Gower's Feed Eastern Panhandle ChIcKeNsToCk Sat. July 9th Ranson, WV

[csalt]

I was very pleasantly surprised by the number of vendors at Gower's. The selection was great and I had a terrible time choosing just a few girls. I'm looking forward to the swap on Oct. 1. Hopefully, the weather will be a little cooler. Thanks to everyone who put this together.

 

[Soaring Chicks]

The way I see it gowers was really a bust compared to our other swaps.
If we are going to start. Having the big swaps at erins then I think we should keep the other at ts.
Just do to room, easier for people to get to right off of I 81
Also we get slot of people that are just driving by and see us set up and come to look.
Also Jonathan does a great job making sure everyone gets tested. Safer for those of us that are npip.
People also know about the ts ones and plain a head to be there since it has been the around te same times every year since yall started it. The other big thing is they don't change the dates on you non stop.
I think that is what really hurt us there along with people came and saw last year that there is not enough space plus have to look out for cars getting loaded up at gowers.
Just not te best set up for the swaps anymore with the growth of sellers and buyers we have now.
Which is a great thing!
I'm not trying to slam gowers as they are a Great place to get supplies from.
Bottom line is room and location.
I don't think we should leave them out and I'm sure everyOne would love to see them set up at reins swaps.
This is my two cents take it for what you will.

 

[csalt]

By this time next year (well probably well before) the new Tractor Supply in Charles Town will be up and running and it will be located right off 340 with plenty of visibility and plenty of room.

 

[Orpygal]

I think it was actually posted on Erin's swap page but I thought I'd post here since this thread seems to be busy right now......some of you were talking about taking on a threatened breed. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is going to be on the Chicken Whisperers radio show tomorrow. I think they are all archived on the site so you can listen to them anytime after the show airs.

 

[Msbear]

The lower turnout was all because of lack of advertising beforehand. We only changed the date one time and this affected the sellers and what they had in their incubators.. I think. The buyers had no problem with the date change.. they just weren't aware. As for the sign, we never even had one at TSC so I don't know how it was easier to see

hahahaahahha I think everyone's right though about space. I don't know what we would have done if two more vendors showed.. or if we had more buyers. I think the new TSC may be the thing. I feel bad because I love Gower's.

End of April, everyone knows it's at TSC in Martinsburg so that's that.

End of June was great at the farm, that's that.

End of July would be good to do one at TSC in C-town but, we need to have flyers ready and be hitting advertising HARD directly after the farm swap so we'll need everyone's help as it's just too much for me.

Im organizing a Fall swap now for the first Sat in Oct. and I think this will be good to unload adults and juvies but, don't hatch out a bunch of chicks right before because no one wants to winter them.

I remember us talking about overdoing swaps a couple years ago and how it could lose its nostalgia so.... two swaps in WV and two in MD I think sounds good.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Quote:

This cannot be said enough: NO ONE wants to winter over chicks. Please don't think you can make money on them in the fall. If that is your plan, good luck, and be prepared to winter them over yourself just in case.

 

[Orpygal]

I wouldn't winter chicks but I would def winter 2mo olds if anyone wants to start hatching say, Wheaten Marans and bring them to Erin's.

 

[Chicken Junkies]

Gower's was good for us! The TSC ChickenStocks have been great... April was a bit cold for peeps. (Thank God for Mia, my broody RO, who is hatching more Russian Orloff babies as I type. She kept our peeps nice and warm.)

Many of the new customers I got at Gower's came from my blog, forums and FB page, so it's important to advertise these events online. I get tons of visits to my blog daily and have a page rank of 4 now, so I know people are interested in these swaps!

I think the online advertising can help to really increase our turnouts.

I've had bunches of people asking if we were going to have a Chickenstock in Aug. or Sept. at TSC. They seemed really sad when I explained there may not be one. I've had people asking for it online as well. Perhaps we should try for one. I don't really think we can over do the swap thing... different people come each time, both vendors and customers. If they don't make one, they have a chance for the next. Maybe we should do a poll? I for one would be happy to do two more this year. (My 2 cents.)

I'd be happy to help with the advertising again as well.

Carol

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Quote:
Tonya, sounds like Angel is hinting something.

 

[Orpygal]

Quote:
Tonya, sounds like Angel is hinting something.

Tammy, I feel like such a traitor, I can't even look George (your roo) in the eye!