NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Please allow me to jump in with a Rant. Since it involves and auction in NY I'll let it out here.

Recently Trylin and I took chickens to the auction. Now it is quite a drive and she and hers drove. I sent 2 bantam brnlghrns adults and two sexed chicks and a del roo. and an EE roo. Now the leghorns are rare. In fact I couldn't find any anywhere on line except one place not in this state. These were rosecombs.

The amount we got didn't even cover the gas to drive there! I'm mad as hell and believe me I will not send any birds to this auction ever again. What a bunch of cheapskates. The amount didn't even cover the cost of the original two leghorns!

Now I have been contacted about birds as recently as yesterday. Know this. I AM NOT GIVING BIRDS AWAY. THE PRICE OF FEED HAS GONE UP AND IF YOU WANT CHEAP BIRDS THEN GO TO THE HATCHERIES.

I drove and entire day to PA for my orpingtons from Hinkjc farms. I offered to pick up chicks for anyone who wanted to save money on gas and they could pick them up here. Only one person took me up on my offer. I paid $20 a chick, unsexed for my lavenders. I spent over $100 plus gas and time to pick up my birds. DO NOT expect me to just give chicks or chickens away.

The price of feed is going up and quite frankly as we all know it is not cheap to keep chickens anymore. The price of large eggs in the store is $1.75 at Wegmans, who I think buys from respectable farms. Unlike Walmart who does not. (I bought on doz at walmart, what crappy shelled eggs).

I do not show chickens but that does not keep me from working toward a better bird.


Ok I'm calm now,

Take care and be safe,

Rancher

 

[happyhensny]

Quote:
I know how you feel. The only auction close to me charges .75 box fee plus 30% commission. It is a small animal auction so there can be chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, etc. For me, the auction is to unload things I just can't have anymore like too many Roos that I won't process. It's hard to sell things that are of good quality. I still haven't found an avenue for fair sales on good birds.

Venting feels good sometimes....

 

[happyhensny]

Quote:
Welcome and glad I got to meet you!

ditto

 

[ladylibra]

Quote:
*waves at ladylibra!* The Polish are doing well! They're a bit stir-crazy, though - they want OUT.

HI! I'm glad they are well, they've been able to run free all their lifes. and they were hen raised, so they'll be a bit more flaky than a hand raised chook.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
I won't sell anything at any auction this time of year. No one will pay more than 50 cents for a chicken at them. A few weeks ago, I gave away about 10 started chicks because I knew I wouldn't get anything at the auction for them, so I actually saved money!

The only time its worth going to an auction to selll is in the early spring. Then, people are crazy to buy chickens.

There is an auction in Batavia, I think, in the fall that I hear has good birds and they go for decent prices. Although, I also hear you have to get there by midnight the night before in order to get things into the auctione arly enough. By morning of the auction, its too late and animals will go for almost nothing because they won't get up in the auction until afternoon, and most buyers are gong by then, or already bought their limit.

If you think your birds are breeding quality, try the auctions here. It does't cost anything, and you stay in the comfort of your own home. Although, unless you have something unique, most people here, are not bidding because of the time of the year.

I've parred down a lot for the winter due to the high cost of food. I'm spending $100 a month as it is on feed, and that has to stop!

I don't mind paying for a nice bird, still looking for Lav Orp hen, Coronation Sussex or one good buff Orpington hen. Oh, and I've included Silkies as well.

So, didn't the swap meet happen on saturday? No one is posting about it....

 

[ladylibra]

The swap meet DID happen on Saturday. I have only a couple of pictures (as I was chasing a 2 yr old around) I have to upload a bunch of pictures today and will try to get them online between yogurt making and herb harvesting that also needs to get done today. It was nice to put faces to the folks on the thread.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I won't sell anything at any auction this time of year. No one will pay more than 50 cents for a chicken at them. A few weeks ago, I gave away about 10 started chicks because I knew I wouldn't get anything at the auction for them, so I actually saved money!

The only time its worth going to an auction to selll is in the early spring. Then, people are crazy to buy chickens.

There is an auction in Batavia, I think, in the fall that I hear has good birds and they go for decent prices. Although, I also hear you have to get there by midnight the night before in order to get things into the auctione arly enough. By morning of the auction, its too late and animals will go for almost nothing because they won't get up in the auction until afternoon, and most buyers are gong by then, or already bought their limit.

If you think your birds are breeding quality, try the auctions here. It does't cost anything, and you stay in the comfort of your own home. Although, unless you have something unique, most people here, are not bidding because of the time of the year.

I've parred down a lot for the winter due to the high cost of food. I'm spending $100 a month as it is on feed, and that has to stop!

I don't mind paying for a nice bird, still looking for Lav Orp hen, Coronation Sussex or one good buff Orpington hen. Oh, and I've included Silkies as well.

So, didn't the swap meet happen on saturday? No one is posting about it....

With all due respect? I wouldn't hatch late in the year except by special order. As I stated previously I've had contacts for hens recently for what ever reason but I don't hatch late and am usually sold out by the end of spring with anything good. If I hatch with a broody later it's usually just mutts/ee crosses and I have no problem giving them away as chicks. If I have to raise out a pure she stays.

I don't have a huge barn so don't need more than 50 birds at any one time. I keep a mixed flock for aethetics but breed only three main breeds. Del, orps, br's. I have the occasional friz and I keep some ee's off a pure Lav amer. I will do the occasional trade with someone who I consider responsible in management. Pullet for pullet. But like I said I don't keep a huge flock of hens of any one breed so by this time of year I only have what I need for selling eggs and next years breeders. I don't like to keep one pullet of a breed. I'd rather keep two since they seem to pair off nicer that way.

I sell eggs too so I need to keep a certain amount of hens for that and of course in the winter they drop off some. Except for my Dels. They seem to carry on fairly nice.


Take care,
Rancher

 

[happyhensny]

The swap was at my home. Should have come and visit, it was fun! Well, until it started to rain, I wanted campfires! Darn. Anyway, the day was dry and a little warm but I think everyone had a good time chicken-chatting. I think it was more of a "picnic" rather that a swap. Some birds came but mostly we talked and hung out. Kids swam and played soccer. Then all of my awesome friends helped put the tents away so IRENE couldn't blow them away. Thanks all!

Maybe again next year....

 

[Sachasmom]

Yeah, prices at auctions now are terrible. Which auction did you go to? Is there one coming up at Pine Creek Feed in Lyons soon? There is one in Bath in like three weeks, and yup, if you want a decent price, you'll need to be there early. I expect prices to be worse than they were this spring even.

I did briefly consider keeping some of the best of the Ameraucanas, only the Roo that was essential to my breeding program? Its dead. A friend is coming today to get a Roo and some nice hens, since I had an "extra" Roo. Or at least I did have an extra Roo yesterday.

I did briefly think about saving some of the young stock, but I'm just tired of stuff getting eaten. My husband says why don't you keep a few "laying hens" (He also keeps asking why I am bothering, that what I do is a waste of time and money) I just don't see the point in keeping $30- 50 hens for laying, ya know?

I have a brooder FULL of chicks, plus a Lavender pullet. Anyone got a SQ white silkie hen/pullet or two they'd trade me for them? At least those I can lock in a rabbit cage, I give up on the rest of it, I can't keep replacing stuff. I sold all the calls, my friend is taking the Cayuga hens and I'm just gonna ship the rest to the auction and be done with it.

I also have a Quad of Coturnix Quail if there are any 4H kids that want them, I can't put them outside, I don't have a rat proof cage, (or money to build one, or the energy to build it if I did have money. Sigh.) They're pretty friendly (for quail) One male, three hens. They'd love to actually see daylight instead of my basement!

What *really* peeves me off is I had figured out a way to pay for the electric fence I needed by selling a boat we haven't used but once in three years. I had it practically sold, and my husband refuses to sell it. Of course I would have had to pay someone to put it up, since he'd never get it done and I'm just too exhausted now to do it.

I also have an extra incubator with turner for $25, if anyone is interested. Its one of the Little Giant ones, I'd have to check to see if it was the one with the fan...

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
I won't sell anything at any auction this time of year. No one will pay more than 50 cents for a chicken at them. A few weeks ago, I gave away about 10 started chicks because I knew I wouldn't get anything at the auction for them, so I actually saved money!

The only time its worth going to an auction to selll is in the early spring. Then, people are crazy to buy chickens.

There is an auction in Batavia, I think, in the fall that I hear has good birds and they go for decent prices. Although, I also hear you have to get there by midnight the night before in order to get things into the auctione arly enough. By morning of the auction, its too late and animals will go for almost nothing because they won't get up in the auction until afternoon, and most buyers are gong by then, or already bought their limit.

If you think your birds are breeding quality, try the auctions here. It does't cost anything, and you stay in the comfort of your own home. Although, unless you have something unique, most people here, are not bidding because of the time of the year.

I've parred down a lot for the winter due to the high cost of food. I'm spending $100 a month as it is on feed, and that has to stop!

I don't mind paying for a nice bird, still looking for Lav Orp hen, Coronation Sussex or one good buff Orpington hen. Oh, and I've included Silkies as well.

So, didn't the swap meet happen on saturday? No one is posting about it....

With all due respect? I wouldn't hatch late in the year except by special order. As I stated previously I've had contacts for hens recently for what ever reason but I don't hatch late and am usually sold out by the end of spring with anything good. If I hatch with a broody later it's usually just mutts/ee crosses and I have no problem giving them away as chicks. If I have to raise out a pure she stays.

I don't have a huge barn so don't need more than 50 birds at any one time. I keep a mixed flock for aethetics but breed only three main breeds. Del, orps, br's. I have the occasional friz and I keep some ee's off a pure Lav amer. I will do the occasional trade with someone who I consider responsible in management. Pullet for pullet. But like I said I don't keep a huge flock of hens of any one breed so by this time of year I only have what I need for selling eggs and next years breeders. I don't like to keep one pullet of a breed. I'd rather keep two since they seem to pair off nicer that way.

I sell eggs too so I need to keep a certain amount of hens for that and of course in the winter they drop off some. Except for my Dels. They seem to carry on fairly nice.


Take care,
Rancher

Ok, I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, just offering some info on auctions for anyone that might be interested..and using "you" as in anyone, not you personally.