NEVER buying full grown hens again!

[sugarbush]

5.00 a hen is super cheap. Hens at lay were selling for 10.00 each around here last summer and I have already seen ads for 15 and 20.00 hens for this year.

Buying at point of lay can be the best investment you ever make if you know how to select quality birds.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Are you in Kansas? I don't think $5 sounds too bad. I just sold a couple hens at the last Yoder sale for $8 apiece. In the next month or so I'd expect to get at least $10 apiece if not more.

 

[chickn]

cant say it enough, keep new birds separate for at least 3 weeks. always dust new birds is a good habit to get into also.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Not every one who sells birds sells duds, I sell eggs,chicks,started, and point of lay. I will not sell anything that I would not keep for myself. culls always go to the local auction or go into the stock pot. If you buy my birds I want you to come back for more.

 

[cheeptrick]

Poultry dust only goes so far too...I use, with success...Frontline flea and tick spray. BE very liberal with the spray...one small squirt at the base of the neck is fine. It should keep the mites at bay for a few months...be careful with the spray you can OVERDOSE on it...one bottle should last you for years. I also use DE for the coops and roosts. IF you free range your chickens, mites and lice are a fact of life...they are species specific so they will not infest you or your family.

 

[BorderKelpie]

I was wondering about using Frontline (works on headlice in children too, but you didn't hear me say that!)

Is there a holding period on laying hens and eating thir eggs, do you think? I underdatand the product works on the skin and skin ducts, I am guessing it does not go systemically. Is it safe to use on chicks?
thanks!

 

[jacyjones]

Quote:
This sounds like the right approach!
I always buy adult hens from the same supplier - a fairly local lady who buys in pullets at about a month and then sells them on when they are POL. We have always had really good quality healthy birds and would always use her. You need to find a recommended supplier - not someone getting rid of their rubbish!!

 

[sugarbush]

Quote:
It goes systemically through the skin. It kills fleas when they bite the dog and also sterilizes them so their eggs will not hatch.

You really should not use this on your kids.....no telling what problems it will cause later in life.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

pol pullets and hens around here no no cheaper than 10 bucks each, and yeah, I've been burned by the Amish before too - and I've had great luck with them - it isn't that they are or are not Amish - there are sneaky folks everywhere.

I once got a trio of chickens (for 17 bucks) from some Amish folks - both pullets died before the week was out. They weren't sick, really, just weren't healthy from hatch. They had some genetic defect that I was too inexperienced to notice.

Then I got 6 laying hens for 8 bucks each from another Amish gentleman - I love these hens, they lay great (never stopped laying even when I brought them home). You just have to know who you're buying from and never assume because they are "Amish" or "Christian" or some other supposed good folk that they are honest people.

meri

 

[cmom]

Straight run chicks here go for $3. each. Pullet chicks are $4. each, and