Pricing Chickens!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kristi Tatebe on April 10, 2012 at 2:43pm

I paid $25 at art knapps for a hen that was laying, but she also wasn't a heritage breed or anything like that.  I had two others that were pullets at 11 weeks old & they were $10 each I think, but then took another 4 months before they laid so probably ate close to $20 in feed in that time anyways.  I think $35-45 sounds fair if they are healthy heritage birds from a good source.  However, I also have never raised chicks so am not sure how much it costs in feed from hatch to lay... someone else here might have a better idea.

Permalink Reply by Laura Arp on April 10, 2012 at 2:56pm

That seems high. We paid about $20 for ours (heritage breed) and good layers can be bought even for $8-10 / hen.

Permalink Reply by Dane Chauvel on April 10, 2012 at 3:01pm

I think a good, young laying hen is worth $10.  If you're paying more than that, you are probably buying pedigree.  Pedigree is of value if you're planning on showing your birds but if they're solely being kept as pets or layers, you shouldn't need to spend the money.  And when it comes to laying, youth is a good thing.  As hens age, their productivity declines.

Permalink Reply by Kristi Tatebe on April 10, 2012 at 3:13pm

A quick look on Craigslist and there are a few options in the $15 range in the Fraser Valley.  

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/grd/2944562555.html

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/for/2905678284.html

All depends how much you'd like to pay I guess!