Stella14 Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Dobbies the garden centre are selling Standard hybrids for - £30 each! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 How much?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Do they lay golden eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Good grief, and are they sexed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted November 11, 2010 Author Share Posted November 11, 2010 http://www.dobbies.co.uk/blog/chickens-for-sale-at-dobbies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovydad Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 HOW MUCH ??? A garden centre near me sells 'Laying Hens' for a similar price. When I enquired what breed or hybrid they were, I was told 'Brown Ones'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted November 11, 2010 Author Share Posted November 11, 2010 A garden centre near me sells 'Laying Hens' for a similar price. When I enquired what breed or hybrid they were, I was told 'Brown Ones'... LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJChick Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Hi I've seen them in Dobbies near us for the same price - I couldn't believe it! I was also concerned that it was encouraging people to buy them as a status symbol and they don't have a clue about the chickens needs and then they get fed up with them when the novely wears off and it makes me v angry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Had a look and have you seen chicken nappies?????? What is the world comming to. If you think it's tooo much to clean up a bit of pooh, don't get chickens, poor things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 I guess they are appealing to the impulse crowd, who won't actually know how much they should be paying for a hybrid. My local Dobbies was selling pekins last year for £35 a pop, and they were not good examples at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 just to put the other side of the argument though, maybe people buying from there just want to get started and have all the best intentions? if you cant find a local breeder it can be hard - when I got my first eglu it took me ages to source someone locally and I'm sure I would have been tempted to just get cracking (scuse the pun!) the easy way had it been available. and, let's face it, Dobbies is a business - if they've identified the demand they will want to supply the 'product', whatever it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 I admit that two of my Silkies came from Notcutts garden centre. They are not show stock for sure, but they are very healthy and tame as they were very used to being handled. It was nice to be able to go there and look and see them without feeling I 'had' to come away with one. (Of course I did but at least I could choose without feeling forced). By contrast I had one from a breeder who was over 50 miles away and when I collected her she had the most dreadful gnarled, feet with really long claws all bent round and the sneezes too. I probably should have said 'no' but I felt really sorry for her. Another one I got from a person advertising POL hens locally and she turned out to be at least 4 years old. I guess they knew a novice when they saw one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted November 11, 2010 Author Share Posted November 11, 2010 I guess I am fortunate as there are good breeders near me. My issue wasn't that they shouldn't be selling them, as they seem to provide a sensible little guide on care to purchasers http://www.dobbies.com/Advice/PetCare/Chickens/C Although, unless I have missed it (I skim read), they don't mention nasty infestations, required precautions, treatments etc. No doubt that would be off putting to some purchasers! My issue was more the price. The breeds they sell are £10 & £12 in Durham and Northumberland! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Meant to say, they cost £30 each at Notcutts and when bought privately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
