Greenfire Farms "Collections"

[Redhead Rae]

I've been interested in getting birds from Greenfire Farms but they are SOOOOO expensive. I'm considering getting one or more of their "collections" (Rainbow Egg Layer Mix, Rare Breed Mix, or Table Bird Mix) because the price is greatly reduced. $249 for 12 + shipping instead of the normal $75+ per bird. I know what I get would be a crapshoot, but it might be a nice way to get some of their birds to try them out.

Has anyone done this before?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I know someone who did get a collection from them. She got some nice birds but she didn't get males and females of the same breeds so her ability to breed is a problem.

 

[Cyprus]

The above is what I was going to point out. That and gender ratio of what you do get.
If you want to breed, you'd be better off just ordering chicks of one breed

 

[MissChick@dee]

Omgosh....I’ve got sticker shock the
Most I’ve paid for a bird is 4.95 for a EE. My RSL was 2.50 as was my SLW. My other were free from a ranch.

 

[Redhead Rae]

The above is what I was going to point out. That and gender ratio of what you do get.
If you want to breed, you'd be better off just ordering chicks of one breed

I would, but I've bought several different breeds that I ended up not liking at all, so I don't want to spend a HUGE amount on them until I know I like the breed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I bought an end of season mix from Sandhill Preservation once. I think I got about 13 breeds. It is a good way to find which breeds you like.

As for sticker shock. I paid $11 each for chicks when I got my current breed and that is all I raise now. I love them. I'm still selling chicks for $11 but I think I'm going up on that soon. When I have them available, adult trios are $250 but I think that has to go up too.

Anybody that sells birds for $4.95 is losing money. I'd rather eat them all than lose money selling them.

Greenfire prices may give sticker shock but they go through a great deal to bring in birds not here previously. It is a lengthy and arduous process - and not cheap.
IMHO, they're worth every penny.

 

[Cyprus]

I bought an end of season mix from Sandhill Preservation once. I think I got about 13 breeds. It is a good way to find which breeds you like.

As for sticker shock. I paid $11 each for chicks when I got my current breed and that is all I raise now. I love them. I'm still selling chicks for $11 but I think I'm going up on that soon. When I have them available, adult trios are $250 but I think that has to go up too.

Anybody that sells birds for $4.95 is losing money. I'd rather eat them all than lose money selling them.

Would those be the black Penedesencas?

 

[Acre4Me]

I've been interested in getting birds from Greenfire Farms but they are SOOOOO expensive. I'm considering getting one or more of their "collections" (Rainbow Egg Layer Mix, Rare Breed Mix, or Table Bird Mix) because the price is greatly reduced. $249 for 12 + shipping instead of the normal $75+ per bird. I know what I get would be a crapshoot, but it might be a nice way to get some of their birds to try them out.

Has anyone done this before?

Are you interested in certain breeds, or interested in ordering from Greenfire due to their reputation (which, I’m not familiar with)?

My first order of chicks were assortments, since we were new to chickens and really didn’t know what breed we liked. Well, all 26 chicks arrived dead (poor USPS handling). Too bad bc it looked like we had gotten a nice assortment of breeds, including rare breeds. So, I ordered six breeds from a closer hatchery I could drive to and pick up. Now that it’s been 10 months, and we know which breeds interest us, and which don’t, from those 6 breeds. But, I’m still interested in exploring breeds, so I’ve already ordered several breeds from elsewhere, hoping to hone our focus a little more with some more experience. At this point, I would not invest that much (per your post) into chickens unless I had more experience or was into the show aspect or was looking to breed my own line, where high quality stock really matters.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

 

[Redhead Rae]

I bought an end of season mix from Sandhill Preservation once. I think I got about 13 breeds. It is a good way to find which breeds you like.

As for sticker shock. I paid $11 each for chicks when I got my current breed and that is all I raise now. I love them. I'm still selling chicks for $11 but I think I'm going up on that soon. When I have them available, adult trios are $250 but I think that has to go up too.

Anybody that sells birds for $4.95 is losing money. I'd rather eat them all than lose money selling them.

Greenfire prices may give sticker shock but they go through a great deal to bring in birds not here previously. It is a lengthy and arduous process - and not cheap.

I've seen your Penedesencas. They are beautiful. I've thought about getting some.

Are you interested in certain breeds, or interested in ordering from Greenfire due to their reputation (which, I’m not familiar with)?

My first order of chicks were assortments, since we were new to chickens and really didn’t know what breed we liked. Well, all 26 chicks arrived dead (poor USPS handling). Too bad bc it looked like we had gotten a nice assortment of breeds, including rare breeds. So, I ordered six breeds from a closer hatchery I could drive to and pick up. Now that it’s been 10 months, and we know which breeds interest us, and which don’t, from those 6 breeds. But, I’m still interested in exploring breeds, so I’ve already ordered several breeds from elsewhere, hoping to hone our focus a little more with some more experience. At this point, I would not invest that much (per your post) into chickens unless I had more experience or was into the show aspect or was looking to breed my own line, where high quality stock really matters.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

I want something that will lay well that isn't a leghorn or production red. I would like them to look nice as well.... My Dark Cornish and Cochins are pretty good for meat, but crap for eggs, especially if I'm hatching them.

 

[Cyprus]

I've seen your Penedesencas. They are beautiful. I've thought about getting some.

I want something that will lay well that isn't a leghorn or production red. I would like them to look nice as well.... My Dark Cornish and Cochins are pretty good for meat, but crap for eggs, especially if I'm hatching them.

Barnevelders, Polish, Bielefelders, Wyandottes are all good ones.