Where do i buy hens?

[gazh]

Hi, i have had hens before but had fox problems so have left if for a while but i have just received a new chicken coop and i'm going to concrete the perimeter of the run!!! no more fox's i hope.
anyhow, i was wondering if anyone knows of any local farms where i can pick hens up from? there is happy chicks but thats an hours drive in blackpool and as i live in a valley with hills and cattle everywhere, there must be a local farm that can supply me with four!
i live in rossendale, east lancashire
thanks Gaz

[Bramble-Poultry]

pick up a copy of practical poultry and flick to the back. there are loads of breeders listed in theback of there. If you go to the auction site Bid4poultry.co.uk - Poultry suppplies, garden poultry, houses, feed, drinkers, incubators, and hatching eggs etc., you can buy live birds at auction, and then for around £40 have them couriered to you by a specialist courier so then distance isnt a problem for that special bird.

depending on what type of bird you want, you may find a few hybrid layers available at a local hen rescue event or it might just be worth scrolling through the website of the Poultry Keeper in their Poultry Mart section The Poultry Keeper • View forum - Poultry Mart to see who has what for sale in your area.

All the best

Mike

[MaureenHall]

Failing that, you could have a look here Poultry / Accessories For Sale and Wanted in Lancashire on Poultry Ads UK

Good luck and keep us posted as to what you get ................................. with the compulsory piccies of course

[Bramble-Poultry]

alternativly give us a call *cheeky grin* seriously, we arent likely to come up your way, and most of what we have is bantams, but we can keep our eyes out for you if needs be???

[gazh]

hey, thanks for the replies. i will have a look where you said and see what i can get. i seem to like the idea of going to a farm and looking at the birds first but if i cant do that then i suppose i can always bid at auctions like you said.
failing all that i might be giving mike a call!!
there is a cattle auction in clithereo which isnt too far but people have said bad things about the quality/welfare so im not sure if i should go there.

and piccies will defo be appearing - (im too excited not to)

cheers
gaz

[DaveJ]

You could always contact the battery hen welfare trust. They might be able to help you.

[MaureenHall]

Be careful buying at auction, you might not get the chance to give the birds the "once over", you might bring back lots of pests
Here's the link for ex-batts Battery Hen Welfare Trust

[its hilly]

Do you know where your local farm feed supply places are? Stick a big WANTED, will pay for x no chickens ad on their boards. Or ask them which farmers buy layers pellets
Ive heard people say Clitheroe isnt good, but I used to have a stand there at the horse auctions, and the poultry I saw then looked mostly ok. However that was before I started keeping chooks, my eye might be more jaundiced now and notice things that i wouldnt have looked for then.

[gazh]

the bhwt do have a local rescue co-ordinator but they are fully booked for the next rescue and i'm too excited so ill pop down to my local feed suppliers like 'its hilly' says. I've really gone off the idea of an auction! don't want pests and really want to see the birds first.
thanks for the suggestions
gareth