and a couple of silver grey Dorkings that should be hatching.....about now really.
Must finish building the run!  |
|
|
|
|
Chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 12750
Location: Quantock Hills, Somerset
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 2:19 pm Post subject: |
|
| StuP wrote: |
We took the long way round - bought an incubator and ordered hatching eggs off ebay. We now have three Welsummers at four weeks old and a couple of silver grey Dorkings that should be hatching.....about now really.
Must finish building the run! |
Ahem. Well. Yes. Far be it from me to suggest that  |
|
|
|
|
lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 3803
Location: ceredigion
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 2:23 pm Post subject: |
|
Much more fun---just longer---I've got some lovely Jersey Giants hatched this year from Ebay eggs----if there is a poultry auction near though hatching eggs are usually cheaper there than Ebay---and they haven't been bounced in the post----got bronze turkeys due to start hatching today---fingers crossed.
p.s.--Isn't there anybody you could hire an incubator from? |
|
|
|
|
Chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 12750
Location: Quantock Hills, Somerset
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 08 2:25 pm Post subject: |
|
I've got a dozen eBay'd Salmon Faverolles due to hatch tomorrow - but we had a power-cut for 90 mins this morning and by the time I got them under the broodies they were quite cold. Crossing my fingers ... |
|
|
|
|
pookie
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 1685
Location: montgomeryshire
|
| Posted: Sat May 10, 08 12:01 pm Post subject: |
|
| Chez wrote: |
| I've got a dozen eBay'd Salmon Faverolles due to hatch tomorrow - but we had a power-cut for 90 mins this morning and by the time I got them under the broodies they were quite cold. Crossing my fingers ... |
Don't worry too much, I had a batch during an 8 hour powercut that hatched ok
ended up sitting the 'bator on top of hotwater bottles  |
|
|
|
|
spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 382
Location: North Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Sun May 11, 08 9:54 am Post subject: |
|
I can't believe the wide variation in prices charged for POL hens just from a few hours spent 'window shopping' online. I found the average price this year compared to last seems to have gone up a little - sites I checked last year offering hens around £10, purebreeds and hybrids, are now offering the same for £15-20. Presumably that's got something to do with the rising cost of feed being passed on. But that's just a guess.
I found one site selling birds for £40 and offering nationwide delivery, but I'm a little uncomfortable with that idea when you're talking big birds like Large Blue Orpingtons being delivered from one end of the country to another. It must surely be distressing for them, and perhaps better in all instances wherever possible to go choose and collect your birds yourself?
Does anyone have experience of keeping Large Blue Orpingtons and know what they're like as part of a mixed flock? |
|
|
|
|
Lorrainelovesplants
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1282
Location: Cornwall
|
| Posted: Sun May 11, 08 10:24 am Post subject: |
|
I personally would always go and view any live birds i was thinking of buying. having a quick look at other stock on location will give you a clear idea of how they are looked after.
I am also wary of buying at auction, because 1. you have no real idea of background, living conditions or health(or sex in young birds) and have little comeback. 2.Also, if the hens you are bidding on are next to lice ridden, scaly legged birds are you really going to chance it that cross contamination is not going to occur?
Yes, everyone wants point of lay and they want it now, but they will either have to buy them as growers or wait.
Regarding prices - here in Cornwall I saw some sorry states supposedly points of lay (but smaller than my 9 week growers) already showing scaly leg kept in filthy conditions offered at a snip of £14 each. Yes, in Cornwall fools and their money are easily parted.
I have also seen some average Light Sussex pullets with average markings going for £15 each.
Personally I sell mine locally now £14 for non-show pullets at POL, and the really fine birds for £20 each. I have a waiting list in operation for both.
Lorraine
PS I also sell hatching eggs for £1 each, but will only be posting them registered and not first class from now on, due to the sad state of arrival of my latest post outs. |
|
|
|
|
Chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 12750
Location: Quantock Hills, Somerset
|
| Posted: Sun May 11, 08 12:15 pm Post subject: |
|
I can vouch for Lorraine's birds - I had some hatching eggs from her and they have produced lovely birds.
Re posting - I was reading an article somewhere (think Practical Poultry forums, but not sure) about packing for postage. Although eggs arrive uncracked, the downside of the polyboxes could apparently be due to shocks from a bumpy ride being passed directly on to the yolk, thus affecting fertility. Someone was saying that they found they got a better hatch rate if they bought oversided polyboxes and wrapped each egg with bubble wrap INSIDE the nests in the box, so less shock was transferred directly.
I sat down and worked out my rearing costs last night - on a dead posh spreadsheet . It costs me £10.48 to rear a pullet to point of lay, using a broody to hatch and rear. I haven't worked out how much it would be with the incubator/brood lamp, because I'm going to try to move away from that. But that includes cost of producing the initial egg, feeding the broody, feeding the chicks, worming and red-mite powder.
Selling at £15, as I am this year, I make just under a 50% mark-up - which Pookie was sternly telling me the other day, wasn't enough for the time I spend doing it .
Under those circumstances, I don't think £20 is unreasonable for good POL birds. And if they are rare or show stock, it's all down to supply and demand.
No Orpington experience, sorry - but Pookie has some Jubilees, which are in fertile and in lay. Don't think she has any POL, though. |
|
|
|
|
|
View Latest Posts