Thndrdancr, at Yates Center, the chickens, peafowl, rabbits etc sell in cages. They aren't auctioned. They put them in an open area and have a price on them and it's a first come first serve bases. Usually the price is a bit on the high side. If they don't sell them, they put them up for auction on Sunday. On Sunday they auction things like the cage birds, and other small house type pets. The auction on Saturday is livestock type animals.
I don't think I'd buy birds at Yates Center because I've seen lots of ratty looking ones and several sick ones in the past. Just the fact that they aren't screened is enough to keep me leery. I also know of several cases where people sold birds claiming they were young. An acquaintance was bragging he sold a 12 year old peacock for $150 and claimed he was three years old. It's that kind of practice I don't tolerate.
I don't think I'd plant onions right now simply because the ground is still frozen an inch or two down. I have some I should plant. They were last years and they sprouted and made more plants. I think I could probably produce some more onions from them rather than buy new sets.
I did go out and take the plastic of of several hundred dollars worth of Iris I got planted late. It had already frozen so I covered them in plastic so they had a chance to root before they totally froze. They are in my veggie garden though cause I didn't get a new iris bed built. Some more of my good intentions that didn't come to fruition.
I might consider selling some hatching eggs later. When we get into spring I simply run out of room in the incubators.
I do have an order for several dozen that I just can't fill right now. By the time I can, I'm afraid it will be a little late in the season.
Prairie your rooster is plenty old enough. You can usually tell if hen wants to go broody. She will growl at you or maybe even pick if you try to gather eggs from under neath her. You just have to watch them and see how they behave.
Speaking of broody I found another sebbie nest when I was out walking this morning. I need to go back out and see if I can steal the eggs while the goose is out eating or something. I really need my pen built. I want to get the geese on more calcium but it's hard to do if I don't have them penned.
