What do you make of this craigslist ad?

[cherylcohen]

I'm looking to add to our existing flock with some older girls but when I responded to the ad the owner responded

Our girls are vaccinated and are quite hearty. We do not have an Australop that I am aware of but we have had a couple community members give chickens to us and they weren't sure of the breeds.

We are selling them since at around 18 months they stop laying for a while and then their egg production is never as great as before. Our chickens are all still laying but we need to make room for our new chicks.

Our chickens are $10 each and we do have a buff orpington and a couple barred rock.

So I've never heard of a slowdown at 18months...have you? They seem like very nice people and have a nice website

here is the craigslist ad and also the company website. i'm confused why they woud sell healthy older girls for only 18 months, am I naive?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/grd/1492000642.html
http://www.terrabellafamilyfarm.com/CSA.html

 

[Tala]

Maybe they moulted and their egproduction dropped off a bit afterwards?? Only thing I could think of.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

at around 18 months chickens go through molt and stop laying for around 6 weeks, then after the molt you get a few less eggs but they are bigger, before you buy these hens check that they don't have clipped beaks, that's one sign that they might be overcrowded, we have a so called Amish guy that sells organic hens that are actual cage hens

 

[JessaLynn]

I personaly don't buy hens 18 months or older.They aren't as productive after that age.They lay very well their first year and could slow down the second.I don't keep hens more then 2 years.$10 is high for that age also.I sell mine for $5 at 18 months or older.I wouldn't buy them but that's just me.Good luck!

 

[cicene mete]

Yes, they do slow down at that point, especially after their first molt. In fact, in factory egg farms, battery hens are usually killed at 72 weeks and turned into animal food, etc.

However, they still have many good years of laying left, they just aren't quite as efficient. For those looking to maximize profits, it's cheaper to kill them, but for most people in backyard or small farm situations, hens have many more years of egg production. Hens produce fewer and fewer eggs with each molt.

 

[greathorse]

I guess I would want to know if they are finished molting or about to start their molt. If they are finished and look all feathered up ten dollars is not a bargain but not bad either, depending of course on the condition etc.