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

[GardenerGal]

There is also another point which I hesitated to bring up here, but perhaps I should, in the gentlest terms. We are Orthodox Jews, and therefore feel it is our duty to support Jewish breeders; this isn't only true in this case, but in any case (shopping, house repairs, gardening services, etc).

I hope people don't take it as "discrimination"; I know many Christians prefer to support Christian businesses as well.

The problem is, here in Israel non-Jews (OK, let's for simplicity's sake say Muslim Arabs, as that is the largest non-Jewish minority) often have much lower prices (again... with everything, not just chickens... house&car repairs, etc), so we're always in this dilemma: do we buy from those we want to support, or from those who have better prices?

I also often encounter this dilemma when having to choose between local business vs. chain store, hand-made vs. factory-made. Do I support "socially beneficial" local economy, and can I afford it? (But I digress...)

I think you have to "vote your conscience," regardless of perceived consequences. If you choose to stay within your tribal boundaries, then you accept that you will be paying more. Whether that is a "bad" or "good" thing is quite subjective. Given a choice between doing business with a Muslim-Arab or a Jew/Hebrew who are equally good souls and have the same prices, it's natural to stick with "one's own," just as family members usually get favored over strangers. It's human nature! But, you could split the ethical issues into even more complex issues: Given a choice between giving your business to a very poor Muslim Arab who is a good person, or to a very affluent Jewish Hebrew who is not a good person, which would you choose? Why?

As for mom-and-pop businesses vs. corporate chains, again, it's a matter of subjective choice. Stimulate the local economy and make friends of local business people, and you strengthen your grassroots community. Buy from "big business" and you have convenience and cheap prices, greater variety, etc., but at what greater cost (outside of money)?

Anyway, I digress! At the heart of it all, aren't all of the world's Great Faiths based on the simple truth of treating others as you'd wish to be treated yourself, and of not doing to others what is hateful to you? If you use that as your guide, it will lead you to the right choices.

 

[Flock Leader]

Quote: I'm really not sure (and as usual, I digress!..). Of course, when you only have brief business contact with a person, it's difficult to know just how good/bad they are.

Speaking of chickens, chicken breeders here are usually not very affluent. Mostly we speak of people who live in a rural or semi-rural setting and raise chickens as a hobby and/or complementary income source. But yes, it's just like you said - if I could buy from, say, a cousin, he would be my first priority; a neighbour/someone I know personally comes next; then a "member of the tribe", then someone else. Beyond money and supporting one's community, there is also the consideration that someone you are related to, and/or someone who will keep in touch with you, is less likely to act dishonestly.

 

[hot-hen]

I'm new here and have been reading as many threads as possible to gain as much information as I can before I start my own flock.

A page or two back in this thread, there was a discussion as to purchasing hatching eggs as opposed to baby chicks and from what I gathered, a breeder was not selling hatching eggs and was perceived greedy. I don't understand why this would make a difference? Is it because the price of chicks is so much more expensive than fertilized eggs?

 

[Flock Leader]

I'm new here and have been reading as many threads as possible to gain as much information as I can before I start my own flock.

A page or two back in this thread, there was a discussion as to purchasing hatching eggs as opposed to baby chicks and from what I gathered, a breeder was not selling hatching eggs and was perceived greedy. I don't understand why this would make a difference? Is it because the price of chicks is so much more expensive than fertilized eggs?

Hot-hen, yes, naturally fertilized eggs are cheaper than chicks, and chicks are cheaper than pullets, and pullets are cheaper than mature ready-to-work laying hens or breeding pairs. It goes by the principle of how much work you need to do; when buying eggs, there is no guarantee chicks will come out of them, and you need to hatch them, monitor the temperature and humidity, and (in my case at least) turn eggs by hand several times a day. Then there might be losses - an egg developed seemingly well, but something went wrong in the last minute and the chick didn't make it out.

When you buy chicks, that part had, at least, been taken care of, but you still need to invest in them to give them the best chance of reaching adulthood in a good condition; they need a source of heat, their shavings need to be changed, and they are delicate creatures altogether... and you have to wait 5-6 months before they will lay eggs (if you're after eggs) or "work" (if you're raising, say, a male to improve your line of chickens).

On the contrast, if someone already did all the work for you, and all you have to do is buy the hens and start enjoying their eggs, naturally it will cost a lot more money.

 

[hot-hen]

Hot-hen, yes, naturally fertilized eggs are cheaper than chicks, and chicks are cheaper than pullets, and pullets are cheaper than mature ready-to-work laying hens or breeding pairs. It goes by the principle of how much work you need to do; when buying eggs, there is no guarantee chicks will come out of them, and you need to hatch them, monitor the temperature and humidity, and (in my case at least) turn eggs by hand several times a day. Then there might be losses - an egg developed seemingly well, but something went wrong in the last minute and the chick didn't make it out.

When you buy chicks, that part had, at least, been taken care of, but you still need to invest in them to give them the best chance of reaching adulthood in a good condition; they need a source of heat, their shavings need to be changed, and they are delicate creatures altogether... and you have to wait 5-6 months before they will lay eggs (if you're after eggs) or "work" (if you're raising, say, a male to improve your line of chickens).

On the contrast, if someone already did all the work for you, and all you have to do is buy the hens and start enjoying their eggs, naturally it will cost a lot more money.

That seems fair enough.

Would you (or anyone) give me some price ranges for fertilized eggs, chicks, pullets, and mature hens that I would expect to pay here in the US for non hard-to-get breeds? I have no idea as to what is fair. I know that it varies, but a ballpark would be nice.

 

[Flock Leader]

That seems fair enough.

Would you (or anyone) give me some price ranges for fertilized eggs, chicks, pullets, and mature hens that I would expect to pay here in the US for non hard-to-get breeds? I have no idea as to what is fair. I know that it varies, but a ballpark would be nice.

Well, as I am not in the US, my only reference is the big websites from which you can order online, such as mypetchicken.com. There, chicks of most breeds cost around 3-4$. The prices of hatching eggs vary from 25$-45$, but I haven't figured out how many eggs they offer per batch?..

 

[GardenerGal]

The prices for hatching eggs vary widely here, in part due to the fact that the U.S. and Canada are very large countries with lots of poultry breeders. If you go to the "average backyard chicken breeder," you can get hatching eggs for free, or just for the price of shipping. Going to a top-flight breeder of rare breeds, you may be able to negotiate a price.

I recommend going to the Buy-Sell-Trade forum on BYC and taking a look at the ads of eggs for sale, chicks for sale, etc. Some of the ads are from professional breeders, and you can send them private messages with your questions. BYC is a very good resource.