Are these prices normal?!

[CabritaChicks]

Haha, alright—so here in the Virgin Islands, “2-day-old chicks RIR” (which, let’s be real, were probably pushing 5 days old and already had a full resume) go for $17 a pop. That technically includes shipping and vaccinations… I suppose? Guess? Trust? It’s basically a mystery bundle.

But hey, it’s not like I had options with the first lot. They have to travel across the big, wide open sea before they even see me— okay my dark humor may not make it to most, but Im rolling! lol

But eggs- easier shipping/cost perspective. SO much fun. nerve racking- nail/tooth sort of brilliance. Just do a gentle introduction.

 

[nuthatched]

No, not normal. A few months ago, adult layers were going for $50 each at auction, whereas, a few years ago, $20. But now the prices are back down again. I'm not selling my layering hens, but I'm having trouble selling day old chicks for $10, and months old chickens for $14. So, the market got ahead of itself. Look to craigslist, and ebay for local pickup chicks.

Auction birds are different from hatchery birds.

 

[townchicks]

Yes, their prices are high, compared to what you might pay for something local. That could be considered a con, depending on your desire/ability to pay. There are pros, starting with they are an established online business that offers warranty to back up the product. They offer many breeds that are not rare, but you might not find locally. They ship, saving gas money, time and hassle. There are some peeps on here that have ordered pullets or chicks from them, and seemed satisfied. I haven't ordered birds from them, but started my chicken journey with one of their prefab coops, nine years ago, that is still in use today, housing a hen recovering from surgery. Not my main coop, but I use it often, so it has stood the test of time. So, a decent product, unlike so many that fall apart in a year. You avoid the risk of a surprise cockeral. Local breeders/ sellers are hit or miss, and can be hard to know until it's too late. So, balance pro and cons, you may be able to come up with some I haven't. You really have to go by your needs or wants, not by what someone in a different area paid for a pullet that's a breed you may not even want.

 

[McChooky]

Came across this place's ad on FB. I got momentarily excited, the thought of adding some pullets the same age as my current flock sounds seamless, and they only have a 2 bird minimum order. Then I saw the prices. I get it, raising birds isn't free, I just did it raising 6 from 1 day old until now at 10 weeks old, but these prices shocked me.

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By ordering chicks every 2 yrs I keep a mix of young and old alike. I've never bought any point of lay pullets before or had any shipped. Very few of us can afford to do this

 

[FrostRanger]

That's very expensive. When I looked on Meyer last year started pullets were only going for around 30 (plus 75 for shipping). Some of those birds cost more than all 7 (well, 8 but one died from failure to thrive) of my birds did as day old plus shipping (paid 110 bucks total). For those prices I'd just get chicks and set up an outdoor brooder if dust is an issue

 

[Cheekychook12]

Beware that local breeder don't often test their flocks for diseases. It's risky getting older birds from a non hatchery source.

Yeah, I got cheaper frizzles for about $7 each 5 week olds, they are great birds now but they all had coccidiosis and lice when I first got them

 

[LaFleche]

Came across this place's ad on FB. I got momentarily excited, the thought of adding some pullets the same age as my current flock sounds seamless, and they only have a 2 bird minimum order. Then I saw the prices. I get it, raising birds isn't free, I just did it raising 6 from 1 day old until now at 10 weeks old, but these prices shocked me.

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Ridiculous ripp off.

Get an incubator and hatch some eggs yourself.
It will pay off very soon and you avoid the risk of bringing possible severe health issues to your flock.

 

[Raubkatze]

Yeah, I got cheaper frizzles for about $7 each 5 week olds, they are great birds now but they all had coccidiosis and lice when I first got them

Did you get them from a breeder?

I keep going back and forth on frizzles. Some days I think they are cute and other days I think they just look like they put their beaks in an electrical socket.

 

[Raubkatze]

That's very expensive. When I looked on Meyer last year started pullets were only going for around 30 (plus 75 for shipping). Some of those birds cost more than all 7 (well, 8 but one died from failure to thrive) of my birds did as day old plus shipping (paid 110 bucks total). For those prices I'd just get chicks and set up an outdoor brooder if dust is an issue

I'm going to add Meyer to my list to check out. The dust has been cleaned up, but even weeks later I'm somehow still finding shavings almost daily.

 

[Cheekychook12]

Did you get them from a breeder?

I keep going back and forth on frizzles. Some days I think they are cute and other days I think they just look like they put their beaks in an electrical socket.

I did, they are hilarious