Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Feeb on September 06, 2009, 23:06
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I live about a mile from Salisbury Livestock Market and i am going there on Tuesday to try and find me some lovely hens
we have built them a fabulous run and converted our shed into a little house for them... its fox proof, rat proof (i deeply hope!) and we have made every effort to keep them secure and snug in their new home...
Only thing left to do is to buy the chooks - Thing is... now the runs built and i have stopped fretting about that, the foods bought and everything is waiting for them, i have realised how terrified i am of the auctions!
I need to think about what to look for in a bird, what precautions to take whilst choosing my flock
can anyone advise? i would really appreciate it :) x x Fi x x
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Not trying to put a downer on you but I would not recommend a poultry auction to someone who doesn't know poultry. It's too easy to get caught up in the moment and too easy for sellers to off load substandard stock. Think you are better going to a trusted breeder.
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My local breeder charges 25 quid for a bird and i was told not to go for that and to look for cheaper birds
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Ouch! Maybe you will do better at an auction.
Make sure you buy healthy, alert birds with bright eyes and clean vents. Do not buy the sad lonely looking one as you feel sorry for it. You do not want your first experience of keeping poultry to be spoilt by having poorly birds that die or cost you a fortune in vets bills.
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whats a vent?
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botty ;)
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Also Feeb, look at their legs. If the scales are raised up at all, it could have scaly leg mite, not nice!
Stand and watch any bird that you like the look of. Like Kate said, does it look alert? Bright eyed? Not moping about, not got a pooey bum!
And another problem with buying chicks or young birds, they may be cockerels and you do't want any of them where you live!
Wish you were a bit nearer me, my prices are nothing like what a lot of people charge!
Although some of the members on here tell me I don't charge enough, but I couldn't charge anyone £20 for a hybrid!!!!! Mind you, if my pure breeds start to produce me some nice chicks next year...... :D
Good luck with it on Tuesday though!
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Oh i think they are a pure-breed farm... i would get lovely chooks from them for sure!
But it would be nice maybe to get two hybrids, two 'posh' birds and i would quite like to rescue two too
:) :)
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But Grannie only sells through her blog, eh Grannie ::)
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by the way, thank you SO much for the advice, its much easier to think ahead to the auction when i know what to look for
i really appreciate your speedy and knowledgable responses - thank you xx
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Oh and i was going to look for POL birdies :)
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But Grannie only sells through her blog, eh Grannie ::)
I wasn't trying to sell then Auntie, honest! ::) ::) Just saying about prices. I think too many people are jumping on the bandwagon now just to make money out of it, like the gardencentres selling birds and they don't know what they are doing. Okay, they call it supply and demand, but some of them are ridiculous in what they charge!!
I've even got 2 people now coming from Rugby way and Derbyshire, buying chicks from me at 7-10 weeks old to take back home and sell on at POL!!!
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Oh and i was going to look for POL birdies :)
Fingers crossed you'll find some Feeb, but a lot of the auctions only have the old toot that people can't sell anywhere else! I've never been to Salisbury auctions though. Hopefully its a good one!!
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hi feeb
the specialist poultry auction is held once a month (next on 19th sept) and you can download a catalogue a week before hand and research whats available - you may be able to do that for the tuesday sales? the monthly sale is excellent as they have a variety of unusual breeds (poultry only)& you know how old they are etc when you buy them. Its a great atmosphere but very fast paced so you need to get up close to the cage at the right time if you want to bid (its not at all intimidating and a lot of people there are fanatical about their hens, very friendly and only too pleased to aswer questions) very exciting - good luck with your hens, lucylou
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You're right Grannie there are a lot of diserputable people out there trying to make a fast profit. It's a sellers market just now so prices are high.
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From what i understand, the Salisbury Livestock market is one of the biggest in the country, so i imagine there will be a wide selection avaliable
I am sure i will get good birds, i will watch them for a while and have a good look at their 'vents' hahah
thanks for the tips guys :) two more sleeps til chickens :) :)
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Perhaps somebody will do to you what they done to me a few weeks back! and dump chickens on your door step!!! (well gate) (complete with brand new plastic cat carrier) :blink:
We ended up with two beautiful POL chooks a white Leghorn and a Cream Legbar for nothing :blink: :blink: the leghorn is now laying a beautiful white egg every day! and the Legbars not far off I dont think!
Next door apparently got a wooden fruit press and the lady over the road got a couple of bags of clothes????? ???
Glad I got the chooks ..........
some very odd person around here
Good luck with the chooks though they are a lovely hobby I paid around £12-18 for the rest of my Hybrids (5) (they all lay every day) and we paid £12 each for my Rosecomb Bantams which were show stock so very reasonable (they are laying aswell now) bit overwelmed with eggs LOL :D
:lol: Trina x
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Agree with Lucylou go the rare breed auction coming up not the livestock one. Be careful and bear in mind that what I have seen at salisbury are single young cockerels sold as pullets and trios of birds that are realy not quite what they seem! :blink:
Last rare breed auction i saw a number of ill birds, saying that there are always bargains to be had, download the catalogue and do research first. :)
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Sorry i am not waiting another age for my birds
Plus from what i have heard the birds sell for alot more at the rare breeds auction... i think i will just head to the breeders :( I was quite looking forward to that auction :(
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Feeb, if the breeder is selling pure breeds at point of lay then that money quoted seems to be pretty normal from what I have seen. Also you can have a good look round their place to see how they care for their birds before parting with any money (unlike auctions). Ask them any questions regarding care as well. Lastly good luck with your new venture chicken keeping is wonderfull :D
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The breeder is reccomended on here Wylye Farm or something
they sounded very nice on the phone and i might try and blag them into doing me 6 for 120 or something (are breeder hagglable)
anyhoo, i am going tomorrow to pick them up!!! Wooot!!!
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THINK ABOUT EXBATTERY HENS JUST LOOK ON INTERNET
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The breeder is reccomended on here Wylye Farm or something
they sounded very nice on the phone and i might try and blag them into doing me 6 for 120 or something (are breeder hagglable)
anyhoo, i am going tomorrow to pick them up!!! Wooot!!!
You could try - they can only say no :lol:
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Gary why are you shouting at me >:(
I cant travel to GET battery chickens which has proven a big issue for find some for me...
sorry if that offends you
Fi
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The thing is pure breeds do hold premium prices, i won't put on here how much i charge for mine but they can range from £20 right up to over a thousand, it all depends on the rarity of the bird or how difficult it is to breed and rear them.
as for hybrids grannie's are the best, good prices and i have never had any problems with health :)
but there are some breeders out there who charge extortionate amounts for pure breeds that are only worth a few pounds !
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But Feeb is in Wiltshire which is nowhere near grannies :)
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Feeb, like yourself I also live in Wiltshire, I actually live near Marlborough. I bought my birds at POL from a puoltry guy in Devizes I can give you his details if you like. They have been lovely hens for me and I would deffinatley go to him again, here is a pic of some of my girls. He charges about £10 per bird for your standard layers. Also he has helped me out on lots of occasions since I have had them, with advice and such like. Much more personal than auctions. I am happy to speak to you if you would like more info just let me know.
Vonnie
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But Feeb is in Wiltshire which is nowhere near grannies :)
I know that, i was just saying that grannies were good birds. :blink:
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Gary why are you shouting at me >:(
I cant travel to GET battery chickens which has proven a big issue for find some for me...
sorry if that offends you
Fi
Feeb - I wouldn't get worried about that from Gary - looks like his first post, and maybe he just left the caps lock key on by accident.
Good luck in the chicken hunt!
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THINK ABOUT EXBATTERY HENS JUST LOOK ON INTERNET
hmmmm a bit pushy dear for a first post?? Are you involved with any of these organisations?
Because I am, and would never, ever push anyone into taking on the responsiblity of ex batt hens without doing a lot of research first. :)
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Hi I sell my poultry locally and at salisbury we are not all out to rip people off, any sub standard birds I have ie colour not quite right I sell locally as garden hens,
but there are a lot of substandard birds put into salisbury, know what you are looking for and what it should look like, as someone has already said young cockerals are often put in as hens, or pol with legs like treetrunks, or the trio which turns out to be an older cockbird with two younger one's - got caught out on that myself (buying not selling )
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well most embarrassingly I was caught out, I have only once bought a bird in a auction, and it took me 5 months to realise that "Jenny" was actually a boy,by this time Jenny was around 8mths old!!! He is now rather a grand cochin cockerel now called "Biggins" even worse I didn't find out myself, a friend was curious why I had a cochin cockerel called Jenny!!! :unsure: :unsure: :lol: :lol:
Sorry I cant resist, off thread I know, but he is smashing, if a little camp! :D
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/Kelly_Katherine/ducks6weeks012.jpg)
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I've also been caught out-more than once ::)
I came home witha lovely silkie, i settled her in a run, walked to the top of the garden and heard cock a doodle doo :ohmy:. My friends were with me and they fell about laughing :lol:
Foxy, that Cochin is lovely and handsome :)
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hes a gorgeous boy foxy nickyx ;)
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THINK ABOUT EXBATTERY HENS JUST LOOK ON INTERNET
hmmmm a bit pushy dear for a first post?? Are you involved with any of these organisations?
Because I am, and would never, ever push anyone into taking on the responsiblity of ex batt hens without doing a lot of research first. :)
i wouldnt advise ANYONE to get ex-batts unless they had done a fair bit of research into chickens and at least knew the basics about chickens as you are more likely to have health problems with them. you at least need to know your way around a chicken.
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such a shame people seem so negative on here about people keeping battery hens :(
there are so many of them that need homes and any love is better than what they have had to deal with :(
I think we should be promoting them, not telling people not to bother :(
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Actually people on here are very positive about rehoming Ex Batts as generally they are very passionate about making sure that all our poultry has the best lives possible. The reason that some who have been around for a while as cautious about recommending them is that they do need a bit more care and time than healthy, hybrid POL hens.
I have never had hens of any type but a lot of people come on here having put no thought into hens (of any type) before getting them and it end or at least begins in tears. It is great to see people like you who try and get information before they start. The reason we are more hesitent about ex Batts is that they have had such an awful life so far they just don't have the reserves to cope with a ropy start with an owner who doesn't really know what they are doing.
I have nothing but admiration for those who take on these poor animals and give them a wonderful retirement and one day hope to have the space to do the same.
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such a shame people seem so negative on here about people keeping battery hens :(
there are so many of them that need homes and any love is better than what they have had to deal with :(
I think we should be promoting them, not telling people not to bother :(
I dont think anybodys saying not to bother with them, all chucks deserve the best upkeep including ex batt's what we are saying is to do alot of homework before buying, and if you are introducing them to existing birds, check if they are vaccinated and if so make sure its not with a live vaccine, remember that these birds may be vaccinated but they can also be carriers of certain nasties!
sorry kate we seemed to have posted at the same time x
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i would echo what the other say, i am keen to help some ex batts, but at the moment im just starting out and really dont have the know how yet. once ive got the knowledge on how the bird actully go about there lives i might consider helping some. I would find a good local supplier and get some well known breeds and learn from there. its to much to throw yourself right into the deepend.
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we are buying 4 birds from our local breeder and having two Ex batts in desperate need of a home dropped off at roughly the same time - this means we can introduce them into the run together and hopefully they will all be friends!
i am around for the next couple of weeks until Uni starts so i will be making sure they are all okay, plus a friend of mine has kept many ex-batts and she has said she will help me with any problems i have - shes dropping the birds off tomorrow so i can have a nice long chat with her about what to do and whats going on and stuff :) :)
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Feeb why do you insist on putting a topic on asking for advice which we all give, and then do exactly what YOU want!!!
Of corse all your new feathered friends are not going to get on, they have come from different stock. Ex-batt have no idea how to even be a chicken they will be picked on straight away!!! Then making them worse than they already are? I know I have 3 and they are hard work!
I hope for your sake it works out as from where i'm looking this isn't good :(
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matilida duck, i am already awaiting my ex batts are fighting my pure breeds topic. Some people will not or do not want to listen or learn. I may sound harsh but this seems the stark reality in this subject.
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such a shame people seem so negative on here about people keeping battery hens :(
there are so many of them that need homes and any love is better than what they have had to deal with :(
I think we should be promoting them, not telling people not to bother :(
Feebs you seem to have misunderstood what i said!
i have 6 ex-batts, and love them dearly. we started reading about keeping chickens over a year ago as i wanted to be as well prepared and informed as possible. dont get me wrong, there is nothing like keeping them to put you on a massive learning curve, but you need to have some basic knowledge about them. if you are going to keep chickens that will arrive weak and will probably need some help, you need to at least have some basic knowlage...i.e what the vent is! i would always promote ex-batts for people who have some knowlage of what the are actually doing
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Please dont be funny with me :( i have put threads on here and totally changed my plans due to the replies i have been given :( :(
I dont understand what this is all about! i have got such good advice from this forum but i dont get the spikey - Oh well if you havent done a DEGREE in keeping chickens how DARE you suggest you can have them :(
Perhaps the chickens will get bullied - perhaps dispite my efforts ALL my birds will be mistreated poor nasty creatures that have the worst existance ever
i am just trying to do right by the world and myself
The lady who is giving me the ex batts is going to come and spend a few hours with me and the birds, she is sure they can be intergrated quite sucessfully as all the birds will be introduced to the run together
Please dont assume i dont take advice because i dont think i have EVER given that impression actually >:(
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"Please dont assume i dont take advice because i dont think i have EVER given that impression actually >:("
If you took a while to re-read your posts you would see that is exactly how you are coming over to others and to me too. Just saying it as I see it.
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i think you may have misinterpreted my wild dig. A number of people have said that ex batts need a different type of care, which new keepers, like you,like me even, cant really give until you know them better. it appears to me that your just going ahead with your own agenda even though people have said one thing. as i said appears though, you may mean well enough and i may have misinterpreted you. For my own personal reasons im going to keep out of this thread now and let you go on your own devices.
oh and i dont have a degree in chicken keeping, but i do have one in Art&Photography(easy man degree)
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i dont have a degree on chicken keeping but i made the effort to read a bit and find out the basics. i have made sooo many mistakes, and this forum has been a godsend to me the people have so much knowladge and experiance, that they patiently and willingly share so that i can do the very best for my birds. i just think ex-batts have suffered enough without going to live with someone who dosent even know what/where a vent is
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I don't have a degree in anything!!!! I am not backing down on what I said either!
It's your choice, and if your wonderfull friend can make all your chickens get on well good for her! This is a tried and tested area. Chickens have a pecking order and an ex-batt doesn't stand a chance!!!!! They are tired, featherless, and week and a few days with a NORMAL chicken isn't going to help.
I can't comment on anymore of your topics as you so obviously know what you are doing. And don't blame us because you've changed your ideas.....that's just your doing we can only guide.
Sorry if I upset but I do know what i'm talking about on this!
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personally, i think the only pecking order than needs to be sorted out is the one on this forum :blink:
i'll leave you all too it - cheers for the tips
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Now why has this thread got so prickly? Can we please get back on track, and back to the helpful forum we are supposed to be?
Feeb as you can see everyone is rather passionate about their birds! Just dont ask which breed as your next thread that usually causes havoc too! ::) :D
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im sorry feeb but your posts are like a rollarcoster, no one is having a dig at you but if you re read your post as some stated you might see the confusion :blink:. At the end of the day im sure you will offer your new girlies a good home but preparation is paramount, this forum is fantastic and is like the bible to me. No one is saying dont re home exbatts but you need to know everything about there needs and understand the enviorement they have come from, to put them in with other birds straight away might not be the best thing, as someone has stated they dont know how to be a chicken, to subject them to other birds where bullying WILL happen might not be the best situation for them, prehaps get your 4 girlies, see how you go with them and then see about rehoming exbatts when you have a bit more knowledge and experience. Exbatts are truely wonderful birds and i love reading about flowerpots and dizzylizzies birds and pictures. Nicky
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As you can see Feeb, we can all get a bit passionate on here about our poultry and I know that we can come over as a bit evangelical! The problem is that we have had so many truely dreadful keepers on here over recent months that we can get a bit defensive and for that I am sorry. We are simply trying to pass on some of the many mistakes we have had to watch others make and made ourselves so you don't have to. That is why we seem a bit harsh. You can learn from our experiences or your own but with your own your girls have to suffer again. Wish I had known the things I have learnt here before I lost 2 of my ducklings to magpies and had to kill 2 of my girls after a fox attack. I have lived and learnt.
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personally, i think the only pecking order than needs to be sorted out is the one on this forum :blink:
i'll leave you all too it - cheers for the tips
Im sorry here but i have to say something wot kind of attitude is that to have on here, you have lots of threads about advice and everyone has replied to you with there experiences. After saying that i wouldnt expect any more advice :mad: nicky
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Right I am locking this as for one getting rather tired of it.