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

[csalt]

I really want some more pretty banties and I'll go anywhere to find them. I'll be at Gower's and ready to buy at 8am. I think the proposed schedule for next year is perfect. BTW - we're getting a Tractor Supply in Charles Town soon so maybe you could do a Gower's and a Tractor Supply.

 

[JustTom]

Quote:
Where is 'the list' at? It isn't on this thread that I can see, and I can't see any reference links on any of the posts.

Is there a setup fee, and is the setup on grass, pavement, gravel? It's been awhile since I've been to that Gower's, so the parking setup is a bit fuzzy to me.

I'm thinking about coming and setting up again with my heritage rabbits, but I'm worried about the heat/humidity. I've had to bow out of several of the TSC swaps at the last minute because I was concerned over the heat and the humidity, especially on asphalt. Chickens deal with it better than my big meat rabbits, so I don't like to move them around when it's oppressive. I didn't sell many at Erin's swap, but I was able to talk to a lot of folks about them and since breed conservancy is my thing, I still considered it worthwhile to attend, and am going to try to support these swaps as I can. I was able to talk to folks about raising endangered rabbits, poultry, hogs, honey bees, cattle, and had a good time. It was hot, but it wasn't quite so humid. I did sell one to a little girl who was excited about having something unique to put on the 4H show table, so that was the highlight of my day. If anyone else has 4H kids, I'd suspect that she would welcome a little competition sooner or later.

In addition to rabbits (6 litters of AMs in blue,white and black, and a couple of litters of SF), I also have juvenile Muscovy, but someone contacted me Tuesday and is supposed to pick up all 10 today. If she's a no show, then I could bring them. Have a hen setting another clutch now, so might have ducklings within a few weeks if anyone has interest.

I also have a couple of adult roos, a Welsummer and a black Maran, from my bullpen that I could let go if someone has a need.
I haven't really worked with them much so I'm unsure of the temperament, especially on the Wel. He has beautiful color, but he seems to eyeball me a lot when I walk by so the jury is still out on his disposition. Fair warning, I'm much more experienced with rabbit breeding standards, and have only begun to scratch the surface of selectively breeding my chickens, so you have to rely on your own judgement as to quality and faults. I can send pics if requested.

Heck, I also have fully pedigreed Dexter bulls, ranging in age from a few months to 2 1/2 years for sale, both black and dun. They're small and I might be able to stuff them in my trunk for you... If not interested in keeping them as breeders or lawn ornaments, but have a hankering for the best designer beef you'll ever taste, we can talk about that too. Or heritage pork... or pastured poultry...or the kitchen sink

Even if it's too hot to come and officially set up, I'm still going to come and pick up a couple of roos, so I guess I could drop off if anyone wants Americans or Silver Fox or anything else.

Email me privately if you have interest in anything. This swap happened a little sooner than I expected, so I wasn't able to time a hatch, but I can hatch just about any of the poultry in my sig line in small or large quantity(288 egg incubator), or can provide hatching eggs if you'd like to do it yourself.


One final thing to wrap up... I'm not fire and brimstone about it or anything, but would like to be devil's advocate and provide counter view of the "no pre-sales" policy. In addition to the fact that a lot of the deals made are among folks on here who do it ahead of time and pre-opening is the only time when vendors can "shop" amongst themselves a bit, what the policy of no sales before official opening essentially boils down to is saying that you need to turn away an actual paying customer on the premise (and hope) that someone will show up later and buy the very same item. That seems kind of a stretch. I've worked arts and crafts shows for many years, and I've never been to one that would tell you to do that. On the other hand, something I've noticed with these swaps that seems to occur which would never be allowed to happen at other types of shows (and which burns me as a customer) is when vendors actually close up and leave before the official closing time. It's one thing to sell out and close your flaps, but another to just try to get a jump start on heading out. As an example, I've attended the Harper's Ferry festival, which is a fairly big deal, for over 20 years, and closing down early is the fastest way to get dis-invited to the next one. Again, not angry like others who complained, so won't stomp around either way. It's your show and you get to make the rules, but thought you'd might like a differing view. I don't blame anyone if I go to a show, or a yard sale, or an auction, and have missed out on something because someone else got it first. Good for them. Unless it's a 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card, there will always be another.

Sorry for the novel,
tom

 

[Msbear]

Hey Tom, I welcome the views.. that's how we improve things. I think we can try it this way and see how it works. If everyone commits to it, then that potential paying customer is not going to be "the one that got away" because he/she cannot purchase from anyone else until opening time anyway. I think personal side swapping before opening is something that I cannot control and shouldn't be able to. We all work hard to put these together and shouldn't be deprived of doing a little shopping ourselves. I think this will just have to be on the honor system. I'll post a sign to remind buyers so they won't be so miffed... but, that's about the best we can do.

As for packing up early. Farmer's markets and festivals where you are juried in hold their vendors to a much higher level than us

I'm just happy to get what we got. If we were doing a swap every Saturday and had limited space and 50 some vendors itching to get in, we could really lay down some rules and get organized.. but, we do this a few times a year and I think it works well with limited involvement from a leader or organizer. It's self run and less work for us. I think, for the most part, we stay until closing unless their is nasty weather or we're totally sold out. I, myself, have sat behind two roos with a free sign for a couple of hours so I don't want to hear it!!! hahahahahah

As for the parking lot. It is asphalt and small. We will not be able to have our cars in there with us. We will have to drop off our stuff/canopy/chairs and drive out to the grassy area in front of the building to park our cars. It will most likely be very hot. If you don't have an umbrella or canopy, there is some room under the overhang of the store. That area is reserved for you so take advantage of it. Please remember to bring water for yourselves and your birds/bunnies or frozen water bottles for inside the bunny cages. Keep your animals out of direct sunlight. Bring towels we can soak in a bit of water and lay over cages to help keep them cool. And, please put lots of holes in the cardboard boxes for sending home new birds/bunnies. I heard of a terrible incident this past time where folks put their birds in a box with no ventilation then let them sit in the car while they continued to shop. We need to think preventative.

I'm very excited about this Saturday and can't wait to see you all again

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Quote:
No Tom. Don't be sorry. We value other opinions. I am one of the people who has always started selling the moment someone is interested. I find it hard to turn a buyer away. I have no problem with following "the rules" as long as everyone else does. I just think it could potentially hurt sales...just my thoughts...never WRITTEN down before now.

I do see both sides of the coin. I am a go with the flow type person as long as everyone follows the same code of ethics.

Now for my soapbox:

I hate to not be a vendor at this swap. You know I am PRO West Virginia Poultry everything. I am trying to build on our meager beginnings and get our state into showing poultry again...one thing at a time....anyway, back on topic.

I simply sold out of almost everything I wanted to sell at Erin's swap. I don't have enough to sell to even pay for my gas. So, when you have as many chickens as I do and like to swap and show as much as I do...you have to be smart about. These chickens like to eat! and the freeloaders won't help pay for feed.

So...unless there is something on the LIST that I cannot live without, you won't see me there....

Someone should really put up some show quality somethings or other that I cannot resist so I can "justify" attending.

 

[Orpygal]

This is the last list I've seen-

started chicks in OEGB, Silkies, BO, RIR heritage breed, Australorps, Russian Orloff Bantams. Buff orpingtons, a dark red trio of rhode island reds, pair of Grisham Welsumers, Wh...eaten Marans, Bantam Cochins, Guineas, peachicks, nipple waterers, used (cleaned) rabbit, duck & goat supplies, delaware chicks, golden comets laying now, adult bantam cochin hens, cochin cockerels and pullets. Sexed pullets in the following breeds: rhode island reds, golden comets, barred rocks, new hampshire reds.See More

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Angel,

Here are pictures of the Lavenders...
Don't mind the blue girl on the far left

and a splash

come on...you know you want them.

They produce cute little chicks....

 

[angry gary]

Quote:
One final thing to wrap up... I'm not fire and brimstone about it or anything, but would like to be devil's advocate and provide counter view of the "no pre-sales" policy. In addition to the fact that a lot of the deals made are among folks on here who do it ahead of time and pre-opening is the only time when vendors can "shop" amongst themselves a bit, what the policy of no sales before official opening essentially boils down to is saying that you need to turn away an actual paying customer on the premise (and hope) that someone will show up later and buy the very same item. That seems kind of a stretch. I've worked arts and crafts shows for many years, and I've never been to one that would tell you to do that. On the other hand, something I've noticed with these swaps that seems to occur which would never be allowed to happen at other types of shows (and which burns me as a customer) is when vendors actually close up and leave before the official closing time. It's one thing to sell out and close your flaps, but another to just try to get a jump start on heading out. As an example, I've attended the Harper's Ferry festival, which is a fairly big deal, for over 20 years, and closing down early is the fastest way to get dis-invited to the next one. Again, not angry like others who complained, so won't stomp around either way. It's your show and you get to make the rules, but thought you'd might like a differing view. I don't blame anyone if I go to a show, or a yard sale, or an auction, and have missed out on something because someone else got it first. Good for them. Unless it's a 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card, there will always be another.tom

i also set up at various hobby meets and find the 8 oclock means 8 oclock rule a very needed thing. i know as a vendor that i want to sell everything i brought. but to say if i do not sell it before opening time because someone is standing here wanting it, that it will not sell is ludicrous! first question would be , why is someone here trying to buy before i am open? and if thay want it so bad then stand there until 8 o' clock. not that difficult. the issue here is that there is no way to regulate the flow of people in and out of the meet. no gates, no doors etc. people wander in when they want. so the honor system among dealers has to be something of value, not hollow words.
and as for dealers shopping early, i have no problem with that. you pay to set up and you should be able to shop early because you will not have time when the meet is happening. i have never seen early dealer shopping put much of a hurt on available product to the customer.
and you mentioned pre-sales of product where the deal was made days before does not fit the criteria of this discussion. heck anything i can have sold before getting there is a bonus because i do not have to "display" it like other merch.

so i have spent equal amount of time on both sides of this discussion. i understand somes concerns. but that is just what they are your concerns for yourself, not the buyers. if you have a quality product it will sell itself whether it takes the first 5 minutes of a show or that last 5 minutes. quality will always go before inferior product.

gary

 

[earnhardtlvr]

Cayuga ducks anyone??

 

[JustTom]

Quote:
The Muscovy were picked up last night, so I won't have any available for tomorrow. I'm guessing the next hen has been on her nest for about 4 weeks, so I could possibly have a more available in the next week or two.

tom

 

[daytonfarm]

Does anyone know if the guy that was at Erins with the metal nest boxes will be there tomorrow? He said he had about 50 of them and lived around Charlestown. I need some nest boxes.

I will not be bringing anything this time. Waiting for the sept swap when the babies have grown a bit.

Carolyn