Are you ordering meat birds?
If you simply want a half dozen or so laying hens, I would be tempted to ask around your feed stores, as to if they can get ready to lay pullets in for you. Our local feed store brings ready to lay pullets in every month, and there is no minimum you have to order.
As mentioned, Craigslist is good source. The Buy & Sell paper usually has some offered for sale as well. Just be careful your not buying somebodys problem birds, egg eaters, peckers, sickies, etc.. They usually are only sold in one's or twos though. I often see 1 year old hens for sale, as the egg production has dropped, and the seller is getting new hens. They usually sell at a much lower price, and chances are you will still get some really good birds still. The poor layers can always be used for stew...
If you simply want a half dozen or so laying hens, I would be tempted to ask around your feed stores, as to if they can get ready to lay pullets in for you. Our local feed store brings ready to lay pullets in every month, and there is no minimum you have to order.
As mentioned, Craigslist is good source. The Buy & Sell paper usually has some offered for sale as well. Just be careful your not buying somebodys problem birds, egg eaters, peckers, sickies, etc.. They usually are only sold in one's or twos though. I often see 1 year old hens for sale, as the egg production has dropped, and the seller is getting new hens. They usually sell at a much lower price, and chances are you will still get some really good birds still. The poor layers can always be used for stew...
