CHICKEN SWAPS OF NH SWAP LISTINGS

[puglady]

I'll be there with hatchery sexed pullets. 4 week old EE's and RIRs. 5 Week old Columbian Cross and NH Reds. Looks like its supposed to be sunny!

 

[blazingsaddles]

So far the weather looks GREAT for this weekends swaps

 

[Sue1137]

I think this weekend is I'm Brentwood ,I was looking for 3 to 4 hens that r just starting to lay eggs...what r my chances of getting them

 

[MeandSpoof]

We went to the swap in Derry two wekends ago. I suggest that you get there early. We arrived at 9:15, there was only one vender with chickens (4) that were already laying all the other venders had chicks to about 14 weeks. We bought the 4 hens that were already laying and there was high demand. It really depends on what the venders have but if you get there early and if you see hens already producing grab them. Also bring a cage or large pet taxi to bring them home in as the venders don't provide transport containers. Good luck.

 

[nhnanna]

We went to the swap in Derry two wekends ago. I suggest that you get there early. We arrived at 9:15, there was only one vender with chickens (4) that were already laying all the other venders had chicks to about 14 weeks. We bought the 4 hens that were already laying and there was high demand. It really depends on what the venders have but if you get there early and if you see hens already producing grab them. Also bring a cage or large pet taxi to bring them home in as the venders don't provide transport containers. Good luck.

The problem is that any hens laying already have to be npip tested and banded. Anything over 20 wks has to be.
Some venders had their chickens tested in June or July of last year and not all of our chickens were of that age so therefore do not have bands and cannot be sold at the swaps.

We do all try to bring boxes for selling our chickens but it is very helpful if you do bring something to bring them home in.

 

[MeandSpoof]

Now that you mention it the hens that we bought were NPIP tested. That for me was a selling point. Also we did not want to end up with more than one rooster and by purchasing the hens already laying we knew we were not getting surprize roosters. This was our aim. I am not saying that the venders were attempting to trick any one into purchasing roosters, just that they had sexed and non sexed birds and we didn't want to purchase non sexed. The birds were all clearly marked and I believe priced accordingly and fairly.
We were very happy with our purchase and with the Chicken Swap in general. Many people were buying chicks and poults and seemed pleased to find what they had come to the swap for. We wanted eggs right away, so even purchasing the sexed poults we still would have had to wait for our first egg.
As far as the take home containers, yes the venders had some cardboard boxes that would work with the smaller poults and chicks but we purchased 9 month old birds and we came prepared with our pet taxis. I spoke incorrectly, I should have said it is best to have your own transport because, like a good scout, one should always be prepared.

 

[puglady]

Hello MeandSpoof,

I was the vendor in Derry downsizing my current flock. Good to see you here on BYC! How are the girls? Did they stop at all or continue laying right through? My youngest son was not too thrilled with me that the EE was gone

but we have plenty of them in baby pens. I told him he could keep 2 of the baby ones. The ladies were so spoiled when they were here, grapes, boss, cheese ends, apples etc and free ranging on over an acre. Hoping for an update on them when you get a chance.

 

[nhnanna]

Now that you mention it the hens that we bought were NPIP tested. That for me was a selling point. Also we did not want to end up with more than one rooster and by purchasing the hens already laying we knew we were not getting surprize roosters. This was our aim. I am not saying that the venders were attempting to trick any one into purchasing roosters, just that they had sexed and non sexed birds and we didn't want to purchase non sexed. The birds were all clearly marked and I believe priced accordingly and fairly.
We were very happy with our purchase and with the Chicken Swap in general. Many people were buying chicks and poults and seemed pleased to find what they had come to the swap for. We wanted eggs right away, so even purchasing the sexed poults we still would have had to wait for our first egg.
As far as the take home containers, yes the venders had some cardboard boxes that would work with the smaller poults and chicks but we purchased 9 month old birds and we came prepared with our pet taxis. I spoke incorrectly, I should have said it is best to have your own transport because, like a good scout, one should always be prepared.

Yes, it is always a big help when people bring their pet taxies or containers.
I just thought I would let people know why there aren't mature hens available unless they have bands on them. It is actually for everyones benefit. Atleast they know they are getting healthy birds. We have ours tested every year for that reason.

 

[Just a Country Girl]

I have tiny Call Ducklings if anyone is interested, different colors, unsexed

 

[MeandSpoof]

We are very happy with our/your hens! They get cherry tomatoes, worms, slugs, bread and gingerbread crumbs, layer pellets, grass and scratching in the chicken tractor. They really like the plantain that we are trying to encourage to replace the wire grass that is taking over our yard. I will give them grapes and boss tomorrow so they feel more at home. We added two more birds to round out our flock, a Maran rooster and hen. It was a little rough the first day while they sorted out the new pecking order but they seem to have settled in now. Your/our birds are real friendly including the two we purchased from a backyard producer in Chester NH. We didn't have an egg on the way home but shortly there after in the tractor. They have all laid steady, skipping 5/28 (hot day) and 6/1 (adjustment day to new coop mates) and then on 6/2 the "fart egg". Don't really know who laid that one but it sure is cute. A barred rock had just been in the nest box when I found the egg. I laughed at my husband when he told me that someone had responded to my thread and what the name was. I did not believe him but there it is... a fart egg. There were two eggs in the nest box so I assumed that one hen laid both but I truly don't know for sure. I have found that watched chickens don't lay, but we do check them often when we see them enter the nest boxes. Some one or two is pecking the eggs. We think it is to retrieve them so they can sit and be broody, but again we don't know for sure. We are going to make adjustments to the egg drop so they can't reach them once they have laid them. Last we have been keeping the tractor up close to the house so we can keep an eye and ear out for them overnight. We have a tiny half acre yard but they get moved around every other day. I too am glad to be on this site and glad to know tht you are too. Please let your youngest son know that we love the EE hen and have named her Hazel Brown. He did a great job in raising her to be a very gentle sweet hen.