The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Dundonald hens on April 28, 2014, 07:34:17 am

Title: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: Dundonald hens on April 28, 2014, 07:34:17 am
Anyone go to Thainstone market ? I was wondering what it was like and if it was worth a run up ?
Title: Re: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: Rosemary on April 28, 2014, 08:15:41 am
Big venue; the rare breed sale is usually very well attended. Easily accessible.

If you want to come, the Scottish Smallholder and Grower Spring Gathering is there on 31st May  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: Dundonald hens on April 29, 2014, 07:14:47 am
Im thinking about going for a wee look on saturday but its 3.5 hours away !
Title: Re: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: Rosemary on April 29, 2014, 07:33:24 am
The catalogue's available on line
Title: Re: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: Dundonald hens on April 29, 2014, 07:42:53 am
Yeh iv had a look the wife likes the scots greys and dumpies and there is some in the catalouge do could be worth a run
Title: Re: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: JulieWall on April 29, 2014, 10:28:51 am
I prefer to use our local mart at Huntly, the boys there handle the animals more kindly. I find them a bit coarse at Thainstone by comparison, they shout at the animals and whack the ground with sticks to make them move. I'm constantly told I will get a better price for my stock at Thainstone but  a few pence more per kilo doesn't justify the petrol for a small number of animals.
It depends why you want to know really, if you are buying stock Thainstone is a bigger place so perhaps more choice? ...... but you may pay more too if what I'm told is true.
The rare breeds show is very well attended, big and noisy poultry hall so bring ear plugs for the auction, I find I can hear the auctioneer better with the background noise muted a bit. A lot of well heeled enthusiasts often inflate the prices so buy a catalogue and contact the sellers later if you miss the things you wanted, they often have more at home just as good.
Thainstone also has regular outdoor auctions of everything from pallets of building materials to ibc tanks, they are worth travelling up for.
Title: Re: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: Victorian Farmer on April 29, 2014, 10:41:30 am
The may sale is the biggist one .There will be people from england  iraland and beyond. .The ferthist we go is York .The best sale is carlile september .But this has the size great day out .Im not using thainstone eney more . The price they charged me was bad .The cost was £90 for the hens and £120 for the sheep £40 pound for fuel so thats it.
Title: Re: whats Thainstone market like ?
Post by: bigchicken on May 01, 2014, 11:00:24 pm
Yes it could be a good wee trip for you, guite a few LF Scots Greys birds and eggs if they are of good quality they could fetch good money. Sometimes the birds are not of a good standard with many faults, the last time I was there The Scots Dumpy Bantams were very poor and looked like they had some other breed in them. Sometimes the birds are not even forward. Be prepared to be disappointed. Much better to buy privately in my opinion. I will have both Scots Grey and Scots Dumpy Bantams available later on in the year if you are interested and can wait.