When you buy your chickens for the first time it is advisable to buy direct from a stock store or breeder rather than from auction to ensure the healthiest stock and best advice. Knowing the age and history of your hens will help if and when they fall ill, begin or finish their laying and whether they will be appropriate to breed from, if you ever choose to go down that track.
Fodder/Stock stores generally only sell hybrid/sexlink birds such as ISA Brown, Hy-Line and Australorps. Sexing is usually done on day old chicks and therefore less likely to purchase a rooster.
Breeders can range vastly in what stock they can offer. Most breeders will usually sell purebred hens which are slower to mature to point of lay and are a little harder to sex correctly when young. Breeders can be found through poultry magazines, online, by referral, poultry clubs or through poultry show judging.
Fodder/Stock stores generally only sell hybrid/sexlink birds such as ISA Brown, Hy-Line and Australorps. Sexing is usually done on day old chicks and therefore less likely to purchase a rooster.
Breeders can range vastly in what stock they can offer. Most breeders will usually sell purebred hens which are slower to mature to point of lay and are a little harder to sex correctly when young. Breeders can be found through poultry magazines, online, by referral, poultry clubs or through poultry show judging.
Breeders
- Ask to see the parent chickens and view where their offspring have been housed. Good breeders will happily show your their set up.
- Ask how old the hens are (in weeks) and if they are at Point of Lay.
- Ask if and when the hens were wormed and/or vaccinated. Good breeders will keep all that on record.
- Check if there is a returns or replacement policy. If it is difficult to determine the sex of a bird young, they may turn out to be roosters later on. Clarify this with your breeder before any purchase.
- Check if your breeder has a guarantee period. Some breeders allow for up to 2 weeks where the hens can be returned if there are any health problems or defects.
- Always hold and inspect each bird. Inspect for lice/mites, defects, nice clean and clear eyes, no sharp bony chest, good legs with no signs of infection. Notice the pen run for any diarrhoea as this could mean a sign of infection.
- Be patient for the stock you want as you may have to wait for the next flock to become available. Good breeders will place you on their waiting list.
Fodder/Stock Stores
- Ask how old the hens are (in weeks) and if they are at Point of Lay.
- Ask if and when the hens were wormed and/or vaccinated.
- Check if there is a returns or replacement policy if you accidentally purchase a rooster.
- Always hold and inspect each bird. Inspect for lice/mites, defects, nice clean and clear eyes, no sharp bony chest, good legs with no signs of infection. Notice the pen run for any diarrhoea as this could mean a sign of infection.
- Be patient as sometimes there may not be any stock in store. Call weekly to confirm if new stock has arrived.
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