First time selling a hen

[Redhousecoops]

I’ve only ever rehomed roosters before. Yesterday I sold my first hen for $20. She is an OG already laying. Today I got a message from the lady who bought her that the hen was mean and attacking her chickens and she didn’t want her. She was over an hour away so she said her friend who had free range farm would take her instead of me picking her up. I refunded her money but it still makes me feel terrible. I never once had a problem with this hen so I really had no idea and definitely didn’t do it on purpose. Ugh just feel terrible and keep thinking how bad I would of felt if she killed one of the chickens. She said her chickens are only 4 months old and this hen is a year so I think that probably contributed.. Has this happened to anyone before?? Makes me nervous to ever try to sell again and I’m trying to breed to SOP so I’m going to have extras eventually....

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I’ve only ever rehomed roosters before. Yesterday I sold my first hen for $20. She is an OG already laying. Today I got a message from the lady who bought her that the hen was mean and attacking her chickens and she didn’t want her. She was over an hour away so she said her friend who had free range farm would take her instead of me picking her up. I refunded her money but it still makes me feel terrible. I never once had a problem with this hen so I really had no idea and definitely didn’t do it on purpose. Ugh just feel terrible and keep thinking how bad I would of felt if she killed one of the chickens. She said her chickens are only 4 months old and this hen is a year so I think that probably contributed.. Has this happened to anyone before?? Makes me nervous to ever try to sell again and I’m trying to breed to SOP so I’m going to have extras eventually....

I'm so sorry you had this unfortunate incident.

Truth be told, your buyer was very ignorant of how to add a new bird to her flock.

1. She mixed ages poorly. She chose an established older bird to add to her flock of young pullets of 4 months. That incites misbehavior in many situations. The oldest bird usually will take dominance unless a very docile breed. Of course the pecking order had been unsettled. Of course there were scrimmishes. I doubt your bird was overly aggressive, although OG (Old Game?) can be more assertive.

2. She immediately took an older hen and put it in her flock without isolation. That is foolish even from the most established sellers. She also did not establish any introduction time (after 2 week isolation) to calmly introduce the new bird to help integration.

3. She expected a refund for her mistakes. She knows nothing about chicken behavior or chicken care. Expect that from novice buyers.

So as a seller, you have to anticipate the foolishness of novice buyers. You will have to establish your rules. Look around at what the common rules of sale are in your area. What are you willing to guarantee? What are you willing to risk?

You should provide a list of integration advice so that people don't place birds in unfair situations or expect new birds to integrate flawlessly. You also want to protect your bird from being overly exposed to pathogens without a break in process.

Write all that up in a bill of sale so that the buyer understands their responsibilities and risks. Stick to that agreement....no matter what the tears are from the buyer unless you really feel it is better to eat the cost of the sale vs the bad press you'll get from them (word of mouth). It is generally best to keep to the terms of your bill of sale or you will be pushed all around by people.

My thoughts.
Lofmc

 

[Redhousecoops]

I'm so sorry you had this unfortunate incident.

Truth be told, your buyer was very ignorant of how to add a new bird to her flock.

1. She mixed ages poorly. She chose an established older bird to add to her flock of young pullets of 4 months. That incites misbehavior in many situations. The oldest bird usually will take dominance unless a very docile breed. Of course the pecking order had been unsettled. Of course there were scrimmishes. I doubt your bird was overly aggressive, although OG (Old Game?) can be more assertive.

2. She immediately took an older hen and put it in her flock without isolation. That is foolish even from the most established sellers. She also did not establish any introduction time (after 2 week isolation) to calmly introduce the new bird to help integration.

3. She expected a refund for her mistakes. She knows nothing about chicken behavior or chicken care. Expect that from novice buyers.

So as a seller, you have to anticipate the foolishness of novice buyers. You will have to establish your rules. Look around at what the common rules of sale are in your area. What are you willing to guarantee? What are you willing to risk?

You should provide a list of integration advice so that people don't place birds in unfair situations or expect new birds to integrate flawlessly. You also want to protect your bird from being overly exposed to pathogens without a break in process.

Write all that up in a bill of sale so that the buyer understands their responsibilities and risks. Stick to that agreement....no matter what the tears are from the buyer unless you really feel it is better to eat the cost of the sale vs the bad press you'll get from them (word of mouth). It is generally best to keep to the terms of your bill of sale or you will be pushed all around by people.

My thoughts.
Lofmc

I miss typed, I meant OE for olive egger. She was very docile in my flock but she was hatched and raised within the flock with a broody hen.... lots of good advice. Thank you. I will learn from the mistake and be more prepared next time. I was already on the fence about selling her but I’m trying to thin out my flock to move towards my new goals. I love my chickens I want them to live good lives. I think she will do well on the free range farm as long as that’s where she truly went too.

 

[OlympicChick]

I feel your pain and wholeheartedly agree with what Lady of McCamley said. I rehomed my sweetest silkie roo to a woman with all hens and about two weeks later she called me to say he was a "rapist" rooster and was terrifying her hens and she was giving him back. Never would I have thought that a person taking a rooster wouldn't know that roosters naturally mate hens. It's just ignorance. If I am ever in that situation again, I would do exactly as Lady said and write up a whole contract!

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I'm so sorry you had this unfortunate incident.

Truth be told, your buyer was very ignorant of how to add a new bird to her flock.

1. She mixed ages poorly. She chose an established older bird to add to her flock of young pullets of 4 months. That incites misbehavior in many situations. The oldest bird usually will take dominance unless a very docile breed. Of course the pecking order had been unsettled. Of course there were scrimmishes. I doubt your bird was overly aggressive, although OG (Old Game?) can be more assertive.

2. She immediately took an older hen and put it in her flock without isolation. That is foolish even from the most established sellers. She also did not establish any introduction time (after 2 week isolation) to calmly introduce the new bird to help integration.

3. She expected a refund for her mistakes. She knows nothing about chicken behavior or chicken care. Expect that from novice buyers.

So as a seller, you have to anticipate the foolishness of novice buyers. You will have to establish your rules. Look around at what the common rules of sale are in your area. What are you willing to guarantee? What are you willing to risk?

You should provide a list of integration advice so that people don't place birds in unfair situations or expect new birds to integrate flawlessly. You also want to protect your bird from being overly exposed to pathogens without a break in process.

Write all that up in a bill of sale so that the buyer understands their responsibilities and risks. Stick to that agreement....no matter what the tears are from the buyer unless you really feel it is better to eat the cost of the sale vs the bad press you'll get from them (word of mouth). It is generally best to keep to the terms of your bill of sale or you will be pushed all around by people.

My thoughts.
Lofmc

I feel your pain and wholeheartedly agree with what Lady of McCamley said. I rehomed my sweetest silkie roo to a woman with all hens and about two weeks later she called me to say he was a "rapist" rooster and was terrifying her hens and she was giving him back. Never would I have thought that a person taking a rooster wouldn't know that roosters naturally mate hens. It's just ignorance. If I am ever in that situation again, I would do exactly as Lady said and write up a whole contract!

I completely agree. People should know more about chickens before buying them.

 

[lomine]

I agree with the others. The error was on the buyer here. I wouldn't have refunded the money in this situation but I can understand why you did. I hope this doesn't put you off selling extra hens.