Here in the West eggs don't go well at auctions either, 3 dozen ringneck pheasant eggs for .50 what a deal, the breeder must have been kicking himself... a friend of mine brought 5 embden eggs to auction last spring just to see what she would get for them, I think she got $2 for all 5.
Never bring hatching eggs to an auction, you get more if you sell them for eating.
Canadian hatcheries generally have all of their own stock, thats why you don't get more then the hybrid layers, meatbirds and maybe 2-3 heritage breeds at any one of them. One in AB tried to offer bantams and heritage breeds(they had 10 I think), but at $8.50 for an unsexed chick(nothin fancy either, EEs, Australorps and Opringtons) that plan went down the tubes within 2 yrs I think. Now they have 3 or 4 fancy breeds and only sell them in unsexed assortments(still like $9 a chick too). And the few heritage breeds where you can pick from yourself they only do 1 hatch a year(I have been trying to order black sexlinks and columbian rocks from them for the past 4 yrs and always either miss the hatchdate or they are overbooked for the breed).
Can't go to any other Canadian hatchery either cause the shipping charges are $100-$150 cause they have to go by air since if its not at its destination within 24 hrs by express mail it has to send via an airline.
I have switched to ordering my chicks from the US now for the most part. Although I am having a tough time finding hatcheries that offer Gamebirds such as dif colours of ringnecks and red leg partridge that are willing/able to export.
Anyhow, enough of my ranting. Gorgeous Plymouth rock hen you got there!!! I might just order myself some columbian rock pullets this year(if I can ever decide where to order from).
Anna
Never bring hatching eggs to an auction, you get more if you sell them for eating.
Canadian hatcheries generally have all of their own stock, thats why you don't get more then the hybrid layers, meatbirds and maybe 2-3 heritage breeds at any one of them. One in AB tried to offer bantams and heritage breeds(they had 10 I think), but at $8.50 for an unsexed chick(nothin fancy either, EEs, Australorps and Opringtons) that plan went down the tubes within 2 yrs I think. Now they have 3 or 4 fancy breeds and only sell them in unsexed assortments(still like $9 a chick too). And the few heritage breeds where you can pick from yourself they only do 1 hatch a year(I have been trying to order black sexlinks and columbian rocks from them for the past 4 yrs and always either miss the hatchdate or they are overbooked for the breed).
Can't go to any other Canadian hatchery either cause the shipping charges are $100-$150 cause they have to go by air since if its not at its destination within 24 hrs by express mail it has to send via an airline.
I have switched to ordering my chicks from the US now for the most part. Although I am having a tough time finding hatcheries that offer Gamebirds such as dif colours of ringnecks and red leg partridge that are willing/able to export.
Anyhow, enough of my ranting. Gorgeous Plymouth rock hen you got there!!! I might just order myself some columbian rock pullets this year(if I can ever decide where to order from).
Anna
