Tooter Town is an OLD auction barn that I haven't been to in 35 years....it is on Hwy 14 North of Greer (across from a Dollar General)...it is still an experience and unfortunately they won't let you take pictures inside....which would have been nice. They have small animals on Thur. evening...open at 4:30 pm for taking in the animals and auction starts at 7 pm. There is very little time to really see the animals if you are truly interested in buying something....therefore, I will not be buying ANY. The majority of the mindset of the old timers was a little frustrating. I spoke to one man who had been going for years....I expressed my concern about looking at the animals to check their vents for prolapse and mite infestation....He didn't respond to the vent comment (probably didn't know what I was talking about or else felt uncomfortable talking to a woman about it) but said chickens ALL have mites and lice just like a dog has fleas. (which made me think about my neighbor's two dogs that regularly visit and that DON'T have fleas because they take good care of them!) He said you can always spray 'em. My sustainable farming friend and I laughed....we knew there were lots of old timers in the crowd and that they'd never get it.
I did sell my three boys.....the buyers got a deal with my guys....at 18 weeks they were big and healthy - free of any pests (at least before we got THERE) and they were ready to finish or take to some hens. The buyers got about 10 seconds to view each as they were quickly lifted and tossed back into the box (you need a disposable box which they sell for $1) and there is a yardage fee of $1....plus a 20% commission.....after all was said and done I netted $17.20. My chickens were the third highest chickens sold that evening out of about 200 boxes. One game rooster sold for $35 which I think went to be fought....just guessing....another big full grown roo sold for $15 and then one of mine was $10. Some boxes contained multiple animals - you'd assume they'd be all alike in age and sex - but you don't know and they don't say. They do not tell breed, sex, age - NOTHING - simply hold one up and you bid.
I was told by someone there that there is another auction house in Central that takes more time to show the animals. Since I'm not buying, don't know when I'll visit another, if ever. It was an experience.
I don't know where the Three Amigos went, but old timer thought they were too pretty to be eaten and not the breed to fight...he said they went to be bred. Hope he was right that time!
