Hi! My husband used to raise chickens (a long time ago!), and we'd like to start up again. He used to be able to buy point-of-lay pullets (about 20 weeks old or so) that (as the name implies) were almost ready to start laying. Does anyone still offer them? We'll be raising our own chicks eventually, but this would be a great way to start (again) if they're available.\
Thank you for your post, Laura.... The short answer
You can still buy point of lay pullets, but they are not as readily available as before and might cost a bit more. Also, many greedy feed stores sell "point of lay" pullets that are really one year old hens who have slowed production and would only be good for the pot.
Find out if there is a commercial egg production facility near you. Call them up and ask them what they do with their extra pullets when they cage them for laying. These facilities have to raise hundreds of thousands of pullets each round and have several overlapping ages present at their facilities. If they raise their own pullets they likely have extras that they have to get rid of (sell to someone else) when their cages are filled.
I am personally familiar with only two commercial
Go to http://www.hyline.com for the Hy-Line
By the way, we live in Wyoming. Thanks for your help!
Replies can be sent to kruse@tctwest.net.
By Infomaniac on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 06:24 pm:
to your question is "yes"... you still can buy
point-of-lay pullets.... But, you need to be careful
about your sources and research them carefully....
We are in Brookings, South Dakota.... we'er nearly
neighbors!
By Josh on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 07:09 pm:
By Rokimoto on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 11:37 pm:
There may be someone in your area that raises pullets for sale. Call your extension agent and ask about small buisnesses that sell poultry. Small producers like orgainic farmers may have surpluses to sell.
By Infomaniac on Thursday, December 27, 2001 - 10:14 am:
laying facilities and they're confinement facilities,
which I believe Rokimoto is referring to. Both of
these facilities get pullets from Hy-Line. Hy-Line
has a website (HyLine or Hy-Line). I don't know if
you can get from them small quantities, but, you
might be able to find out if they (Hy-Line) deliver to
a farmer somewhere near you. If they do then one
might be able to make an arrangement with the
farmer to get 20 or 50 pullets.
By Infomaniac on Thursday, December 27, 2001 - 10:27 am:
website. It is fun to poke around in it. You can
contact Hy-Line from their website too.