Craigslist ad for free chickens is working!!

[KellyHM]

Just wondering if you could post a link so I could see how your ad is worded? I never got to see the original one. Thanks!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

that's how I got my first birds. I just put an add on craigs list saying "free chickens wanted" I only took hens; got all kinds of fancy breeds from 4-h'ers, a lot of 1 year hens in molt, and a few older hens. I sold all the ones I didn't want for 15.00 each

 

[silkiechicken]

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I know a flytier and they are VERY VERY VERY specific on what they want. A wrong color spec or shade and they can't get the exact pattern they want to target their favorite fish on the river they want. Way too many details for my simple mind to deal with. All I know is they spend about 75 hours in freezing water to catch each fish on their special flies...

 

[Morgan7782]

When getting free chickens off craigslist, how do you know they are not sick? And how do you know they are safe to eat? Is it just experience? Thanks

 

[Desert Rooster]

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2x

 

[NellaBean]

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2x

In most cases, people giving away extra roosters are people who would be more than happy to tell you what has "gone into" that bird in the last month. I know my extra roosters have had no special meds or anything in the last 30 days (or ever, in most cases). I think most slaughter withdrawals are relatively short anyways. If you are worried about it, bring them home, keep them quarantined on nice feed for a week and then slaughter. If you were not immedatiely butchering the birds, you would not want to bring them home unless they can be safely quarantined. If so, have at it.

 

[marinebarpop]

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And, if they say they have not given them anything or have not been sick, how do you know they are telling the truth?

It makes me queesy thinking of eating something I have no idea what has gone into it.

P

 

[booker81]

First - here's the ad

http://lansing.craigslist.org/grd/2130026898.html

As for other fowl, I would take them, but haven't had any offers yet.

As for health, I grew up with chickens, raised chickens in FFA, and also took the meat classes at college (when I briefly was majoring in Animal Science). If it's an ill bird (haven't gotten one yet), it should show signs on the outside or the inside - runny eyes/nose and depressed on the outside, or organ issues on the inside. I really check out the lungs and liver closely for spots, discoloration or any "weirdness", just like I check the wild ducks, geese and turkey we hunt and eat. Forgot that too - I've hunted for years, and have processed more wildfowl than I could possibly count. Only a few times have I thrown away a bird because of issues - one I remember was a wild turkey with what was probably blackhead based on his head, and another was a duck that had a funky liver going on.

As for eating something you don't know what's in it, well, I consider that exactly what folks do when they buy meat at the grocery store! LOL!

I also tend to hang around and chat with the folks I get birds from, and visit with their flock, and that way I can get a good idea of the overall flock health at their place. Chicken folks seem to be a friendly sort, and are more than happy to share their stories - along with their feeding regimen, medication if any, coop design, favorite breeds and anything else chicken related.

Finally, I still don't take chances. I care for my chickens early the morning of pickup and slaughter day, and then shower and change. I have a separate old pair of boots and jacket that doesn't go out to my coop/run, and I wear that instead of my regular coat and shoes/boots. I do all the pickup and processing during the day, then the boots and coat go back again, clothes into the washer, and I take a shower. I don't want to transmit anything from my flock to another (in the rare case they have something), and I don't want to transmit anything back to my flock. The chickens I pick up are taken from the crate in the Expedition to the garage, and then straight to the house, and don't go near the coop area. The transport crates stay in the garage and are bleached after use.

I also have decided to do this every few weeks, until I don't need anymore for a long time. A few weeks ago I did 8 banties and 7 large fowl, this weekend is up to 10 large fowl. That's enough to make it worth it for me, enough to keep me busy for the day between getting them and processing, but not so much that I'm overwhelmed or can't get them done. I set up the times for pickup with the folks I contact, so I can do it all in one day. I have a few dog crates, so I keep each group separated, what I DON'T need is a bunch of chicken fights going on in the garage!

I think I got all of the questions!!

Jen

 

[Raiquee]

Okay thanks for the response. I just posted my craigslist post, and I gotta say. I'm a bit nervous! I don't want to get hate mail! lol. I pretty much copied your ad, but put in there they will be processed for meat (altho it seems the people you are picking up from know this, they can be thinking they will just be used for eggs.) If anyone is willing to part with their roosters, then heck we'll take em! I also put no bantys, as hubby doesn't really want to mess with smaller ones.

 

[booker81]

Well, if it helps, I had the same worry, and I've not gotten a single "hate mail"

Just a lot of happy chicken folks who like to raise chickens but have more roosters than they need, and they don't want to do the deed themselves!