Poultry auctions

[sheena]

Are they good or bad?

My hubby is banging on at me to get some more girl's since we lost #1 and #2 this week. I can see he's point as I have had to out source some eggs for my regular customers this week as the girl's have been a bit down in the dumps the last few days (poultry spice needed me thinks).

Anyway, having been looking to find some new girl's I was thinking of going to an auction which is a fair way from me in Norfolk. But do you think it will be worth the trip?

I'm seen some you get yours from markets etc but I have never seen anything like that around where I live. I think if I did go to the auction, I know I would probably come home with more than intended to buy... but I do think hubby will be either wringing my neck or hopefully making plans for a bigger run.

He certainly has been down to the bottom of the garden more times than I count on one hand in a day (I used to have to force him to check for eggs for me).

[Bramble-Poultry]

poultry auctions are ok as long as you follow basic guidelines.

- only buy stock you can see and observe clearly.
- make sure its not twitching or scratching heavily
- look at its eyes and make sure that they are clear and bright
- is the bird looking healthy and alert? dont buy a bored or moping one because you feel sorry for it
- remember that the prices are usually per bird so a pen of 6 will cost you 6 times the bidding price
- boxed broodies with chicks are usually sold as a single lot, so not the hen then a price per chick
- you will need to arrange a bidding number with the office before you purchase as AWO laws dictate thatthe vendor must supply the personal details of the purchaser to the AWO when asked. By registering for a bidding number he can track who has bought what bird, comply with his AWO request and also contact buyers if there is a problem with the birds
- be wary of buying boxes of grower chicks. they are usually all cockerels
- just because you see an egg in the pen with the bird, do not assume that it laid it. I have seen pens of Cream Legbars with BROWN eggs in to "prove" they are point of lay

Where abouts is the auction in Norfolk? my sister lives near cromer and always ends up going to Swaffham to auction as she states that there arent any auctions in norfolk. perhaps you know of one she doesnt and i can let her know about it!

if and when you do buy a bird, before you let it go into your runs / garden, demite it, de louse it and give it some wormer as you may have bought more than you bargained for.

[sheena]

Cheers Bramble that advice is heavily heeded on my part.

I am a sucker for a cute face, but I fear the old man may be worst than me now.

The auction I found was the one in Swaffham. Fabian R Eagle, is that the one your sister goes to?

[Bramble-Poultry]

yep - sounds like the one. they do ordinary ones and specialist sales. in other words, the specialist is the same quailty just charge more

[Bramble-Poultry]

Sorry Sheena - Mikes Geography is useless!!

Your nearest weekly sale is Mildenhall - every week on a Wednesday, run by the same people who run Swaffham I think Fabian Eagle - also have a specialist sale coming up on the 16th May (Sunday)

It is then a toss up as to which is your next nearest auction - its close in it bothe just over an hour away - Swaffham is every Saturday and Melton Mowbray is every Tuesday, but there is one Saturday sale a month there too and also twice yearly a specialist sale!

Melton sale also includes "fur" in its auctions not just "feather" so rabbits etc too. The Saturday sale is on the same day as their Horse and Tack sale - google Melton Mowbray Market you are sure to find it. The Tuesday sale is also Market day so theres otehr stuff there too!

Hope that helps
Jennie

[squibbs]

The auctions I have been to have been priced per pen/cage rather than per bird, though if you buy the first out of a number of identical pens the auctioneer may offer you the next pens for the same price.

Its important to read the terms and conditions when you arrive and bear in mind many auctions add 5-10% to the sale price as part of how they make money. And VAT was then added to the price at the auction I attended in Somerset!

I have been stung at auctions with birds with diseases and would be cautious as Bramble says and always quarantine.

Oh and I once bought 7 cockerels too (doh!) so I now plan ahead and breed my own.

[Bramble-Poultry]

Interesting Squibbs - Live Poultry are Zero VAT Rated! Therefore no VAT to pay by seller OR buyer.

Also adding a buyers premium is very rarely done, most make their money from "selling" space - therefore if you want to sell a bird you pay per cage/box, some add a sellers premium too which is a percentage of the final sale paid by the vendor of the bird NOT the purchaser.

But its worth checking their bidding terms and conditions in the office when you register for your number just to make sure if you are bidding per bird or per cage and what other costs may be incurred.

[squibbs]

Yes I wondered about the VAT when I posted - but double checked a catalogue and they stated VAT was added after the buyers premium of 10% (and as you say there is also a sellers premium too at this auction site - Junction 24 in Somerset)

Maybe they only applied it to deadstock but I dont have any receipts around to check. I had considered selling some of my excess stock there - but have had enough private interest to not have to go to that trouble.

[Bramble-Poultry]

Hahaha - now I know the auction you were at - being Somerset too untill we moved up here!!

[Hilary B]

There shouldn't b VAT on hens, but I think there WILL be VAT on the 'auction costs' (ie the buyer's/sellers' premium)

[squibbs]

There shouldn't b VAT on hens, but I think there WILL be VAT on the 'auction costs' (ie the buyer's/sellers' premium)

I suppose the wording can certainly be read that way - but could be clearer.

Bramble - shame you aren't still in Somerset - would have gone to the clay oven making day then!

[Bramble-Poultry]

we are having talks with the organiser into doing a course further south, failing that, you could always buy the book (which i am still writing!!!)