Am I being ripped off?? Please help

[pattgal]

I have never had silkies before. i will be getting 3 partridge and 2 buff.
the owner says he normally sells them for 10$ a chick and that he is making me a special price (5$ a chick) because he originally could not fill my order of 10 EE's, I was a bit hesitant because I don't see any purpose in this animal other than just looking pretty. (but later found out they make good mothers)
He also insisted that i get 5 rather than 2 to be sure that I got some girls in there (Almost hit me like he was just trying to sell more)
but ive looked around here and everyone appears to be selling them for 5$ not 10$,
Plus he will only give me the option to get buff or partridge at the 5$ price. Which makes me believe he has other kinds.

He has honored his special price even though he was able to fill my original order of 10 EE's
In the end I decided I want the silkies anyway and will be getting them on top of my original order
So now, how do I tell if this guy is ripping me off or if the birds are maybe like show type birds and he will only sell me the not so good ones for that price
I am also wondering if there is any special care that must be given to them since they are so fluffy
Thanks in advance, Pat.

 

[Manda0227]

I bought one of my silkies in an assorted bantam bin at Tractor Supply. It was close to $2.50 a chick. But it was whatever they had, not breed/color specific. I know silkies are very popular, therefore sometimes can be higher in price. I originally had absolutely no interest in them whatsoever... Yeah. That changed! We found the first one, and soon after that my fiance bought some eggs for the incubator, and eventhough only one hatched- I believe he said he will be doing more next, and even some showgirls (Silkie/Turken X)! You definitely would probably want more than 2 Silkies anyways, they might get picked on by the EE's if they're out-numbered by THAT much. I think 5 is a good number. Anyways.. I don't think $5 is bad. Im a newbie, I'd pay it. ESPECIALLY if it was for colors that I really wanted. Like I really want partridge! Maybe he sells the other colors easier than the Buff and Partridge so the price is lower to ensure a sale? Someone else with more experience may chime in here. I don't think they need anymore care than a regular chicken as far as their feathers are concerned! You may have to wash the feathers on the feet if they get dirty. Again, Im new, and mine are still indoors! Good Luck!

 

[Camelot Farms]

I would pay the 5 and run!! Its a decent price if they are decent chicks.

With silkies you really cant tell gender for a Loooooong time so I would get the 5 or you will end up with 2 roos

By the way....welcome to the dark side... mua haa haaa.... another chicken lover turned onto silkies!

 

[pattgal]

yes for sure i will take advantage of this price and get 5. it just kinda hits me strange that he is charging 10$ regular price and has no problem only charging me 5$ (if i knew i could get 10$ a chick with no problems I would be charging 10$) this is a 50% drop we are talking about
almost like he just wants to ensure his 5$ or something, which is kinda crooked. he should just come out and say they are 5$

Ooooor, are these birds not worth 10$ and he just wants them gone?

 

[Shadowhills Farm]

Quote:
Have you seen the chicks? What about parents? I would be skeptical just like you....if he usually charges $10 per chick, why $5?

Makes me think he is "culling" (getting rid of) the ones that he doesn't like or aren't good quality or something....

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Have you seen the chicks? What about parents? I would be skeptical just like you....if he usually charges $10 per chick, why $5?

Makes me think he is "culling" (getting rid of) the ones that he doesn't like or aren't good quality or something....

Ditto. Get pictures of the actual chicks he will be sending, before you buy them.

 

[speckledhen]

Is this a breeder or just a propagator? I wouldn't pay $10 for any chick unless it was a very rare breed from a well-respected breeder. Silkies are not rare in the least. Is this a show breeder? Are these day-olds? Most breeders sell their culls and most birds are culls, if you are breeding strictly to standard anyway.

 

[Gonzo]

I got taken a month ago for silkie chicks! I paid $8.00 a chick for "show quality" all but 2 arrived DOA and one was crippled and both survivors died before the weeks end.

 

[speckledhen]

Show quality cannot be measured when the birds are chicks. Most youngsters, even from truly show quality parents, are not show quality. I'd say maybe five out of 100 chicks might really be show quality, coming from good stock.

 

[Elite Silkies]

If he has Show Quality breeders I would pay $10 per chick, but that still isn't going to mean that you will end up with Show Quality birds. Just like Speckledhen said, five out of 100 might be. Probably less than that, when your talking Silkies.

There are some breeders on here, that I would pay more than $10 for their chicks, but that's just me.