“I’d like to buy some young laying hens.”
We get this call a lot. It’s usually from people just getting started with chickens, and they’d like to shorten the 5 months wait before young hens start to lay. I get it. Who wants to wait all summer to get an egg?
The bottom line to this article is that you have to make your own decisions. But I will give you some reasons NOT to buy laying hens.
Before the reasons, I’ll start by saying that homesteading demands patience. A lot happens on the farm, but it happens slowly. It’s like screaming at the traffic jam to move. It just serves to upset you further. If you plant a garden today but need a tomato tonight, skip the garden and go buy a tomato. If you want to keep chickens for fresh eggs, but lack the patience to wait, then maybe you’re not ready. Just buy eggs from someone.
So here are reasons I don’t recommend you buy laying hens:
- Cost. A $3 chick might eat 25 lbs of feed before starting to lay. Depending on what you buy, the total cost might be $10-13, including the chick. Buying a laying hen should cost $20 or more for common varieties. Any less and you should ask “why?”. Maybe you got lucky and found someone needing to rehome their flock. But if you find a reputable seller, bring money.
- Disease. Do you know the seller? Did you get to inspect their birds? Did you check for mites, lice, and fleas? What about internal parasites, like worms or coccidia? Or what about persistent illnesses like mycoplasma and other respiratory diseases? Bumblefoot? Oviduct infection? Proper nutrition? Don’t expect the seller to tell you what’s wrong with their flock. If they won’t let you on the farm, don’t buy the birds. Buy the wrong birds and you may be taking home something extra you don’t want.
- Everybody Lies. Did the seller tell you the chickens were hatched in the spring? They meant spring the previous year. Did they say they’re 2 years old? They meant 4 years old. Did they say they just started laying? They meant they just started laying again after being on break all winter. Young laying hens are hard to come by because most people would rather have the egg potential than the money. So if they want the money, what’s the reason? What’s wrong with the hens?
If you are going to buy adult hens, be cautious and buy from someone reputable. Ask questions. Get recommendations. It’s another good time to be patient. If someone tells you to make a decision now because 3 others are wanting to buy, let them go. Keep looking.
One reason to buy chicks is to enjoy the chick experience. You’ll watch them grow and learn their personalities. And they will get to know you. Getting that first egg will be one of the proudest days of your life!
No matter what you decide to do, be informed, and be cautious!