buying chicks from a farm store.

I was thinking about buying a couple of rhodie pullets from a farm store to add to my flock here in southern IL. When I found what I wanted, there was a sign stating there was a state law prohibiting the sale of less than 6 to a customer. I had not seen that sign in any of the other farm stores in IL. I also live pretty close to IN and have not seen that sign. Have any of you heard of that particular IL state law, or were they lying to me?

Contact your Dept of Ag - it is actually common in many states and may well be the case in IL -whether other retailers post or abide by this law would be another issue. Commercial sales are much more governed than private (from the farmer/breeder direct) sales. In addition to actual legislation, many retailers choose to set minimum purchase numbers as their own policies.

It's more common than you think. The purpose of the ordinance is to prevent chicks from being sold as an impromptu "decoration" or "toy" for spring and then just dumped. Some stores enforce such ordinances and others ignore it and many places have no such laws in place at all.

We have such laws here in NYS as far as I know. I suspect chicken people were for it as well as the shelters. I am.

We recently had an ad from the local ASPCA, for rabbits spayed and neutered. $75. Any guesses why they're getting rabbits dropped off?

If all you want is two hens I suggest contacting someone who already has chickens. You should expect to pay a bit more than what a chick costs. Unless they're a year or more old. Don't be offended if they ask a lot of questions. ex. Where do you live, are you legal to have chickens? etc. etc.

$10 - $15 for a pullet is fair IMHO.

FYI, while the media says hens quit after two years, a healthy purebred will lay much longer. Just not as often.

You can also order from "My Pet Chicken" - they do small orders (as few as three)

rancher hicks said:

We have such laws here in NYS as far as I know. I suspect chicken people were for it as well as the shelters. I am.

We recently had an ad from the local ASPCA, for rabbits spayed and neutered. $75. Any guesses why they're getting rabbits dropped off?

If all you want is two hens I suggest contacting someone who already has chickens. You should expect to pay a bit more than what a chick costs. Unless they're a year or more old. Don't be offended if they ask a lot of questions. ex. Where do you live, are you legal to have chickens? etc. etc.

$10 - $15 for a pullet is fair IMHO.

FYI, while the media says hens quit after two years, a healthy purebred will lay much longer. Just not as often.

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I have a hen that is 4 years old and is still laying eggs daily. My mom had a hen that finally died of old age at the rip old age of 12. She would occasionally still lay an egg before she passed on. My mom held onto her after my dad died, it was his favorite hen and he passed away in 1980 and the hen passed away in 1989. We have a neighbor that has a hen that is now 8 years old and still laying about 2 eggs a week.

However the newer chickens, that are cooped most of the time and fed the chicken feed daily rather then free ranging do not live as long. I swear they have done something to chickens that makes them die earlier then they used to in the old days. maybe the feed?? maybe the breeds?? but either way many die off at far younger ages now then the older heritage breeds use to.

We do not sell spring chicks by the each. We sell 5 or more per person when we have them. This assures us that people really want them for eggs, or breeding. However I will sell one laying hen if someone wants one for $15. But when I have someone ask to buy just one. I get their address, and do some checking before I sell one to them. I want to be assured that they have a place for it to sleep where it will be safe, and a fenced in area where dogs wont get to it. Once I know that, I am good. However I learned my lesson when I sold a hen to a neighbor. I have the hen back now. The lady took a knife to her sides and cut the skin right off her while she was still alive. The hen got away and showed up here 2 days later. She will never leave here again.

Why did the lady cut the poor girl?

Kristineg40 said:

Why did the lady cut the poor girl?

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I'm not sure what you're referring to.

Kristineg40 said:

Why did the lady cut the poor girl?

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We don't know. But she is happy being back here with us, and she will not be leaving again ever. She will die of old age first. Brownie was always our number one girl for being the sweetest one and loved being held. She also was the first broody hen we had of the GLW's. However the lady that had bought her I found out the other day is not right in the head.

How terrible ! Glad you got her back. I have 6 being shipped 4/7. It's my first attempt. I cannot wait. I have a feeling my flock will grow over time. I am a huge animal lover and gardener. If all goes well I hope to hatch eggs some day