Selling Chicks on Craigslist?

[koakritters]

I've been trying to sell my 2 week olds on craigslist, how do you guys weed out the "buyers" who are wanting them for food for themselves or for other animals? I seem to be getting a lot of "i'll take them all. i can come get them right now. don't care what sex they are" emails... which sound more like we're just going to kill them anyways so who cares.

I managed to sell half to a high school girl who just built her first coop, and the other 7 are driving me crazy but i don't want to just sell them to someone who's going to eat them...

 

[Nicole01]

Maybe you need to raise the price. The more they are, the less likely they will be eaten. Just a thought. Good luck.

 

[Chikndinner]

Seems to me if you sell them, then what happens to them is out of your control. If you only want them to go to a certain type of home then maybe you are not ready to sell them. Some people will lie to you when you buy them in either case.

I say sell 'em and hatch more!!

 

[Dingo]

I bought 2 pullets off craigslist for $10. Plus it cost me $20 in gas to go get them. Anyway, she was asking $5 each for the breeds I picked. Which is about twice the price per sexed chick that hatcheries ask. She had ordered them from a hatchery and was selling off the extras to get from 30 chicks to 12-8 chicks. She'd sold quite a few by the time I had gotten there. It looked like she had maybe 15 left.

 

[Kensfarm]

Hope I don't offend you but here's my 2 cents.

If you don't want them, then let someone else do what they please with them.

I'm pretty sure most of those people who want them aren't out to torture poor little chickens. I'm sure they will be put to good use, and good use in my opinion includes raising them for human food, feeding them humanely to other pets (they are very nutritious to carnivorous lizards and snakes), filling farm/land/backyard space, schools or colleges for study or projects, and ofcourse as pets.

I know that you can sell them here on this forum somewhere. I bet you'd find some better folks here to take them. Also check your area for livestock auctions, might not get much but they should sell quickly.

On a side note I am glad you don't want to just sell them to anyone. Believe in your gut feelings and sell them to someone who "looks" right. Looks can always be deceiving, so good luck finding them homes.

 

[GiddyMoon]

They are chickens, why can't people eat them? The majority of people who get into chickens, do eat the birds or at least their eggs. You are going to have a really hard time trying to find people who want to spend all this money and effort for a few backyard pets...I know that doesn't sound pretty..but it is true.

 

[schellie69]

Are these sexed pullets or straight run? I know here roosters are used as food. Wish I knew where you where located and what breeds I am looking for breeds on my wish list.

 

[Doodle_Doo]

i founf that the more they know about the chickens im selling the less likely they are to eat them..if they ask alot of questions or just some in particular they will live on for alittle more time
but eventually thats the fate of most

those with simple questions or no certain interests are wanting to eat them
just my thoughts from experience..

 

[pdsavage]

Most people won't eat hen/pullets they want them for eggs.

 

[Katydid2011]

Craigslist isn't the problem. No matter where you advertise, once you let go of the chicks their fate lies outside your hands. For example: someone may buy them, intending to keep them as free-range laying hens, with the best of intentions, then end up selling them to someone else who will slaughter them.

Many years ago, we sold a dog for $200, to people whose home we visited before completing the transaction. We exchanged e-mails for quite some time, getting updates on the dog. After awhile, they stopped corresponding and we learned through a third party that they took the dog to animal control when finances forced them to move. We were devastated as we'd made it clear that we would buy back the dog if there was ever any problem, and surely they could have sold the dog or adopted her out themselves with minimal effort. She was young and AKC registered. Since then, I've learned to live with the hard truth that once I let go of an animal, it's fate lies outside my hands.

I always do my level best to ensure that I thoroughly question anyone who buys or adopts an animal from me and I trust my instincts. I never give an animal away unless I know the adoptive individual or family, as I believe a financial investment, whether sale or adoption fee, will help ensure a good outcome. Not always, but more often than not.

I have sold pullets and hens on Craigslist. I always ask people what they intend to do with them. If it feels right, I complete the transaction. In the end, when dealing with farm animals there's always the risk, even likelihood, that they will eventually end up eaten.