hey there fellow livestockers

[Amanda Auerrell]

anyone out there need some hens and/or roosters?

[Sue Mueller]

How old are they? We'd love a couple of hens, if they're currently laying - we have 10 baby Speckled Sussexes who haven't started to lay yet, and will be starting a dozen guineas next weekish (whenever they hatch and arrive). We have a 2000 square foot area that houses two pigs - then coop is in a protected area within the fenced in part (a fence within a fence) the chickens are free to leave if they can get out, which they do (there are chicken-sized holes but not pig-sized holes and the chickens aren't intimidated by the electric wire than keeps the pigs from testing the fence). I just herd them back in at night. We'd love to have a couple of instant-gratification chickens, egg-wise. We're newbies to livestock, but have a decent amount of support from friends with more experience than we do.

Are you hoping for cash or trade in exchange for them? I could trade jam/pickles/other preserves or, if you're diversifying livestock, I've ordered more guineas than I really need - I'd be happy to brood a couple for you.

Sue

[Amanda Auerrell]

the hens are about 8-10 months old. I would be happy to get a couple of hens to you. They are 10 ea. and I would through in a rooster for free. I am ok for trade at this time. do you prefer white or brown layers, any breed?

[Sue Mueller]

Hi Amanda -

Awesome! I'm not very particular about egg color or breed, as long as they can be assumed to be reasonably hardy in our winters. They'll have a safe, weatherproof coop, but I'm not planning to heat it (I know some people who do). I'd actually rather not have a rooster right now, because I'm trying to not aggravate my neighbors too much (I'm allowed to have livestock, but don't want to pick any fights).

Re. trade - I have jam of various kinds, dill and bread and butter pickles, pickled beets, canned plums, canned pears, sauerkraut, dilly beans (lacto), and lacto-fermented carrots right now. Any of that sound good? What seems like a reasonable quantity for trade? I generally sell pints for $4-5 (we'll be selling at market hopefully this summer. last year it was just at CSA pickup) - would 4 or 5 pints of whatever you want for two chickens work for you?

[Amanda Auerrell]

oops, sorry. what i meant was I don't need any trade right now. is that ok with you? unless of course you want to trade chicken feed :)
i understand the thing about the rooster, i have to many right now is my problem.

[Sue Mueller]

Oh, yeah. Sorry. That's totally fine. So I'll owe you $20?

[Amanda Auerrell]

ok done. I will pick you out a couple of ladies. when would you like to pick them up?

[Sue Mueller]

I can get them any day this week. Where are you and what time works best for you? Actually, here's my phone [phone] if it's easier...

[Amanda Auerrell]

do you have a way to transport them, cage etc?

[Sue Mueller]

so my three strategies (tell me which would be better) are - cat carrier, which might be a little low-ceilinged, large dog carrier (normally for pigs) which is probably too large for their comfort), or rubbermaid-type bin with hay on the bottom, which would look silly but be just about right, I think. I have a station wagon, so there's plenty of room in the car.

My availability is:
today: 10-2, any time after 5
tomorrow (Thursday): 12:30-3:30, anytime after 5:30
Friday and for the enxt week: any time, really.

[Amanda Auerrell]

i have a cage you can use. tommarrow would be best, 1ish, ok

[Amanda Auerrell]

how your hennies doing Sue?