This weekend we attended a livestock auction as sellers. Completely interesting event! I'm glad we weren't planning to buy anything as I'm not sure I would have known what I was paying since the auctioneer was going fast and I think it will take a little experience to really hear what he is saying!
Our flock consisted of 21 birds. Fourteen are 10 months old. Seven are 4 months old.
We sold all 9 birds we took to the auction. We sold a 10 month old Black Australorp cockerel, 4 month old Delaware cockerel, 4 month old Silver Spangled Hamburg cockerel, 3 Dark Brown Leghorn pullets (10 months old), and 4 month old pullets of 3 other breeds.
This was a pretty painless way to get rid of the ones we did not want to keep, and get some feed cash. The weather was a nice as it would ever get for a January outdoor auction day, so we figured if we didn't do it now, then they would be ours for another few months.
Some of the younger ones went to the neighbor of a friend of ours who happened to be at the auction looking for a few visually interesting birds to add to his egg laying flock: he bought our 4 month old Polish, EE bantam, and Salmon Faverolle, so we know they went to a good home.
The 3 DBLS looked like they were sold to a family that didn't buy anything else, so maybe adding to a flock or starting one.
The cocks each went to three separate people, with the 10 month old BA having several bids back and forth.
Overall, it was not exactly lucrative...we averaged $7.50/ bird, before commission was taken out. However, it was a quick solution for us to get rid of the birds we knew we were not going to keep in the long run. However, we had a tough time deciding to get rid of the BA cockerel - he was good, but we decided that only having one older cockerel (soon to be rooster) at a time was likely better overall for our space and flock at this time. We now have 12 birds: two 4-month pullets not yet laying, and nine 10 month pullets laying well, and one 10 month cockerel.
Now we have some room for a few more chicks!
Our flock consisted of 21 birds. Fourteen are 10 months old. Seven are 4 months old.
We sold all 9 birds we took to the auction. We sold a 10 month old Black Australorp cockerel, 4 month old Delaware cockerel, 4 month old Silver Spangled Hamburg cockerel, 3 Dark Brown Leghorn pullets (10 months old), and 4 month old pullets of 3 other breeds.
This was a pretty painless way to get rid of the ones we did not want to keep, and get some feed cash. The weather was a nice as it would ever get for a January outdoor auction day, so we figured if we didn't do it now, then they would be ours for another few months.
Some of the younger ones went to the neighbor of a friend of ours who happened to be at the auction looking for a few visually interesting birds to add to his egg laying flock: he bought our 4 month old Polish, EE bantam, and Salmon Faverolle, so we know they went to a good home.
The 3 DBLS looked like they were sold to a family that didn't buy anything else, so maybe adding to a flock or starting one.
The cocks each went to three separate people, with the 10 month old BA having several bids back and forth.
Overall, it was not exactly lucrative...we averaged $7.50/ bird, before commission was taken out. However, it was a quick solution for us to get rid of the birds we knew we were not going to keep in the long run. However, we had a tough time deciding to get rid of the BA cockerel - he was good, but we decided that only having one older cockerel (soon to be rooster) at a time was likely better overall for our space and flock at this time. We now have 12 birds: two 4-month pullets not yet laying, and nine 10 month pullets laying well, and one 10 month cockerel.
Now we have some room for a few more chicks!