We in CLUCK Red Deer have been incredibly fortunate to be able to work with some local breeders of heritage breed chickens, who have offered advice and answered questions time and time again. We recognize that not everyone who wants (and is ready for) urban hens has the means to form a relationship with their local breeders and it's one of the most common questions we get: How and where do I find good birds for my own urban flock? It's not a simple, straightforward question and answering it adequately requires a bit of research on your part... but where to begin?!
Because CLUCK Red Deer's primary concern is that the hens, humans and neighbourhoods remain healthy and happy, we STRONGLY recommend you consider the following things before you hand over money and introduce a new hen to your flock:
BREED
Some breeds are inherently better able to withstand our sometimes harsh, nearly always fickle climate. The only truly Canadian breed is the Chantecler, they have small wattles and combs and lay consistently through the winter (given their needs are met). All other breeds.. it's sort of... hm. Typically, breeds with feathers on their feet and/or have large combs or wattles are prone to frostbite and require extra care to make it through our winters. That said.. there is some variability. Your best bet is to try to find a breeder who has been continuously maintaining their stock in your area (as close as you can manage) for a few years. They will know if their lineage is hardy.
HISTORY
This can be a big one. Be prepared to ask the seller a lot of questions and do your research so you are familiar with the possibilities.
*Has the hen been vaccinated? When? For what? With what?
*Has the hen been dusted (treated for external parasites)? When? Precautionary or because there was an infestation?
*Source: Was the chick hatched by the breeder or was she bought from another breeder (and from where?)
*Friendliness & Personality: Yes, hens have distinct personalities. Is the hen used to people? If you have small children who you expect to be near the hens, you do NOT want to have an aggressive hen. Urban hens should ideally be quiet (some hens like to shout!)
*Age: When was the hen hatched? Anything less than 4 months old may turn out to be a rooster-in-waiting! An older hen (3-4 years old & up) may not be a very good layer (though she will still eat slugs and make manure for your compost pile!)
*Feed: What has she been fed? Layer feed? Home-made rations? Vitamins? This can be a huge factor in the hens health.
*Guarantee: What if you take a hen home and 2 days later you notice she is ill or covered with mites? Or that she is VERY noisy (and not a suitable fit for the urban environment)? Is the breeder willing to exchange or refund you if there is a problem? (A problem of the sort that can be traced to the breeder, of course, once the bird is in your hands you are responsible for it's condition).
Interpreting answers: The more research you do ahead of time and the better the questions you ask, the better you will be able to gauge the replies you get. Breeders who genuinely care about their birds will be glad you asked and happy to know that their hen is on her way to a good home. If the owner brushes you off or denies requests to come out to the farm to see his stock, they may have something to hide.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR
If you are able to inspect the bird before purchasing, DO IT. Familiarize yourself with the warning signs of an unhealthy chicken (we can help with that at one of our workshops or events we attend).
Check for external parasites (see our post on that here). Check for watery eyes and/or nostrils (signs of illness or infection). Check for neat, healthy feet (no wounds, etc). Check for smooth leg scales (raised scales can be a sign of scaly leg mites or an old bird). Does the hen seem alert? (Lethargy is a sure sign of illness.) Is the butt clean? (Sometimes they just have a bit of poop stuck on their feathers, but it can also be a sign of illness.)
OTHER COMMENTS
Chicken breeding is a seasonal thing in these parts -chicks typically hatch in spring, toddle around and learn their chicken skills, then moult into their near-adult form at about 4 months old, so expect the best time for finding available pullets (young hens) to be during the summer.
Auctions seem like a great place to find available birds and they can be, but you must be cautious. There are some breeders who raise various breeds by the hundreds solely for selling in auction -the birds may be raised in cramped quarters and exposed to all kinds of nasties. Go the night before to take a peek into the cages. You will not be able to handle the birds to do close inspection but pay attention to general signs of health (alert, moving without signs of pain, neat & clean feet and heads, clean butts.. that sort of thing). Check the name of the seller, maybe Google them if you can and see if they have a website with more information.
WHEN YOU BRING A NEW HEN HOME
Do another thorough inspection. It's a good idea to keep any new hens in quarantine (separate from any existing flock members) for a few days to allow possible symptoms to manifest. If things still look good, add her to the flock and let them sort out the new hierarchy.
You are ultimately responsible for the hens you purchase. Doing some research and asking questions can save you grief, effort and money in the long-run. Yes, you may pay more for a quality hen, but you will more than make it up in eggs and longevity.
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