Have you noticed

[tazcat70]

Have you noticed that on Ebay Copper Black Maran eggs are selling for 70.00+ not including shipping. This is only on 6 eggs. That is too rich for my blood to be hatching out.

WOW!

Tonya

 

[Pinenot]

I have seen silkie eggs go for over $90. for 8.

 

[silkieluvr]

geez and I thought people selling a dozen for $35 was pricey!

 

[SillyChick]

Whoa!

I saw at the McMurray hatchery that they're $3.59 each when you're buying 1-10 chicks, but the price is lower when your buying 10-20 or more.

 

[speckledhen]

$70 is pretty rich for my blood, even if I was picking them up, but give them over to the P.O. for abuse? Nah!

 

[hcammack]

no way I would pay that mabe for adults or chicks for pickup but with eggs and all the things that can go wrong no way.

Henry

 

[kstaven]

I guess none of you ever buy proven SQ cocks or hens at auction. Have seen a single bird in the $100's of dollars.

The price isn't steep if the stock is exceptional. But there is no way I would trust it to the postal system.

 

[jimnjay]

I agree that is pretty steep but I have seen Eddy Travers Silkie Eggs go for $ 130.00. He send a lot of them but at that price I would buy started chickens. If you are wanting something special you have a better chance of at least getting what you are looking for.

It was not many years ago when I first started on BYC that people were trying to get Black Copper and Wheaten Marans in this country. They were just not available. Starwalker from the EZ side of BYC got some Whetean eggs from England and even with an importers licence it was extreamly expensive. I think she was able to hatch a few but has not had great luck with them yet. if I remember correctly. People who go to extream trouble to get these birds into the US usually don't have a problem getting a high price for the eggs as there is always a demand for different breeds here. Seramas were another that demanded very high prices just a few years ago. The problem with these newly imported birds is usually inbreeding as there are so few pairs available. Good breeders will take extream care in their breeding program but when eggs become available people don't always follow in that path, as the temptation to recover their investment is pretty strong.

 

[tazcat70]

The I guess it is lucky for me I am not into the showing side of it. Maybe it is good for my husband.

I do have a goal to put one in a show. Someday in the next 1001 days. (101 goals in 1001 days.)

If I bought some hatching eggs for $130 my husband would freak out! Heck, I haven't told him of my plans for blue Orpington eggs.

Tonya

 

[MaransGuy]

While eggs of some breeds can be very expensive, and shipped eggs are always a risk, it is often the only way to get what you are looking for. Marans in particular are very difficult to find good quality stock of. There are a few breeders across the country that have put the years of work in to get them where they are. I can assure you that what a hatchery is selling is not going to be anywhere close to what you will get from the top lines. When you are looking to get really good quality, you can't always find it from a local breeder or hatchery. I've been down the road of getting "average" marans and was so disappointed with the egg color. When I found Bev Davis down in Florida, and saw what she is doing I knew I had to get some of her eggs. I have paid as much as $80 per dozen, received 18, and typically hatched 5-6. Paying $10-$15 per bird for that level of quality is almost insane. I am looking to get some very nice show stock buff cochins from a breeder up here in New England. They typically go for $150-$200 per pair. When you see the difference between them and what typical barnyard stock looks like it is quite obvious. The price for this level of quality is a reflection of the amount of time and dedication these breeders have put into their birds. It is not a matter of getting a good pair and then selling their eggs as soon as they start laying. It is hatching, and hatching and hatching, culling, culling and culling, sometimes 100's of birds a year, to get where you want your birds to be.

Now, with all of this being said, the most important thing in determining what a bird is worth to you is determined by what you are looking for. Obviously, if you are not looking for excellent type and coloring, good egg pigment, etc... then there is no need to spend more money. Less expensive birds can give just as much enjoyment, relaxation and keep you laughing as one ten times it's price. If you are looking for birds that look like the pictures you see in the books or lay those REAL marans colored eggs, well, you most likely will have to loosen the purse strings a bit more.

Unfortunately, as someone else has mentioned, there are those people out there that will jump on the band wagon just because a particular breed is currently in favor. It is important to remember that high cost does not necessarily mean high quality. If you are looking at making the investment it is always a good idea to ask as many questions as you can, request egg shell samples, get references etc... If someone can't provide pics or always makes excuses I would stay away from them.

Richard