Luvachicken Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Ooooooooooooooo, so tempting, I saw 2 gold laced wyandottes for sale ( at a garden centre ) on Bank Hol mon and I went again today and they were still there . I texted hubby to see if I could buy them and he phoned straight back to say.........................it was up to me So then I was stuck, I had only asked him yesterday if I could get some chickens at the start of the summer hols, and that was what I was going to do - but then I saw them. I ummed and ahhhhd and looked them up in a book ( handy in a garden centre), the man said they don't get too big, etc etc and he gave me the 2 eggs ........ the book said they were friendly, reliable and hardy and then I didn't buy them I left them there. They were 75 pounds for 2 which I didn't know was a good price or not. I wasn't sure if a garden centre was the best place to buy them either. And I wasn't sure how big they would get. And as I only have 2 chickens who have given up laying eggs, I wasn't sure how they would react to suddenly having 2 new friends with them when I wouldn't have the time right now to stop any fighting. Did I do the right thing I'm so desperate for some eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I doubt the new girls would lay right away as they might be put off by the move. However I wouldn't be put off buying chooks from a garden center. I got three of mine from one. Though it is scarcely the most cost effective way of getting gals (Your £75 for two sounds about the normal price for a garden centre to charge for pure breeds. Hybrids would be less) I did find that those I got from Notcutts were (and nearly a year later, still are) really healthy, more so than some I bought from private sales. If you thought the Wyandottes were pretty and still feel tempted I'd go for it, but then I have a serious case of Morehens at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Go on... I'm sure you could do the intros - just keep them separate for a while. There is loads of advice on the forum about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 £75 Seems steep to me! Now you know you like dottes maybe you could look for a breeder. You'd get more choice and maybe a better price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I agree, £75!! But then again gold laced wyandottes look REALLY nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Did I do the right thing I'm so desperate for some eggs No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Do you want lf or bantams? I know a couple of breeders if you don't mind a drive I have a gold laced dotte bantam - she cost me £5 and is lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I would have!! £75 is quite expensive but if they were good birds I would buy them. I have paid that much before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Did I do the right thing I'm so desperate for some eggs No Thanks Plum, that made me laugh... I think I will still have to wait until the summer as that gives me the most time to settle them in. I will definately look at the wyandottes - dumb I know, but are they all bantams and am I right in thinking they are smaller than my gingernut rangers ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Bantam dottes are a bit smaller than a hybrid and have shorter legs. Large dottes are pretty chunky They take a while to mature so female large dottes should be between £20 - £35 each Bantams £15-£25 each Prices dependent on age, breeder and/or quality I paid £50+ each for some of my breeding stock, hubby says they should make cups of tea for that price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Seriously you are an Omleteer and if it had been right you would have got them no matter what. When you see the right chickens at right time you won't be able to help yourself. My wyandotte bantams are about half the size of the hybrids. I paid £15 for 2 but they were only 8 or 9 weeks and were bred in the wild by mums who went AWOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 luvachicken you deserve a medal for being so self-restrained I'm that you have so much self control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 luvachicken you deserve a medal for being so self-restrained I'm that you have so much self control You made my day, thanks I will await my medal through the post - I must admit I'm not normally that good at leaving things behind...but I do still keep thinking about those 2 littlies But it has given me a chance to read up about the wyandottes and soon I will look to see where I can get them from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 They sound very very lovely, but I would have thought twice at that price too! Maybe have a ring round some local breeders to compare prices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 £75 is actually about right for POL pure breeds. I paid about half of that for one of mine from The Wernlas Collection. A garden centre isn't the ideal place to buy from, as they are not always knowledgeable. I would have bought them though if I liked them & seen it as a sort of rescue. Go back & get them! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
