Asking price to high for guineas?

[PeepsCA]

Out here in CA, my sales are kind of seasonal... the demand comes and goes in waves of the tick season and the laying season.
I advertise young (but fully grown, and sexually mature) birds for no less than $10 each for straight run, and no less than $12.50 each if they are sexed, and my active breeders and layers at $25 for Hens, $20 for males. (And if they are already free ranging and trained to come/coop up when called, then I charge more... lol). I normally give a discount of $1 off per bird if they buy more than 12 at a time, no matter what age the birds are.

Unfortunately most people don't want to pay even close to what you have invested into each bird in feed and bedding to raise them to the age they are when you sell them (which is usually 2-3 times what you can get for them!)

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
DING DING DING! We have a winner!
Ugh, I've had people call and ask why are you asking so much for them? I'm like because I have invested a lot on money on them, food, bedding, and etc.

I feel like doing this (

) when someone asks can I buy them for $3 each? Um, NO!

Heck! I'll just keep the females and a male or 2 and butcher the extra males.
Hey Peeps, I let my guineas out to free-range a little today and our neighbor (which we don't even know and never talk to) comes over and asked me to please not let my birds out because he doesn't want them on his property. I respected him and put them back in the coop. I've been looking at my options and I'd really like to build them a moveable tractor, but I've been thinking when the females start to lay, they'll just lay on the ground, I'm guessing? Or I could have them in the moveable tractor during the day and just switch them between the tractor and their coop and run at night-time so they'll be safe in their coop at night.

Any options are welcomed!

 

[GuineaLady93]

Quote:
I would NOT take any less than the $8 you are asking. That is more than fair, if someone wants to pay less than that, they are probably just looking for a cheap meal. If not that, than they need to get real and face the fact that your price is about as cheap as it gets.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
I would NOT take any less than the $8 you are asking. That is more than fair, if someone wants to pay less than that, they are probably just looking for a cheap meal. If not that, than they need to get real and face the fact that your price is about as cheap as it gets.

I just lied and said, Sorry someone has bought them already! *Hang-Up*

 

[GuineaLady93]

Quote:
I would NOT take any less than the $8 you are asking. That is more than fair, if someone wants to pay less than that, they are probably just looking for a cheap meal. If not that, than they need to get real and face the fact that your price is about as cheap as it gets.

I just lied and said, Sorry someone has bought them already! *Hang-Up*

Man, I would have told them that the price they are listed at is more than fair and good luck finding a better one.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
I just lied and said, Sorry someone has bought them already! *Hang-Up*

Man, I would have told them that the price they are listed at is more than fair and good luck finding a better one.

Most of the callers asked if they would be big enough to eat.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
So glad I do not have neighbors like that

I would have told that guy not to worry about it, that you will stay with them while they are out and herd them away from his property whenever they head that direction (and knowing me, I would have elaborated on my choice of words tho, lol). What your animals do on your land is none of his concern and he could have just as easily asked you to keep them out of his yard/off his property. But to not let them out? Seriously. People, I swear. They should go move to the city or a gated community if they want to be like that

So yah, a tractor in your situation should work, and help keep the birds happier than just being kept in their coop/run... unfortunately the bug/pest control aspect of having Guineas will be hindered some

If it were me I think I'd try to build them one that's a little taller than the norm, so that they can have some extra head room and a roost, in hopes of making them the happiest.

My first timer Hens usually drop eggs randomly wherever for a while before they settle on a nesting spot, but you may be able to get away with some sort of community nesting box for all your girls to share... fixed/attached to the tractor somehow so even tho you move the tractor around the nesting box seems like it's always in the same spot to them. They get a little finicky about their nesting spots, but as long as they are not overly stressed about the tractor being moved around they should lay an egg a day regardless (skipping a day here and there). Might even help to "salt" (bait) the nesting box with some brown eggs or wooden eggs to encourage them to start laying there.

What a hassle for you tho, moving birds around and to/from the tractor to the coop. I think I'd build a little loading chute too, to be able to get them in and out of the coop and tractor easily, with no escapees, lol.

Good luck, hope you get something figured out. Sorry this Guinea thing is turning into a major pain for you

You may save yourself a lot of irritation of turning people away that are looking for a cheap meal and do like you said... just butcher your extra birds for yourself/your family. Not much meat on them, but they are tasty!

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
So glad I do not have neighbors like that

I would have told that guy not to worry about it, that you will stay with them while they are out and herd them away from his property whenever they head that direction (and knowing me, I would have elaborated on my choice of words tho, lol). What your animals do on your land is none of his concern and he could have just as easily asked you to keep them out of his yard/off his property. But to not let them out? Seriously. People, I swear. They should go move to the city or a gated community if they want to be like that

So yah, a tractor in your situation should work, and help keep the birds happier than just being kept in their coop/run... unfortunately the bug/pest control aspect of having Guineas will be hindered some

If it were me I think I'd try to build them one that's a little taller than the norm, so that they can have some extra head room and a roost, in hopes of making them the happiest.

My first timer Hens usually drop eggs randomly wherever for a while before they settle on a nesting spot, but you may be able to get away with some sort of community nesting box for all your girls to share... fixed/attached to the tractor somehow so even tho you move the tractor around the nesting box seems like it's always in the same spot to them. They get a little finicky about their nesting spots, but as long as they are not overly stressed about the tractor being moved around they should lay an egg a day regardless (skipping a day here and there). Might even help to "salt" (bait) the nesting box with some brown eggs or wooden eggs to encourage them to start laying there.

What a hassle for you tho, moving birds around and to/from the tractor to the coop. I think I'd build a little loading chute too, to be able to get them in and out of the coop and tractor easily, with no escapees, lol.

Good luck, hope you get something figured out. Sorry this Guinea thing is turning into a major pain for you

You may save yourself a lot of irritation of turning people away that are looking for a cheap meal and do like you said... just butcher your extra birds for yourself/your family. Not much meat on them, but they are tasty!

I was in a good mood. He seems to get his way with everything in this town. *Ahem* Like his dog and cats on our property and we haven't shot them yet because the Animal Control Officer said he took care of it. They continue to come over and harass the birds.

I wish we could move out further in the country without stinkin neighbors bothering us all the time and we wouldn't have to worry about the birds being on our property and etc.

I'm sure I'll thing of something that will work. To be honest I think they are trying to butter me up since I've let them out a couple times. What I really want them to do is turn up the soil and tear the roots of where our garden is because is was neglected this year from my mom and dad both having surgery (Fun times!) I wish we could have a giant dome around our property so all the birds could be let out. We have at least 3 acres of lawn and flower beds.

Anyway, enough of my talking! Peeps and everyone else Happy early New Years notice! My new years resolution is to be a vegetarian for a year. (Or at least a month.

)

 

[cgmccary]

I agree there is nothing wrong with $8 for a grown Guinea. People are cheap. They don't realize the time, effort and money that goes into brooding keets.

PeepsCA: So glad I do not have neighbors like that I would have told that guy not to worry about it, that you will stay with them while they are out and herd them away from his property whenever they head that direction (and knowing me, I would have elaborated on my choice of words tho, lol). What your animals do on your land is none of his concern and he could have just as easily asked you to keep them out of his yard/off his property. But to not let them out? Seriously. People, I swear. They should go move to the city or a gated community if they want to be like that . . .


I could not agree more. I currently have these neighbors who live more than 100 yards away. Occasionally, in the summer especially, my Guineas go on their property just following the bugs. One time, the neighbor walked to the hill near my property when I arrived home from work screaming at me. She had never spoken to me before nor since. Her screaming alarmed my dog and donkey. The dog started barking and the donkey braying, both very loud (the donkey can shake the ground almost). I did hear enough to make out her words, "Guineas" and "my walk," so my Guineas must have pooped on her walk or drive (we are in the country and don't have sidewalks, per se). I moved to the country so I could have chickens, cows, a donkey, geese, guineas, honeybees and just about anything else I wanted.

[Before, I lived in the city and had a few chickens and had a city neighbor that put a C.D. of a rooster crowing and drove around and around the block stopping in front of my house with it at full volume. He also called the police on me several times. He yelled at me to "move to the country." I agreed. I put the city house on the market, sold it in less than a month & moved -- only to find there are people now living in the most rural areas who shouldn't be living in the country-- they want to be nasty about farms and animals too].

I made sure my new home was in no city or town's jurisdiction or had any limitations. These country neighbors have nothing but a couple of fenced dogs. They cut their lawn (football filed size) twice a week (using his & hers John Deere riding lawn mowers) and think they live in a gated community. I say if you want a McMansion then move to one of those suburban communities and keep your manicured lawn and enjoy all those regulations, ordinances & rules . . . but if you live in the country, then don't complain about farms.​

 

[naturespace]

I paid 10 dollars each for six, 4-7 month olds today.