sari Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 hello we went to Melton Cattle Market today, was great..lots of lovely hens...very tempting Can anyone offer any guidance about buying from auctions, do's and don'ts.....I noticed a couple of hens with grubby bottoms, but assume that this is normal, as they are in small exhibition pens...would you/do you buy from auction?? Has anyone bought form Melton?? on a funny note, my OH was very take by a black orpington ( or australorp,,he couldn't remember) and a big lavender something...his words, not mine....the girls wanted some silkies...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Hi Sari, I was there today, too and I saw some hens with very grubby bottoms and pale, sickly combs. You have to be careful what you bid on. But I have bid in the past and look at their overall condition. If they look bright eyed and bushy tailed with no discharge from eyes/beak/backsides -and their legs are smooth (e.g. no obvious scaley-leg crustiness) then I might bid. I have bought birds from there. My araucanas were bought as chicks with a broody hen - and they are really lovely healthy birds that lay beautiful blue eggs. I also bought my bantam buff Sussex girls; also very nice birds. Just apply your general knowledge of what looks healthy in your own flock and ALWAYS quarantine if you buy.. Good luck. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Thanks Saronne, I know what you mean..didn't want to say in first post, but did see one or two who looked abit...yucky. One big australorp with very mucky bottom...have seen a cheapo broody coop to buy for quarantining, have also been looking at Heidi's Happy Hens, and seen some beautiful hybrids....all vacc'ed and everything..so may pay extra and go down that route....thnaks for replying! If you saw some one on the floor giving first aid to an old lady who passed out..that was me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I think the graded poultry auction is coming up on March 26th at Melton, which I believe is much better than the weekly auctions at the cattle market. I'd quite like to go and have a look out of curiosity, as I'm just down the road in Rutland. Hubby says as he said I might be upset by the birds in their crates, what he actually means is he's worried I'm going to buy something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 The graded auctions are better I wouldnt buy anything from the weekly auctions there personally Grubby bottoms speak of worm or lice burden and/or poor husbandry and environment. My chooks stay in a show cage for two days at the big shows and never get grubby bottoms Also watch out for cockerels sold as pullets, the big trick here is to put a young boy in with older girls so they all look like girls! In general look for clean tidy birds in full feather that is nice and shiny. a well bird will look alert and interested. Never buy anything that sneezes or is hunched and never ever buy something because you feel sorry for it! Watch out for bidding tricks such as people pushing the price up and dont get carried away Personally I'd look for a reputable breeder of your chosen chook and buy that way - far safer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Personally I'd look for a reputable breeder of your chosen chook and buy that way - far safer! Absolutely. Even a healthy bird at auction can find the stress of the event enough to trigger mycoplasma or worse once it arrives at its new home. I bought from an auction when I first started and in true don't-mention-the-war-style, I think I got away with it! But I do know I was very lucky, and it was before the current poultry boom and a small local-ish auction too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Wouldn't buy from the auctions.. But that's me. A lot do get sold as girls, even some with saddle feathers! But i guess if people are new to chicken-keeping they wouldn't know what to look out for. And theres the possibility that the bird might be ill/ have mites or worms. You can't get close enough to check most of the time. And fether footed birds, might have scaly leg - and you may not be able to check. Some auctions are worse than others though. I know horse auctions, some are terrible, and others more for the public rather than dealers. I'd just buy off a responsible breeder, saves the hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 At the Salisbury Auction I believe there were people from DEFRA and I saw a couple of pens with "do not remove without the presence of ........." on them. Those birds were removed prior to the start of the auction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 If you saw some one on the floor giving first aid to an old lady who passed out..that was me.... Ohh No, I didn't see that, but the noise, smell, excitement and general commotion of Melton Market is enough to make anyone weak at the knees! Well done for being there to help. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I wouldn't buy from an auction. If you decide to go ahead, it is a sensible precaution to quarantine any hens you bring home for at least a week, to avoid infecting or infesting your existing flock. Never buy a hen because you feel sorry for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I was going to say the same as Tasha, her chickens were pristine when I saw them on day 2 at the National Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thanks guys...know I can always count on you....I want a couple of hybrids, so I may go to Heidi's...she's nearish to me. I was a bit surprised at the state of one or two of the hens, and a pair of ducks were absolutely shocking. I was being careful, in case anyone on here was selling..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I've been to Carlisle auction two or three times - always to meet someone to collect some birds or to deliver a no longer needed poultry house. Obviously I've had a look round while I've been there and I have to say that I find it really distressing. Most of the birds are in good enough health, but some are obviously not. The worst thing is the fear, they are absolutely terrified and who can blame them. I was struck by the nonchalence of the humans and the stress of the birds and went home in tears. I don't think Carlisle is particularly good or bad, it's just a pretty average poultry auction and there's one on this weekend with a HUGE entry. I won't be there though. I would add that poultry shows are a completely different thing. The birds are used to being preened and polished then displayed in all their glory for us admirers to enjoy. In my naivety I thought auctions would be like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Some auctions have a high number of general public and some dont. the Melton rare breeds one does and the birds are usually clean and quite calm - birds often rejected for the show pen but otherwise fine Others have high numbers of traders buying and selling, they will have a lot of birds at home mostly not handled much - you can really tell these in a sale as they are very frightened as Jools says and often grubby of course some are better than others i sold some spare birds at an auction last year and stayed with them while they were boxed up by their new owners, some were lovely and I gave them some history on the birds but I was horrified that two female Silkie crosses were sold for £2 to a trader who came to get them from their cages and put them in to a crate with about 15 mixed birds in - there was already blood on the floor when he moved the crate and I wonder what happened to my lovely immaculate birds Some of these birds go from auction to auction in different parts of the country its very upsetting Of course there are well cared for gems in amongst the others and its not all bad - just a lottery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
