buying my first chooks

[safronsue]

Off to market on Saturday to buy 3 hens and a cockerel and i'm very excited. What should i look for, avoid or consider? should i go for the biggest or the smallest? What was your chicken buying experience like?

[safronsue]

Well we got 3 hens from a gypsy with a lorry full and they look clean and healthy but a bit battered. How can I encourage them to perch as the first two nights they've been huddled on the floor and i would rather they perched over the board so poo gathers in one place.
I'm going to try and add some pics.



My excellent pallet gate on wheels being checked out



https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IIoY- ... -h224-p-no

[safronsue]

[safronsue]

and a few in the sunshine of gate construction

[tosca]

Aw bless them. They will be from a commercial unit I expect, we have cages of them in the markets in BG too. The good thing is that commercial hens are vaccinated. And they will be moulting too no doubt. They will look lovely once their feathers grow. You will soon be besotted and will spend hours watching them.

As for perching, they will not have had perches in their little cages but instinct may kick in. If not, if you quietly go in after dark and put them on their perches that might work. We have done this with a couple of our chicks who we want to get perched before the cold weather sets in. It worked.

Good luck with your hens.