[HairyBear]

I'm a newbie and have spent months researching and reviewing hen houses, food, runs etc and every step of the way have been told that you get what you pay for (don't buy a cheap house from ebay, make sure you buy the best food, etc).  This is all well and good but I've ended up spending an absolute blinking fortune.

I'm now at the stage of buying my hens but have noticed a marked difference in the price of same breeds by different farms.  Will I geniunely be getting a better hen if I spend more, or can this be a case of an unscrupulous breeder?

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to mention the breeder, but in case I can and anyone has any experience of them then

Link removed by Aunty

[too many girls]

had a quick glance (that's all i needed) £40 for a pol cream legbar pullet? £40? £3.00 each for cream legbar hatching eggs? that would mean i would have to pay £54 for 18 hatching eggs when in fact i paid £10.50 for 18, i think you's be wise to have a scout about, but then i have no experiance of these people so i can't really advise i just think they are pricey.

[HairyBear]

Thanks TMG, I felt they were expensive as I'm look for 6 POLs and at between £30 and £45 I'll need to remortgage!!!  The flip side is that they have a great variety of breeds in one place, but still!!!

[too many girls]

what is your location bear? maybe someone close to you can point you in the right direction? whoever said don't buy the cheap hen house from E-bay did you a favour, i have one and they are rubbish

[woodside farm]

They seem very expensive, I paid £39 including P&P for 48 cream legbar eggs recently on ebay, 40 hatched.
It is best to check where you are buying them from, there is a place near me who charge twice the price of most breeders and I have heard a lot of bad reports from people who have bought from them.

Michelle xx

[Foxy]

I think yes, generally with chickens, you pay extra for pure breeds. However, as woodside alluded to, sometimes breeders will charge a lot and unless you know your birds is can be a minefield sorting the good from the bad!! It sounds like you have done a lot of research already, what you might find useful is contacting/joining the local poultry club and asking for their opinions on local breeders. Maybe phone them first and ask if you can have a look around to help make your mind up.

[Aunt Sally]

Buy very high priced birds and you are being conned, the opposite is also true - Buy very cheap ones and you could be buying a lot of trouble with unhealthy birds or very dubious parentage.


You've spent a lot on housing so make sure you get good quality birds !

[janeheritage]

Pure breeds can cost a lot. I paid £9 a chick for day old (girl) Cream Legbars recently, and I thought that was a bit steep - but I know the supplier (she is on the recommended suppliers on this website) and her quality is excellent, and indeed the girls are turning out lovely.

I have also seen people charging upwards of £30 for purebred Cream Legbars and know that some breeds such as Orpingtons can be even more.

The hybrid girls we bought from the same breeder were £12 each for Warrens, £14 for Bovans Nera and Light Sussex hybrids and £21 for Heritage Skylines, who lay lovely blue eggs. Maybe there's something about the blue egg layers... The people who supply Cotswold Legbars also charge £35 at POL.

Good luck with whoever you go with! 

[woodside farm]

I think the price of certain chicks is higher because with breeds like Legbars or Faverolles you know you are buying hens, because of the different colouring.

Michelle xx

[HairyBear]

Thanks everyone.  I live in Hertfordshire which seems to be the county with least amount of breeders!