You guys in the US are SO lucky! (Comparing prices to what we have here)

[cluckcluckluke]

No, sorry to say, but never been to Australia (I do have an Aussie friend here, but we've never discussed how exorbitant chicken prices are, LOL!)

*doing the math*... 80$... that's 40$ per pullet... yep, around here I'd probably pay as much, even around 50$. And I assume in Australia there are shipping costs too? (Israel is like a speck on the map compared to US/Australia/Canada).

I maintain that it's crazy, and that people charge so much just because they can, and because there's no competition.

So we are roughly about the same with you over there except Aus has shipping etc and for some reason one of the main hatcheires is like in the center of Aus.lol. So that will cost a bit of shipping for me. I am lucky thought because I am on the coast where the majority of people live, so there fore where the majority of chickens live. I also have a town a 1hr drive away which is known for it poultry, I think every person would have at least a flock of chickens and maybe a duck.lol.

Maybe your best bet is get hatching eggs of a good breed or your favorite breed. Then keep a trio perhaps and sell the rest, maybe even make your money back from buying the eggs and then you can breed your own flock and not be apart of that human greed by selling their offspring at a reasonable price, a price you would pay

.

 

[Flock Leader]

Quote: Yes, that is just what we are trying/intend to do. Not without glitches along the way, of course: good breeders act snobbish and refuse to sell hatching eggs (especially for breeds which are relatively new here, like Orpingtons - they prefer to sell chicks at exorbitant prices), and others just sell any old eggs that weren't properly handled. Yesterday we did a candling of the eggs we put underneath our broody, and two Polish eggs and a Pekin egg had to be, sadly, dismissed.

Oh well. We will get there one day. And bring the Chicken Mafia down!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Yes, that is just what we are trying/intend to do. Not without glitches along the way, of course: good breeders act snobbish and refuse to sell hatching eggs (especially for breeds which are relatively new here, like Orpingtons - they prefer to sell chicks at exorbitant prices), and others just sell any old eggs that weren't properly handled. Yesterday we did a candling of the eggs we put underneath our broody, and two Polish eggs and a Pekin egg had to be, sadly, dismissed.

Oh well. We will get there one day. And bring the Chicken Mafia down!

HAHA, the chicken Mafia!!LOL!!

Well good luck with it all, just keep trying and go to a few shows, get to know the breeders, become friends with them.

 

[Flock Leader]

HAHA, the chicken Mafia!!LOL!!

Well good luck with it all, just keep trying and go to a few shows, get to know the breeders, become friends with them.

You know how poor the Chickenland here is? There aren't even any shows... our poultry forum tried to organize one, but people were too afraid to bring their birds, because of possible diseases, and it was canceled.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

You know how poor the Chickenland here is? There aren't even any shows... our poultry forum tried to organize one, but people were too afraid to bring their birds, because of possible diseases, and it was canceled.

Really?? In your area or even in Israel, there are no poultry shows?? wow!!!

 

[GardenerGal]

Is there any possibility of importing eggs, Flock Master? It might be worth the start-up investment to import the breeds and bloodlines you want. Then you could be one of those elite breeders -- except that you would be generous and open with sharing your birds with others, thus breaking the Chicken Mafia!
I haven't been to Israel in many years, but my sister-in-law lived on a kibbutz for a couple of years and her job was plucking chicken carcasses on a poultry farm. The only breed was White Leghorn, which was used for commercial egg production (the meat was eaten by the kibbutzniks).

 

[Flock Leader]

Really?? In your area or even in Israel, there are no poultry shows?? wow!!!

Yep, that's correct. No shows. Nada. The whole poultry thing here is very under-developed, with only a handful of enthusiasts on the scene. Whenever I check out sales boards, or go on the forum, I almost always encounter the same people over and over again. After a little while you know everyone.

 

[Flock Leader]

Is there any possibility of importing eggs, Flock Master? It might be worth the start-up investment to import the breeds and bloodlines you want. Then you could be one of those elite breeders -- except that you would be generous and open with sharing your birds with others, thus breaking the Chicken Mafia!
I haven't been to Israel in many years, but my sister-in-law lived on a kibbutz for a couple of years and her job was plucking chicken carcasses on a poultry farm. The only breed was White Leghorn, which was used for commercial egg production (the meat was eaten by the kibbutzniks).

As far as I know, to import eggs and/or live birds, basically any "biological material", you need A LOT of permits, something that a private breeder is almost incapable of accomplishing. There are some good lines of ornamental/heritage poultry here - and from talking to breeders, I learned that all of them were smuggled into the country illegally. Obviously, we will never do something illegal.

And yes, all the commercial flocks here are of White Leghorns.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Yep, that's correct. No shows. Nada. The whole poultry thing here is very under-developed, with only a handful of enthusiasts on the scene. Whenever I check out sales boards, or go on the forum, I almost always encounter the same people over and over again. After a little while you know everyone.

Well, hopefully they are getting to know you as well.
Can you ship eggs in from neighboring countries?

 

[Flock Leader]

Can you ship eggs in from neighboring countries?

Well, as our neighboring countries are Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Jordan, and they are all rather hostile (and/or in the middle of civil war)... I guess you get the idea.

I think the daredevils who shipped pure-bred chickens/eggs into Israel got their stock from the US. Again, not something I'd do.

My husband just spoke with someone who has absolutely gorgeous Silkies, but who flat out refuses to sell eggs for hatching. 20$ per chick?! I want Silkies very much, but... this is more than I can pay in good conscience (also keep in mind salaries here are lower than in the US).