Mrs

[StephanieSB]

I suppose that all the media exposure to Omlet and to chicken-keeping as a the new family activity of choice is to 'blame' for my woes, but has anyone else noticed that this year chickens are much more expensive and hard to come by?

 

Maybe I just live in a tough area of the country for gathering a flock, but I am to get my cube in 2 days -- spoke with two breeders/farms on Friday who told me that they would have new POLs ready as of yesterday, Sunday. This morning I call or check their websites and -- gone! Almost all of their chickens are gone! In one day. And one place that was charging £9 per chicken just two weeks ago when I first approached them, are now charging £11-20 per chicken. Incredible.

 

So at the moment, there just may not be any chickens to be had until July in my area. I will either have to go very far afield to get some (which worries me because of petrol costs and the time the chooks would spend in the chicken cage on the back seat of our car) or wait until next month... staring at my empty cube for a month will be very disappointing, I tell you!

[Snowy]

What a shame! I agree chicken keeping has increased greatly in popularity and does explain the shortage of birds, breeders are strugglng to meet demand (my local supplier has a delivery every month and is often sold out in 2 days!). But I think the price rises are more due to feed costs rising. My standard bag of feed has recently increase from £10 to £11 to £12.50 in 2 months.

[StephanieSB]

Yes, costs are going up for everthing, aren't they. The price of petrol is having a knock on effect to everything that needs to be delivered or shipped out.

 

Ah, well... but good news is that I got on the phone with Golden Valley Poultry in Grayshott, Surrey. They are farther away than we had planned to travel after all, and will now have to wait until the weekend to get chickens, rather than after work on the day the cube arrives, but... they assure me they will have a variety of lovely hens to choose from come the weekend.

 

But that is what the last breeder told me too -- so fingers crossed that she is right and doesn't get a mad rush of new chicken keepers in before the weekend!

[Lapinou]

Fingers crossed for you, Stephanie! Will be waiting to hear if you get them or not when you are hoping to.

[StephanieSB]

thanks, Clare!

[Egg Lou]

Hi Stephanie

 

I know the chap I pm'd you about still has planty of bluebelles, suffolks, pieds and amber stars..

 

Hope you find some girsl soon!

[StephanieSB]

Thanks, Lou -- I keep meaning to ring him, and will do so this afternoon.

 

And back to price increases, at least Golden Valley (who just followed up with an email) say that their prices are still £16, as they were earlier this spring. Though their Bluebelle's are now £18. I don't think it costs anymore to hatch and feed a Bluebelle hybrid, does it? So this is pure supply & demand of the newly growing chicken-keeper's market.

 

Not complaining about it (as I am right in the thick of it; a walking demographic myself), but I am just flabbergasted at how much has changed since August 2007, when I first told my husband I wanted a cube and some chickens. Now, if he hadn't dillydallied back then -- this whole venture would have been a good 8-10% cheaper!

 

And -- good news -- as I was typing this I got the call from Omlet confirming my delivery on Wednesday!! Whoohooo!!

[quickcluck]

Hi Stephanie...

 

I've been in touch with Golden Vale too, he says he has a good stock all the time... I can't get mine for ages yet, so fingers crossed I am as lucky, let us know how you get on!

[TAJ]

My blubelle was more expensive than my blackrock with a different supplier - surely all the prices are pure supply and demand as with anything else you buy I guess.

 

Tracy

[The Dogmother]

I know that it's a bit of a way from you, but I was out at Cotswold Chickens at the weekend (buying feed, bedding and cuddling puppies) and they have loads of beautiful hybrids in stock. I can't remember exactly which ones, but I definitely saw some light sussexes and bluebelles. You'd have to call them to be sure of exactly what they do have in stock.

 

I can highly recommmend Jude's hens.

 

http://www.cotswoldchickens.com

[ubereglu]

Ouch, £18 for a bluebelle, I paid £9.50 each for my two bluebelles and the same for my pure breeds-although they were younger and so had to give them more feed before them being at POL.

[StephanieSB]

thanks everyone -- yes, i have heard of cotswold chickens and if i were closer, they'd be a good bet... but they are a lot farther away than golden valley, so... i'm sure everything will be fine. just the nerves of a first-time chicken owner getting the best of me!