Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: nerdle on May 15, 2013, 16:11
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Never done this in my life but will go to Salisbury on Sat to possibly buy new girls. Will be exciting/scary and really hoping I can remember which are the friendly hens as opposed to flighty as there will be a baffling array to choose from. Will make some notes and brace myself for falling in love again!!!!!
Any tips? Anyone likely to be there?
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All the breeders I have spoken to have advised me to stay clear of Markets or Auctions. I am sure other members have experienced them so I hope they can give you some advice. :)
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My advice is:
Get there early - Much earlier than the auction starts. This way you get time to look at them in your own time and not be rushed. Take a pen and paper so you can write down the lot numbers you are interested in. You may also have to register beforehand to bid.
Anything that catches your eye, give them a good look over. Its easy to get carried away with the excitement and forget to check something. Dont forget feet and legs maybe hidden in straw.
If someone there starts giving you advice or steering you to particular birds, remember they maybe the ones who are selling them and want to push the price up. I once had a stranger trying to steer me to some birds, telling me how wonderful they were (they wernt, they were in a shocking state) and i wasnt even buying.
Sometimes the first lots go for a higher price so unless there is something spectacular in the first few lots you may want to wait for something later in the auction.
There are good sellers and not so good sellers.
If its anything like Melton, it will be busy and lots of jostling but also good fun
Take a box or something to transport them home in.
It maybe beneficial to just watch the first time and go back on another date (if you can wait that long)
Have fun and dont go home with an ostrich :blush:
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I went to the Salisbury one a few months ago and loved looking around. Did not intend to buy, just look at birds and procedures. I enjoyed the experience, fast paced and interesting and some stunning birds. Not sure I'd be good at auction though and like to consider choices and take my time!
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Thank you! I may end up not buying but I'll print out the brochure thingy and make notes. My dog died last week :( so I'm in a strange state of limbo as suddenly free to travel etc and taking animals on might not be right for me now. Loved the ostrich tip!
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So sorry you lost your dog nerdle. :(
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How exciting Nerdle! If I was a bit closer I would come along as I have never been to one. Let us know what it is like and how you get on. It'll also be interesting just to see what is for sale. On the same lines as the ostrich tip, my friend went to buy a budgie and came back with an african grey parrot (I don't think they realised quite how long they live too or how bad tempered they are!)
Sorry to hear about your dog :(
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might be easier buying chicks and raising them and possibly making it easier to handle them.
I would not buy at auction again.
Is it possible to share the hens with a neighbour or friend to help for trips away?
Sorry to hear of your loss though.
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Thank you lovely people. I'm a single girl with no children - she was so precious to me and she was beautiful and perfect in every way. I'd always dreaded losing her and I think I cried for 5 days solid but happily I feel OK now. I sniff her smelly dog blanket every day (her shrine)!
Taking a hen sitter neighbour with me.
Ploughing through huge catalogue - phew! I was warned they aren't vaccinated against respiratory diseases - what questions should I be asking does anyone know? This might just be a window shopping experience after all ....
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I went to the South Essex auctions, its not very big and its held in a church hall, yes it is a good idea to register to buy
I got there with plenty of time, , I was made very welcome by the organisers
They got through a few of the tatty stuff first, then it was onto hens, ehhg (hens, duck, goose, even some exoctics)
all the birds have to be in a box, with food and water (and thgis is the box you take em home in, very handy)
Never had any pressure to buy anything, but you could ask questions of the sellers (if you could find em)
Thins were pretty relaxed there, no rush with the auctineers (but I think they need to watch bidders a bit more closer)
Hens, both laying and POL were at pretty reasonable prices (I thought)
The exoctic birds went for quite a high price as I would have expected
Eggs were really cheap (a lot cheaper than the online auction website)
I bought 4 hens (which are kind of strange looking and still trying to find their place in the pecking order)
I enjoyed myself there, and even though I really dont need any more birds and doint have anything for sale, I'm going back again in June (just to have a look of course :) )
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I used to enjoy the live stock auctions, but there isnt any left around here
I would recommend to go along the first time, have a look around, see who the buyers are, the sellers (you'll probably find they are all regulars) see how prices go, but be prepared to buy something (there is usually something you really like and cat resist)
If you do bid, set your self an ABSOLUTE limit, its too easy to get carried away with bidding and pay more than a hen is really worth
Dont forget, they usually add 10% to a end of bid price, its quite normal for both sellers and buyers to pay this
Sorry about the loss of your pooch, but I bet you still got lots of photos (I know I have of mine, scruff and that was years ago)
Paul O#grady has some great pooches on his show, it will never replace your dog, but it will still welcome you home with a wagging tail and a wet tongue ;) and will never ask why you are late home ;)
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How did you get get on at the Salisbury auction? Were you tempted?
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Well.............deep breath.............
They said get there early so was there before 7(!) but ideal because the first sellers were unloading their hens and I could chat to them. I met lots of breeders and took numbers with a view to getting to 8 week chicks directly from them in future.
So much for that...I fell in love and came home with two pol bantams. The auction was quite a thrill as I'd never done that - I paid about £30 each. A buff laced wyandotte and a gold laced orpington. Pics soon. They are so beautiful but first thing to find out - not used to being handled!!! The sellers number was on the card so could chat to them to check for worming etc.
A bit later....can't catch them Grrr!!! Will have to wait until bedtime to give them a squirt of frontline. Oh dear....!
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Try not to stress them too much in the first few days nerdle. Give them time to settle and get used to you. I usually sit quietly with a few meal worms on an outstretched hand. Slow movements are best and they will soon see that you are not a threat. I would hold off on the frontline if they are fit and healthy looking. Some DE in their dust bath should be enough unless you really think they have a problem.
Looking forward to seeing photos of your new girls. :D
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Thank you anhbuc.
They are refusing to some out of their coop today so food and water in there with them.
I'll just open the door each day and wait for them to come out when they are ready.
Away now until Weds (awful timing) so strict instructions to hensitter.
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I'm glad the experience was a positive one.
Looking forward to the photo's
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Well done Nerdle! They sound lovely. Looking forward to seeing the photos when you catch them! :D
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Well - back earlier than planned and mealworms were greedlily snatched from my hand so huge improvement. Tomorrow a mealworm trail will lead them out into the garden I hope :)
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Be careful if they won't let you handle them you might find they take flight and escape. Speaking from experience with turkey poults, it is a nightmare finding a retrieving them. ::) :lol:
My 2 new girls are still in their own run and I have had them 19 days. I would hate to let them out and lose them. When I do let them out I will do it near their bed time and have some meal worms handy to entice them back to bed.
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Thank you. They happily followed the mealworm trail out this am (my small garden is foxproof) and are now eating corn out of my hand. I think they know where their bedroom is and I've got my eye on them. How I'll teach them to use the treadle feeder I don't know!
It has occurred to me that I have been too hasty and these will never be really tame. My last two were on my lap all the time so I'm surprised. 8 week chicks would have been better really. I can always sell them at next month's market - lets see.
Forgot to thank you Splash for your guidance - it was all good advice.
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No names yet...
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The are beautiful nerdle, are they LF or bantams?
I would give them some time to get used to you, it is really early days. I have young birds that run a mile so it isn't always to do with age. Try not giving them any treats until bed time just in case they don't want to go to bed. ;)
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Wow, they are stunning.
I wouldnt give up just yet, i've had chickens that wouldnt even eat out of my hand.
They are lovely looking though.
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They are beautiful - a lovely choice :)
I'm sure with patience they will tame just keep perserveering (had my cat 4 years before she'd sit on anyone's lap - ok she's a cat not a chicken, I'm sure it won't take as long!)
Hannah :)
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Really lovely hens, nerdle. I am no expert but they look a couple of weeks away from POL, still quite young.
My Welsummer now about 7 months old is still very nervous of me but I am hoping that now with the weather improving, I can spend a bit more time in the garden and get her a bit tamer.
Allow yourself plenty of time if you are putting them back in their run if you are going out. Mine seem to know when I am in a rush (they must spot me glaring at my watch) and will go anywhere bar where they are supposed to! I find it best to put the treats in the run and then quietly let them find their own way in.
Has any sort of pecking order been established yet?
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Hello again
They came from the same seller (quite by chance)! so they know each other and they roam as a pair. I think the cream one is in charge as I saw her peck the other one once but they are best friends otherwise. Four eggs so far - three pointy an done roundish so both laying I think. Will there combs get bigger and redder?
Huge step forward today. Wonder if I could still get an 8 week chick - would they accept one more and would it be vulnerable to bullying?
My entire garden (farmyard more like) is the run so I can let them roam when I go out :)
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I dont think wyandotte's have a big pointy sticky up comb, my daughter says their comb looks like a squashed brain instead.
Dont know about the other breed.
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Nice looking birds and rewarding you with eggs already :)
Mine dont feed from my hand, but run to the back door when ever they see me :)
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As splash says the Wyandotte don't have a big comb (think it is called a pea comb) but it will get redder.
If you are getting younger pullets I would advise at least 2 or you may have problems when introducing to the others. ;)
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Just had a chat with local breeder and he agrees that its best to raise chicks if I want tame girls. It's lap hens I want really ....so..........I've reserved two cages for the next sale (£3.20). If we have a good month and I want to keep them I'll alert the auctioneers and let the cage space go to other sellers.
I just didn't think of it and I've learned a lesson. No real harm done I hope.
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Never heard of lap hens, I just thought that when they were chicks you just handled them a lot, hand feed them, a few treats, thats all my grand daughter did
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Just had a chat with the breeder who is a lovely lady. She will be back at the market next month as is happy to exchange my girls for 8 week chicks. So I can sell, keep or exchange - I'll decide next month.
In the meantime these two are happily eating my lawn.
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Will the breeder be able to guarantee hens at 8 weeks old? They will be expensive 8 week old chicks if you are just exchanging them. The breeder I have bought bantams from only charges £15 each for 16 week olds.
I hope that your girls settle in with you and are soon eating out of your hands and sitting on your lap. :D
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Hello
You are right - an exchange wouldn't be a good idea.
Anything could happen - they may settle really well so we'll live happily ever after.
I just got used to being able to bend down and pick my hen up - can't see that happening here for a while!
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Slowly, slowly catchy
monkey chicken! :lol: