Breeders/Sellers, Why Are You Stopping?

[Medicine Man]

I hope everyone is enjoying themselves. A question was asked and I gave my answer truthfully. I've sold chickens before to find out later that they were housed in conditions that I do not agree with - I no longer sell chickens except to pre-screened homes. Nothing to get heartburn over, just move along if you don't like my answer.

 

[colby318]

Quote:
I have to agree with this last post. I hate selling my excess birds at a swap and the new owner stands there holding my birds upside down by their legs. I've actually asked for my birds back and refunded their money.

 

[Teresaann24]

I never ship chicks I have sold a few chicks extra roosters or PQ hens or retired hens Locally. Everyone one I have sold to I knew or had chickens and knew what they were doing. I have refused to sell before to people who wanted to buy but did not know squat about chickens. I have sold eggs twice so far in 2011 I only quit to hatch for myself. The two packages that went out this year hatched well I was surprised. My birds are not JUST chickens or egg Machines They are our pets. We love them....Even the snarky Roosters.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Quote:
I second and third your sentiments!

Joy...you have made my life so enriched by the three I got from you!! I am so excited daily to see how much they change and all their antics! Not that I don't love my grown ones..but these have a personality second to none from the get go!
I know how hard you worked to make sure they were shipped properly, arrived safely and then afterward checked on them several times!

Allaboutdemchicks, Claudia...the same thing! I just adore the birds I got from you and especially after our initial "fiasco" with the BCMs!!

You all rock and thank you for all you do and for putting up with all you put up with!!!!

That last line goes to all the breeders that have sold eggs, chicks and chickens to help those of us that don't have the time, energy or space to do all you do! Many heartfelt thanks!!!

 

[Oregon Blues]

[[[[......You ever get a nose bleed way up.....]]]]]

I think this response was to an original post that was offered up as dry humor. The "zoological specimens" comment made me smile when I read it.

However, I have to agree with the original statement. I don't sell living animals to anyone who is going to abuse them or neglect them. I don't actually care much whether a buyer considers poultry to be pets or livestock, but even livestock doesn't get abused if I have any say in it.

Planning to eat a bird is no excuse to neglect it. If you think "it's just a chicken", I still expect you to feed it, keep it's housing sanitary, and have clean water available for it. If you can't do that, then go and buy from someone else. You aren't getting so much as a pet rock from me.

 

[colby318]

Quote:

well said!

 

[Mahonri]

Haven't read any of the other responses, but its too warm here now to ship without risk, my girls have almost quit laying .... it hit 105 today. So I don't expect a lot of eggs again until October.

 

[Sparklee]

Quote:
NOTE: Haven't sold one bird. Don't sell hatching eggs either. But I have thought about it (and hesitated for reasons listed in this thread) and have thought about pre-screening.

I don't think pre-screening is really out of the question. I guess a home visit would seem too nosy and intrusive to me. I don't think I could put on the white gloves and go inspect someone's chicken house like I'm a chicken hall monitor. I would be so uncomfortable. But a few choice questions could be asked that could tell a whole lot about what type of views the buyer has toward chickens and what their set up is. And for hatching eggs I would want to make it a requirement that the shipped eggs only went into mid-level or higher quality incubators. If not, "No hatching eggs for you!" In fact, now that I think about it, I usually tell the people I'm buying hatching eggs from what my hatch rate is and what incubators I'm using. Not so much to brag, but the let them know that this isn't my first hatch.

 

[Sparklee]

Quote:
Great post!

What would happen if breeders doubled their prices? I know that may be a simplistic question. But I would personally spend more money for hatching eggs or chicks if I really wanted them. Writing an ad, marking and collecting eggs and storing in proper temp and humidity, breeding the birds each year, making selections, cleaning pens and nesting boxes, just daily care of extra birds for breeding, packing up the eggs, getting the correct address on the box, taking them to the post office, standing in line (usually), buying tape and packing materials, etc. Frankly, how long does that take per box sent? Why shouldn't breeders get $30+ an hour for that specialized work? (I think $50, but I think a lot of people might call me crazy for that.) Again, maybe that's a simplistic question. But I can't see selling hatching eggs unless it's on some level rewarding monetarily. Most breeders' time and expertise is worth more than what little they get for a batch of eggs they ship.

Maybe a breeders' code is that you give away two dozen a year to people who are interested in the breed (as a way to support the breed, depending on breed) and then the rest, you sell for a price where you are paid for your expertise and effort. Too many breeders are getting taken advantage of.

Hint to egg sellers: If you've already warned buyers of dangers of shipping eggs and that they really need to just consider the money lost when they send it to you, then don't just fall all over yourself to send replacement eggs. I'm just saying this all friendly like, not criticizing, because I am on your side. Story: In the two cases where I had super bad results (bad results at candling and really bad cracking in an egg shipment and no eggs even did anything at candling), when I merely informed the seller of results without asking for replacements or money back, both of them offered to ship me replacements immediately. Okay, that's great. And I appreciate it. But I didn't ask for it because I understand the risks of shipping. I'm not sure who should bear the brunt of the loss, but I was shocked that they both offered to send me replacements without me even asking. I figured the comments about the eggs are out of the seller's control when they are left in the postman's hands as being set in stone. Just a thought. (In one case I declined and paid for another box of eggs, and the other case, I took them up on the offer.)

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
Great post!

What would happen if breeders doubled their prices? I know that may be a simplistic question. But I would personally spend more money for hatching eggs or chicks if I really wanted them. Writing an ad, marking and collecting eggs and storing in proper temp and humidity, breeding the birds each year, making selections, cleaning pens and nesting boxes, just daily care of extra birds for breeding, packing up the eggs, getting the correct address on the box, taking them to the post office, standing in line (usually), buying tape and packing materials, etc. Frankly, how long does that take per box sent? Why shouldn't breeders get $30+ an hour for that specialized work? (I think $50, but I think a lot of people might call me crazy for that.) Again, maybe that's a simplistic question. But I can't see selling hatching eggs unless it's on some level rewarding monetarily. Most breeders' time and expertise is worth more than what little they get for a batch of eggs they ship.

Maybe a breeders' code is that you give away two dozen a year to people who are interested in the breed (as a way to support the breed, depending on breed) and then the rest, you sell for a price where you are paid for your expertise and effort. Too many breeders are getting taken advantage of.

Hint to egg sellers: If you've already warned buyers of dangers of shipping eggs and that they really need to just consider the money lost when they send it to you, then don't just fall all over yourself to send replacement eggs. I'm just saying this all friendly like, not criticizing, because I am on your side. Story: In the two cases where I had super bad results (bad results at candling and really bad cracking in an egg shipment and no eggs even did anything at candling), when I merely informed the seller of results without asking for replacements or money back, both of them offered to ship me replacements immediately. Okay, that's great. And I appreciate it. But I didn't ask for it because I understand the risks of shipping. I'm not sure who should bear the brunt of the loss, but I was shocked that they both offered to send me replacements without me even asking. I figured the comments about the eggs are out of the seller's control when they are left in the postman's hands as being set in stone. Just a thought. (In one case I declined and paid for another box of eggs, and the other case, I took them up on the offer.)

Because I thought breeders have birds for a hobby and not to make money off of? It does make sense to wanna make some money to recoupe for feed, bedding, and etc.
But if breeders only want to get money out of it then I think I'm done buying from breeders then