Smallholders Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: Grower or pullet or ???  (Read 3811 times)

DJ_Chook

  • Joined Jun 2009
  • Mid Wales
  • Chicken mad, nothing else just chickens.
Grower or pullet or ???
« on: August 17, 2011, 08:01:35 pm »
I was recently at a poultry auction and was confused by what terminology was being used for what age.

They used the term 'grower' only when selling table birds.

LF (Large Fowl) that was  10weeks - 16weeks but not yet laying was a 'pullet'. I agree with this but...
The Oxford English dictionary says a pullet is a young chicken that is actually laying but hasn't yet had her 1st moult.

When they got around to auctioning the young s*xed girls they didn't even give them a term or state their age just pointed at the cage & gave their breed. I would have called these growers, but they were using that term exclusively for table birds.

They made no difference or identification of birds that had come into lay or hens that were several years old. Once they were laying it was called a hen.


I'm confused as to what to call my 8 week old s*xed girls, as they are definitely girls do I call them pullets? And some 2 year old layer hens that I am going to take there, what do I call them, just laying hens and make no reference to their age?

Chicken nutter extraordinaire.

HappyHippy

  • Guest
Re: Grower or pullet or ???
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2011, 08:15:42 pm »
At our local mark some folks tie a wee bit of card onto the front of the cage with a full breakdown of age, sex, breed etc and just list them in the cataloge as the breed and hens/young stock. I think this would maybe be a good idea  ;)
I find that I walk round the cages to have a look and when I see something that catches my eye I then have to go through the book to see what it says (and the lots aren't always in numerical order, so it can be a nightmare to figure it out) when the info is right there on the cage it makes it so much easier.
To be honest, I think having the info there on the cage shows that the breeder is thinking about the customer and giving as much info as possible, and I'd be more likely to purchase something with a good honest description (especially if there were contact details on there too)
HTH
Karen

country soul

  • Joined Feb 2010
Re: Grower or pullet or ???
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2011, 08:49:55 am »
Most markets  give the description they have been provided with by the vendor.In my experience the term "grower" means they are males and its a case of buyer beware.I f they are females vendors are usually keen to highlight the fact and describe them as such.

DJ_Chook

  • Joined Jun 2009
  • Mid Wales
  • Chicken mad, nothing else just chickens.
Re: Grower or pullet or ???
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2011, 10:40:20 am »
At our local mark some folks tie a wee bit of card onto the front of the cage with a full breakdown of age, sex, breed etc and just list them in the catalogue as the breed and hens/young stock.

I think that's a great idea. I hardly saw any labels when I was viewing. I shall put a detailed card on my cages. This place doesn't have a catalogue the auctioneer just yells out a very short description of what the next auction is. I've noticed at this place that most the buyers don't get there early enough for the viewing. Once the auction starts the viewing area is closed. So it's pretty much up to the auctioneer at the time to bother reading out whatever he's got on his form.


In my experience the term "grower" means they are males and its a case of buyer beware.I f they are females vendors are usually keen to highlight the fact and describe them as such.

You have a valid point there. I'll watch out for this.


This place it at Bridgnorth. It's a poultry auction not sale & before the poultry they have a miscellaneous auction.

Bridgnorth Livestock and Auction Centre, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV16 4QR   Every Friday from 10:30am

I'll put more details about this auction up in the MarketPlace section.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2011, 11:06:53 am by DJ_Chook »
Chicken nutter extraordinaire.

DJ_Chook

  • Joined Jun 2009
  • Mid Wales
  • Chicken mad, nothing else just chickens.
Re: Grower or pullet or ???
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2011, 10:44:07 am »
Having just read the sticky for the MarketPlace rules of posting. My details about the auction seem a little commercial, so I won't post it there.

Just to say that I have no business connection with this auction house, nor have I sold anything there yet. Just won auctions.

Chicken nutter extraordinaire.

 

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