I understand selling show birds and pure breed stock for more money, a lot more goes into breeding them. But hatchery birds, don't seem to have the same value to me. But if the market bears the price then the price stays. That is the way the free market works. I always try to be a little patient and sooner or later there will be a great deal, or a good sale. I have raised a lot of chicks and while there is a cost, time wise it is not that much from what I can see. I must say that I don't socialize the birds as much as it sounds like this gal is doing. That is a service that may make them worth more to people, that can only have 3 or 4 chickens and want them as pets.